“You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation” (Plato).

Hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts worldwide are diving into Gran Turismo 7’s Tuning Shop, experimenting with Brembo’s braking components, a new addition in the seventh installment of the most famous racing video game franchise of all time.

As a leader in the development and production of high-performance braking systems, Brembo is the official technical partner for the brakes in Gran Turismo 7. This means that the performance of most of the 400 cars in the game can be further enhanced through the Tuning Shop with Brembo solutions.

The 4-step Brembo brake component upgrades in Gran Turismo 7

The collaboration between Brembo engineers and game developers has been ongoing for years to ensure the new version of Gran Turismo delivers unprecedented realism, even in terms of braking. The use of Brembo braking components affects braking distance and corner entry, and these factors have been faithfully replicated in Gran Turismo 7.

 

In addition to sharing its expertise, Brembo provided the game developers with all the designs and dynamic characteristics of its products to ensure that the components in Gran Turismo 7 are the exact digital counterparts of those available for purchase in real life.

The order and upgrade possibilities for the braking system are not random, but mirror the typical process followed by real-life car enthusiasts who choose to modify their vehicle’s braking system: usually starting with brake pads, then upgrading to more performance-oriented discs, and eventually opting for a complete brake system upgrade with various performance options.

 

This process is reflected in the Tuning Shop, which is divided into 5 submenus, each corresponding to a different level of tuning. In increasing order, these are: "Sports", followed by "Club Sports", "Semi-Racing", "Racing", and finally, the ultimate level of tuning, "Extreme."

As expected, the upgrade cost increases as you progress through the steps, and this aspect, while adjusted to avoid frustration when acquiring higher-value brake components, broadly mirrors reality.

Let’s take a closer look at the steps and the options offered by Brembo for those looking to enhance their car’s brakes in Gran Turismo 7.

Step 1: The Brake Pads

Each section of the Tuning Shop offers several options. For example, in the "Sports" section, players can choose from various tires, air filters, engine control units, exhausts, suspensions, and Brembo’s Sport brake pads. These components improve braking performance in terms of both performance and stability.

 

In real life, Brembo Sport pads are the first upgrade level for any braking system. With materials that ensure consistent friction at all operating temperatures, up to 600°C, and excellent construction quality, these pads offer great performance even at low speeds without requiring pre-heating.

Step 2: The Brake Disc

In the "Club Sports" section, you can increase bore size, change transmission ratios, replace the camshaft, pistons, and flywheel, and opt for a performance brake upgrade. This includes not only changing the brake pads but also upgrading the brake discs.

 

The standout product here is the Sport/TY3 disc, easily recognized by its Type3 baffling and the prominent Brembo logo on the braking surface. The Type3 baffling, which is inspired by motorsport designs, enhances friction, improves performance consistency, and increases brake modulation, ensuring more responsive and repeatable braking.

Step 3: The Caliper

In the "Semi-Racing" section, there are no brake components, but in the "Racing" section, along with upgrades like turbochargers, intercoolers, air filters, and racing exhausts, three brake options are available: racing pads, a kit with slotted discs, and a kit with drilled discs, all from Brembo.

 

While the racing pads are simply a more performance-oriented version of the ones available in the first upgrade step, the real upgrade here is the caliper kit. The core of this kit consists of the BM series monoblock aluminum calipers, which use more pistons (ranging from 4 to 8, depending on the model) arranged in a opposed configuration. The rigidity of these calipers and their minimal deformation ensures significantly improved braking performance.

 

The benefits of this kit are the result of the combined action of the calipers with the larger discs, available in both slotted and drilled versions. These solutions greatly improve brake response, providing greater braking torque and a more responsive, stable braking performance.

 

To make this even more personal, players can now change the color of the calipers. To do so, you need to exit the "Tuning Shop" and head to "GT Auto," where you can further customize your favorite cars and carry out other maintenance tasks, including adding personal touches to the car’s exterior using the livery editor. In the "Other" section, you can freely choose the color of the calipers.

Step 4: Carbon-Ceramic

The ultimate upgrade, both in terms of results and cost, is found in the "Extreme" menu. Inside, you’ll find options like nitrous, tires for extreme weather conditions, a new engine, four-wheel steering, and the Brembo brake kit with carbon-ceramic CCM-R discs, the top of the line for street cars and the peak of performance in Gran Turismo 7.

 

Brembo has been manufacturing carbon-ceramic discs since 2002, when it began supplying them to the Ferrari Enzo. The typical daily driving experience doesn’t allow the brake system to reach the minimal operating temperatures required by the carbon discs used in Formula 1, which is why they’re exclusive to competition vehicles.

 

Carbon-ceramic discs allow the world’s most prestigious supercars to save significant weight compared to traditional cast-iron discs, with obvious benefits not only in braking but also in acceleration and direction changes. Furthermore, these discs don’t warp at high temperatures and are reliable even in wet conditions.

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Brembo Museum

To access the Brembo Museum, you need to go to “Brand Central”. Brand Central is an area dedicated to car manufacturers from around the world. Here, you can purchase cars, learn more about the brand’s history, and enjoy related videos. Brembo is prominently featured as one of the main partners.

 

Once you open the Brembo section, you’ll have the chance to take a tour of our digital museum, where the dynamic history of over 60 years of Brembo is told.

Final Thoughts

Naturally, all these upgrades have been implemented in the game to enhance realism. For those who, after experiencing these features in Gran Turismo 7, wish to adopt Brembo’s braking systems for their own car, the upgrade steps are very similar, but with a lot more options available in real life. It would be the perfect way to complete the circle—from reality to simulation and back to reality.