Gran Turismo 5 has release yet ANOTHER update, this time version 2.02. It’s simply amazing to me how often Polyphony Digital continues to improve upon their racing megahit. Details can be found below! 

Major Changes and New Features 

 - Wheels can now be changed on Standard cars. 

- Downloadable contents can now be shared by multiple users with the Family Upgrade. (See Polyphony’s complete FAQ for more details.) 

- Cars purchased through DLC will now appear in the Car Dealerships. You can purchase additional versions of the same vehicles within the game using earned race credits.

- A copy button has been added to the lower left of the settings screen. A settings sheet saved in either A/B/C can now be copied to A, B or C. Gifts

- Toyota 86 GT ’12 will be available to all players who install the 2.02 update.

- Free coupons have been added that allow you to wash cars, change oil, overhaul your engine, or restore chassis rigidity in GT Auto. 10 coupons will be distributed for free to each of those who have downloaded the 2.02 update.

- The Gran Turismo Racing Kart 125 SPL. and five New Car Refresh cards will be provided to customers purchasing any DLC packs released in October 2011. The New Car Refresh can be used from the Special Coupons option in the items list, and will return your car to its brand new condition (before breaking-in the car’s engine). Equipped parts and current paint on the car will not be affected by this card.

As someone who plays Gran Turismo 5 at least once per day, I can assure all you dear readers that the recent Spec 2.0 update has made significant changes to the game; so much so that I would feel comfortable calling it a whole new game. Along with DLC, GT5 doesn’t even resemble the game that launched in November of last year. 

Those who already own the game can obviously download the updates and DLC from their PS3, but those who don’t own the game and are thinking of the giving GT5 a whirl might want to check this out.

There have been discussions regarding the Standard VS Premium car models in Gran Turismo 5 since the game came out last November, and it isn't until now that we may have an answer to what Polyphony Digital plans to do about the cars in the future. 

 In an interview with GT Planet, Kaz answered a couple of questions regarding future DLC, new cars, and the Standard models. 

GTP: There has been much discussion and debate in GTPlanet’s community regarding GT5’s Standard and Premium cars. Could you explain how you came to the decision of which cars would be Premium and which would remain Standard, such as the Bugatti Veyron? 

KY: It wasn’t a matter of making a decision, we just didn’t have time to do it! There is still a possibility that some Standard cars may become Premium in the future. 

GTP: In an interview last year, you mentioned that some Standard cars may be upgraded to Premium status in the future. Do you still have plans for this, or will GT5’s future DLC focus on adding new car models to the game?

It's that time of the month again as Polyphony Digital has added new Time/Drift trials and updated their Online Dealership. Here are the details: 

Time Trial No. 22 

- 345HP Eiger Nordwand K-Trail Time Trial: This is a time trial on the Eiger Nordwand K-Trail for cars with 345HP or less using dirt tires. Cars can be tuned to 345HP and 1200kg. 

- 295HP European Non-Racecar / Eiger Nordwand Short Course Time Trial: This is a time trial on the Eiger Nordwand Short Course for European non-racecars with 295HP or less. Cars can be tuned to 295HP and 1200kg. Tire selection is limited to sports/medium or less. 

 Drift Trial No. 22 

- Cape Ring Drift Trial (any car, comfort soft tires or less) 

- London City Reverse (any car, comfort soft tires or less)

New Online Dealership Cars:  

Honda 1300 Coupe 9 S '70

Peugeot 106 S16 '03

Nissan BLUEBIRD 1600 Deluxe (510) '69

Peugeot 206 CC '01

It looks like Polyphony Digital never stops ticking! A few days after releasing their first batch of DLC and just a few mere weeks after the game changing Spec 2.0 update, the folks behind Gran Turismo 5 are at it again, perfect and tweaking their game. Here's what you can expect to see in the new Spec 2.01 update: 

[Major changes/new features]- Compatibility of Kart Space I/II with cars other than racing Karts It is now possible to race on Kart Space I/II of the DLC in cars other than racing Karts in online races and in the Free Run of Practice. (In the one make races of the Arcade mode and Practice, the courses are still limited to racing Karts.) 

- Expanded the car restrictions in the Online Lounge It is now possible to simultaneously set [Car Restrictions], [Performance Points], [Power], and [Models] in regulation settings. ( [Vehicle Tuning] must be set to [Unrestricted] and [Car Restrictions] must be set to something other than [Select from Garage].) 

[Other Improvements] - In the Open Lobby, it is no longer possible to vote to kick out the person who created the room. (If the player leaves the room after creating it then comes back, they are then subject to the vote.) 

- Adjusted the force of the steering wheel returning to center after a race when using the “Guillemot T500RS”. 

- Improved the steering model when driving racing Karts with the DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller, to prevent overly spinning out. 

[Correction of Known Issues] - Corrected an issue where the BGM would stop playing when returning from the Lounge to the Open Lobby. 

- Corrected an issue where if further engine tuning was performed on a car that already had engine tuning, the engine tune field would become incorrect when changing setting sheets. 

- Corrected a discrepancy in the numerical figures in the setting sheets. 

- Corrected an issue where wheels and horns would become different in every setting sheet change. 

- Corrected an issue where the removal of aerodynamic parts and wings would not be implemented when changing setting sheets.

While it hasn’t been officially confirmed (up until now), it was always assumed that Gran Turismo 5 would NOT only have one set of DLC. Those assumptions are apparently correct as the first official word of additional DLC has been confirmed.

On hand at the 2011 Golden Joystick Awards were two Sony reps who mentioned the additional DLC.

“…this is the first of many batches of new content that will be available, so people need to keep their ears to the ground as there will be more stuff coming, as well as the current upgrade.”