Buckle up for Sony’s GT6 game-changer

THE game that has encouraged generations of car enthusiasts to jump behind the wheel of exotic cars rather than stick posters of them on a wall is about to get a makeover.

Sony, the Japanese games console giant, has announced that the sixth version of its Gran Turismo driving simulator is about to hit the market.

Gran Turismo 6, featuring even faster, more realistic graphics, and a menu of even more historic and new vehicles, is not far from going on sale in Europe – 15 years after the game was first released for the original PlayStation games console.

However, the great unknown for Australian enthusiasts is whether this version of the virtual proving ground will take a nod to one of the legends of motorsport – the famous 6.2-kilometre Mount Panorama circuit Bathurst.

Sony representatives were busted surveying the racetrack early last year, leading to speculation that the circuit would soon join the suite of the game’s real-world tracks, which includes Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Germany’s Nurburgring, and even Laguna Seca and its infamous corkscrew in California.

Sony has released few details of its updated Gran Turismo, saying only that it will “ bring new levels of authenticity to 'the Real Driving Simulator' as well as introducing stunning new tracks and cars and a revised user interface”.

The company says the game will expand to smartphones and tablet devices, as well as boast “increased social and community functions”.

German luxury car-maker Mercedes-Benz announced overnight that 21 of its vehicles will feature in the game, including the 367kW SLS AMG GT3 race car, the 410kW mid-size twin-turbo V8 E63, and the 265kW A45 AMG.

One new track already confirmed is the British grand prix circuit at Silverstone. Sony says it is one of seven new locations the game is adding, with even more circuits available for download.

“All of the cars and tracks from Gran Turismo®5, which has sold over 10m copies since launching in 2010, will be retained in GT6,” Sony said.

“But notable new additions to the already impressive line-up of historic cars, road cars and the latest race cars, brings the total car list to 1200 at launch, with new cars set to be continually added online.”Sony will launch an online demo of GT6 in July. The final release date of the game is yet to be confirmed.