Automobilista 2 May Dev Update Announces Audi, Road Atlanta, Revamped LMDh Hybrid

Automobilista-2-May-Dev-Update-Audi-Quattro-DTM.jpg
Images: Reiza Studios
The next step is not too far away, and it looks to be a good one: Reiza Studios have released their May Dev Update for Automobilista 2 ahead of v1.6, highlighting numerous exciting additions to the Brazilian sim.

Automobilista 2 v1.6 is set to be the next milestone update, as developer Reiza Studios put it. Their Formula Ultimate Gen 2 and 2024 Stock Car Pro Series vehicles have already had a teaser for the upcoming changes to the tire model on board, but there will be much more to come, as the Automobilista 2 May Dev Update reveals.

First things first: IMSA content. Reiza announced the partnership with the premier endurance series in North America in March, with content set to follow later. Three GTP and four GT3 cars that are raced in the series were already added in late December as part of the Endurance Pack Pt. 1. Soon, they will get more appropriate playgrounds as well.

Automobilista-2-May-Dev-Update-Road-Atlanta.jpg


Road Atlanta & Audi Join The Fray​

Road Atlanta is the first of the new IMSA tracks confirmed in the Dev Update. The site of the Petit Le Mans is set to arrive in v1.6, with two further tracks (Sebring, Mosport and Detroit are still missing to form a full calendar) to be added to make an IMSA track pack, estimated to sell for $14.99.

Furthermore, Reiza announces the addition of "at least seven new premium car brands", as the Dev Update puts it. The first of them to be confirmed is Audi - the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer will see three of its cars being added to AMS2. The other manufacturers are mostly the result of the IMSA partnership Reiza announced in March, but they are also set to round out other existing classes.

Back to Audi, though. The Audi R8 LMS GT3 will be available in two versions across the two GT3 generations, meaning the Evo II variant is going to slot into GT3 Gen 2 class. Meanwhile, fans of the classic DTM era of the early 1990s will be pleased to see the Audi Quattro V8 join the German Group A class, finally giving the BMW M3 (E30) and Mercedes 190E some much-needed competition. The car - like the older R8 GT3 - will be a free addition to the base game.

Automobilista-2-May-Dev-Update-Audi-R8-LMS-GT3-Evo-II.jpg


Reworked LMDh Hybrid System​

Under the hood of AMS2 and in anticipation of more entries into the LMDh class, the hybrid model for the prototypes will be updated once version 1.6 rolls around. Thus far, it worked more like the ERS system in Formula 1, adding power over the top of the combustion engine’s output to increase the total power output. As we have highlighted in our Le Mans Ultimate hybrid guide, this is not how it works in the current breed of prototypes, however.

Instead, the hybrid “replaces” part of the combustion engine’s power, meaning higher hybrid output leads to less fuel consumption. The system is set to be modeled correctly in AMS2 as well in the milestone update. And: electric launches in pit lane, a fan favorite in the Cadillac V-Series.R and its enormous V8 in particular, will also be on board accordingly.


Automobilista 2 v1.6: Revised Physics​

As mentioned, version 1.6 will see an extensive physics revision again, particularly regarding the tires. "There were still some SETA breakthroughs for our physics devs to crack, and as it turns out it heavily relates to a common feedback we've been receiveng from real drivers and hardcore users alike - that AMS2 tires still seem relatively forgiving and tolerant of over-driving", writes Reiza Founder and Lead Developer Renato Simioni in the Dev Update.

This will be remedied in v1.6 and further sub-versions, mostly due to the so-called tire hysteresis. Simioni explains this as follows: "To briefly recap, hysteresis is the loss of energy through tire distortion, and its modelling determines how deep a specific rubber compound can sink into the asperities of the track surface, and thus sustain peak adhesion for longer."

The three cars that already featured revisions of this kind in v1.5 will see further revisions in 1.6, while the rest of the AMS2 car roster will be brought up to standard with these revisions as well.

Automobilista-2-May-Dev-Update-Flatspots.jpgAutomobilista-2-May-Dev-Update-Tire-Wear.jpg

Flat Spots, Wear & Smoke Particles​

All this also ties into how tires wear, degrade and accumulate damage like flat spots. Automobilista 2 v1.6 will introduce visible wear and flat spots, which should be particularly interesting on open-wheel cars. Lock-ups will now be influenced by the surface they occur on, the load the tire has to endure at that time, and also the compound of rubber used.

Apart from the results being visible, the lock-ups themselves are going to be a bit more spectacular as well. Improved particle effects should result in more believable smoke not just when locking up the brakes, but also for engine failures, as a preview video shows.


Other cosmetic improvements include more detailed windshields, which now feature "a cohesive level of tint and reflections", as well as "varying levels of visible scratches and even fingerprints." Nobody said that racing was a very clean affair, after all.

Additionally, working pit lights make their way into Automobilista 2 once the update is deployed, indicating whether the pits are open or closed, as well as flashing a blue light to signal traffic coming up at pit exit.

Players will have to have some more patience until they get to try these improvements themselves, however. As the Dev Update features "The Road to V1.6 PT1" as its subtitle, a second part is set to follow ahead of the update's release. Part 2 of the Dev Update, which will cover AI improvements, among other things, should be out "at some point in late June, according to Simioni.

What are your favorite improvements mentioned in the Automobilista 2 May Dev Update? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Finally, finally acknowledging and listening to the tyre criticism. Hopefully it comes of something, the preview cars (SC Brasil 2024 and the Formula Ultimate) were definitely a step in the right direction.

Then again, there's still major issues like cars bouncing around the pit box, so there's plenty more to do before it reaches the next level.
 
I really want to like this sim. AMS1 is fantastic. I hope they get this figured out. It's been disappointing so far. I know they are trying. I still have hope.
Have to say sadly, I'm with you on this. Worst value games/dlc packages I've owned, because I've hated driving it and it's spent most of its life uninstalled. I owned all of their previous offerings too. I may give it one final reinstall when the update lands, and try the 3 series BMW's again.

Sadly I had the same hope before, and did the download/new version install and felt the same about the physics afterwards. I'm as happy just to wait for AC-Evo and stick with iRacing, so I'm torn tbh.
 
I really want to like this sim. AMS1 is fantastic. I hope they get this figured out. It's been disappointing so far. I know they are trying. I still have hope.

Yeah no sorry engine has had many revisions and still as many issues as ISIMotor2.5
Like they tempt endurance running 32 cars and how many model slots ? barely a handful
rF2 /LMU support 64 cars and 25 slots, that's huge, in my endurance rating makes AMS2 just 7/10 to start .
Add 64 cars I give it 8 add all slots I give it 9/10 no worries, I could then hack the physics and AI as they are.

Funny thing is I have actually supported them more then the average fanboy because I have only brought selected content spending more money. :x3: :p ......................oh wait :O_o: :( LOL
 
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Yeah no sorry engine has had many revisions and still as many issues as ISIMotor2.5
Like they tempt endurance running 32 cars and how many model slots ? barely a handful
rF2 /LMU support 64 cars and 25 slots, that's huge, in my endurance rating makes AMS2 just 7/10 to start .
Add 64 cars I give it 8 add all slots I give it 9/10 no worries, I could then hack the physics and AI as they are.

Funny thing is I have actually supported them more then the average fanboy because I have only brought selected content spending more money. :x3: :p ......................oh wait :O_o: :( LOL
I generally enjoy your rambling, but I have no idea what you are talking about. AMS 1 was brilliant and shows what Reiza is capable of. I hope they can do the same with AMS2 but so far it has been a disappointment. I still run the "older" titles, and find them to be superior in every way except for maybe graphics. But graphics doesn't make a game good. Graphics make the kids happy, "look how pretty it is". "Look at it in VR"..blah blah blah. the cars don't feel right is all I know.
 
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I really want to like this sim. AMS1 is fantastic. I hope they get this figured out. It's been disappointing so far. I know they are trying. I still have hope.
From what I've tried in the beta, your hope might be fulfilled finally. 1.6 should be a true game-changer, if Reiza isn't f-ing it up a couple of meters before the finish-line (wouldn't be the first time...).

IMO the official AMS2 from the physics is ranging behind AC, ACC, rF2, Raceroom, LMU and Forza for my taste because mostly it's a vague simcade-experience that lacks challenge or feels wrong or both (even the CARTs are great). For example I've just tested the M4 GT3 on the same track with the same custom-FFB I highly suggest and all other major settings in both versions. The M4 is still a bit boring to drive (compare to the Audi and others) and similar from what it actually does, but it feels like a real sim in the beta and I was driving it for over an hour. In the current official version it's so boring to drive, I had to stop after 3 minutes because it's too predictable and lacks FFB-details I get in the beta. Especially the throttle response is finally way more sensitive like it should and driving GT3-cars without TC, like I did most of the time since AMS2-release, got finally a bit more challenging once the best grip is gone.

But not just GT3. When I was testing the McLaren F1 Road in the main game and just thought: Horrible, no way an F1 drives like that. In the beta I think: That's what I imagine an F1 should be like. It's more like AC with a proper tyre-model.
 
Premium
From what I've tried in the beta, your hope might be fulfilled finally. 1.6 should be a true game-changer, if Reiza isn't f-ing it up a couple of meters before the finish-line (wouldn't be the first time...).

IMO the official AMS2 from the physics is ranging behind AC, ACC, rF2, Raceroom, LMU and Forza for my taste because mostly it's a vague simcade-experience that lacks challenge or feels wrong or both (even the CARTs are great). For example I've just tested the M4 GT3 on the same track with the same custom-FFB I highly suggest and all other major settings in both versions. The M4 is still a bit boring to drive (compare to the Audi and others) and similar from what it actually does, but it feels like a real sim in the beta and I was driving it for over an hour. In the current official version it's so boring to drive, I had to stop after 3 minutes because it's too predictable and lacks FFB-details I get in the beta. Especially the throttle response is finally way more sensitive like it should and driving GT3-cars without TC, like I did most of the time since AMS2-release, got finally a bit more challenging once the best grip is gone.

But not just GT3. When I was testing the McLaren F1 Road in the main game and just thought: Horrible, no way an F1 drives like that. In the beta I think: That's what I imagine an F1 should be like. It's more like AC with a proper tyre-model.
That is good news, and as I said, I still have hope. Reiza is brilliant with what they have accomplished in the past. They can do it again.
 
Can't wait to see what UI changes they are bringing. The awkward UI is the worst part of the game for me. AMS2 provides the most straight-out-of-the-box fun for me - without hours of tinkering and applying fixes in text files to make thing work well enough. For classic/vintage F1, it's really fantastic fun. I just hate clicking through pages of cars to get to the ones I want ... every single time. :laugh:

The rate at which Reiza develop, change, and add content is staggering, especially compared to that of some of their competitors.
 
Finally, finally acknowledging and listening to the tyre criticism. Hopefully it comes of something, the preview cars (SC Brasil 2024 and the Formula Ultimate) were definitely a step in the right direction.

Then again, there's still major issues like cars bouncing around the pit box, so there's plenty more to do before it reaches the next level.
Think whole South American is a scene they should avoid. Buyers are from the Northern America and Europe. In my case I did start sim racing in 2019 but did skip AMs in my search because of the South American image. Sorry like many other starters from the Northern hemisphere, the biggest market btw, I did THEN not care about that “far a way” race niche.
I know right now so I do have them both, but still AMs2 has some problems like not out of the box directly working Thrustmaster wheel with a difficulty adjusting and the shimmer on circuit fences in VR mode. The last subject, I think is something from the past, like an old race game that’s later being upgraded to VR use, but seeing that in a 2024 game is ridiculous.
 
I'm very interested for folks to try out the new build once it's out. The new driving physics are completely different.
 
From what I've tried in the beta, your hope might be fulfilled finally. 1.6 should be a true game-changer, if Reiza isn't f-ing it up a couple of meters before the finish-line (wouldn't be the first time...).

IMO the official AMS2 from the physics is ranging behind AC, ACC, rF2, Raceroom, LMU and Forza for my taste because mostly it's a vague simcade-experience that lacks challenge or feels wrong or both (even the CARTs are great). For example I've just tested the M4 GT3 on the same track with the same custom-FFB I highly suggest and all other major settings in both versions. The M4 is still a bit boring to drive (compare to the Audi and others) and similar from what it actually does, but it feels like a real sim in the beta and I was driving it for over an hour. In the current official version it's so boring to drive, I had to stop after 3 minutes because it's too predictable and lacks FFB-details I get in the beta. Especially the throttle response is finally way more sensitive like it should and driving GT3-cars without TC, like I did most of the time since AMS2-release, got finally a bit more challenging once the best grip is gone.

But not just GT3. When I was testing the McLaren F1 Road in the main game and just thought: Horrible, no way an F1 drives like that. In the beta I think: That's what I imagine an F1 should be like. It's more like AC with a proper tyre-model.
Like the 1.5 was a true game changer? ;)
We all ran it for a week and than the game went back in to dusty corners of my storage.
 
Premium
On topic: it's always nice to have updates from the devs keeping me informed of what's improving / being added to one of my games, though I do hope that they handle the leader board resets better than earlier this year. It can be - frustrating - having spent ages 'earning' a place at the top only to wake up one day to find you have to do it all again.

However...

On that topic: there is / was a poll here recently asking why we like sim racing. I didn't complete it as it seemed to be missing the most obvious answer: because it's fun. So if you're reading this, or any other article on RD, and you came along just o say "but I don't like [insert sim here]!" - so what?

I enjoy many sims - it takes a while to adjust when switching between them but they all can be fun - for someone. And they all have bugs, because all software does, even games produced by large 1st party studios (e.g. Forza). And the sims I play are produced by tiny teams in comparison. Give them a break already.

I personally don't like battle royales, MMORPGs, RTSs - or Minecraft. Or 3rd person shooters. So, the most popular games in the world.

Fortunately I have better things to do with my limited free time than visit the forums for those games and tell the people who do like them that I disagree.

For instance, playing games that I do enjoy, and discussing them with others who also like those games. Go have a lap in a game you do like instead of wasting your time reading articles about ones you don't.

TL;DR: Good news about AMS2, and don't yuk other's yums.
 
Premium
Like the 1.5 was a true game changer? ;)
We all ran it for a week and than the game went back in to dusty corners of my storage.
You mean , you ran it for a week. Plenty of people carried on running it and enjoying it. You don't speak for all of us. In fact, you are probably in the minority on this site as AMS2 seems to be one of the more popular titles here. I run it in rotation with a couple of other sims, and 1.5 was a massive step forward. Looks like 1.6 will be a further step.
 
Premium
On topic: it's always nice to have updates from the devs keeping me informed of what's improving / being added to one of my games, though I do hope that they handle the leader board resets better than earlier this year. It can be - frustrating - having spent ages 'earning' a place at the top only to wake up one day to find you have to do it all again.

However...

On that topic: there is / was a poll here recently asking why we like sim racing. I didn't complete it as it seemed to be missing the most obvious answer: because it's fun. So if you're reading this, or any other article on RD, and you came along just o say "but I don't like [insert sim here]!" - so what?

I enjoy many sims - it takes a while to adjust when switching between them but they all can be fun - for someone. And they all have bugs, because all software does, even games produced by large 1st party studios (e.g. Forza). And the sims I play are produced by tiny teams in comparison. Give them a break already.

I personally don't like battle royales, MMORPGs, RTSs - or Minecraft. Or 3rd person shooters. So, the most popular games in the world.

Fortunately I have better things to do with my limited free time than visit the forums for those games and tell the people who do like them that I disagree.

For instance, playing games that I do enjoy, and discussing them with others who also like those games. Go have a lap in a game you do like instead of wasting your time reading articles about ones you don't.

TL;DR: Good news about AMS2, and don't yuk other's yums.
Good answer. Sim racers seem to forget to have fun sometimes. AMS2 is bags of fun, probably for me the best balance between a fun driving experience and realism on the market. That should have been something Forza could achieve, but it didn't sadly.
 

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