After a first glimpse of the upcoming Assetto Corsa EVO, there are several details you may not have noticed. Here are just some of the ones we spotted!
Sim racing fans rejoice: Assetto Corsa EVO is speeding onto Steam Early Access on 16 January, 2025. The direct follow-up to the acclaimed Assetto Corsa looks set to raise the bar for racing simulations again, with an announcement trailer giving us a first glimpse of gameplay footage.
While information on the highly-anticipated racing simulation is still limited, there are plenty of hidden details in the trailer you may have missed.
When the Steam Page went live in April, we were treated to screenshots showing close-ups of immaculately detailed cars, from the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm to the Alpine A110. Now, the reveal trailer has showcased several new cars in motion for the first time.
While a few thoroughbred race cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT2 and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup are shown, there is an emphasis on production road cars. This suggests that Assetto Corsa EVO will return the series to its roots with an eclectic car roster after Competizione focused exclusively on GT racers.
New cars highlighted in the trailer include the track-focused BMW M4 CSL, the Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid supercar, the McLaren 765LT, a three-wheeled Morgan Super-3, and a classic Mini Cooper. Kunos Simulazioni’s close relationship with Ferrari has resulted in the Ferrari Daytona SP3 appearing for the first time in a PC racing simulation, while a Ferrari F40 Competizione is also shown in an official screenshot – the Competizione variant of the iconic F40 is rarely seen in racing games.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N hot hatch is also thrown around corners towards the end of the trailer, confirming that production electric cars will feature in Assetto Corsa EVO – a series first outside of mods. It will be joined by the Alpine A290 electric concept, first shown in early screenshots. It will be interesting to see if Kunos replicate the IONIQ 5 N's various functions such as driving modes and sound settings.
A shot of scale model cars displayed on a shelf at the trailer's beginning may also offer more clues: several historic race cars are shown, such as the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI and Lotus 49 from the original Assetto Corsa. Look closely, and you can also see a Tyrrell P34 model, teasing that the six-wheeled Formula 1 car could be coming to Assetto Corsa EVO.
From modern hypercars to classic sports cars and quirky three-wheelers, it's clear that Assetto Corsa EVO will celebrate different aspects of car culture. However, Japanese cars were notably absent in the trailer. Iconic models like the Toyota Supra MKIV and Mazda RX-7 will hopefully return from the first game, along with new additions like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza rally legends, but we will have to wait until Kunos releases an official car list.
While several iconic circuits such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife have already been confirmed, the trailer gave a brief glimpse of Imola, Brands Hatch and another track - a viewer of our live stream spotted a Panasonic banner, which may be from Fuji or another Japanese track.
And then there was a big surprise: public roads. Open roads are nothing new in Assetto Corsa. Fans of the original game will remember driving along the winding country roads of the USA’s Black Cat Country, and there are plenty of Assetto Corsa mods that allow you to enjoy some open-world cruising.
However, what is surprising here is that the BMW traffic car driving on the opposite side of the road in the trailer. This may suggest that Assetto Corsa EVO will have free-roaming elements on open road courses, possibly inspired by the myriad of mods created for the original game. While nothing is confirmed yet, this will be uncharted territory for Kunos, which has focused exclusively on track-based racers throughout its history.
The country road appears to be based on an actual road near the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Comparing photos from Google Maps, the location in the trailer looks nearly identical, from the placement of the cobble stones to the angle of the guardrail.
If open roads are coming, it will be an exciting and unexpected new direction for the series. Assetto Corsa EVO’s state-of-the-art physics would provide a far more realistic open-road driving experience than Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest, and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, broadening the appeal of sim racing to more casual players.
Whereas Assetto Corsa Competizione runs on Unreal Engine 4, Assetto Corsa EVO will be powered by an in-house engine like the original. The results are striking, judging from the trailer. Early gameplay footage showcases 24-hour race cycles, realistic lighting and cloud formations, and impressive weather effects, with rain droplets gathering on windows and water flowing along the track.
We also noticed a lack of water spray effects, but the gameplay is not representative of the final game, so this should be added in a later build. This confirms that rain will be available from the start when the final game launches, although it remains to be seen if wet weather racing will be in the initial early access build. Racing in the rain was only possible with mods in the original Assetto Corsa, but was a staple feature of the Assetto Corsa Competizione spin-off.
Another shot towards the end of the trailer shows an Alpine A110 appearing in reflections on a Lotus Emira’s rear bodywork during an intense battle. This could mean that Assetto Corsa EVO will boast ray-tracing reflections during races like Gran Turismo 7 on PS5 Pro – but you may need a powerful PC to take advantage of these effects.
While the cars are the stars of the Assetto Corsa EVO trailer, the drivers also get some attention. Drivers are shown wearing licensed Bell helmets, while another shot shows a driver picking up a pair of OMP racing gloves. In another shot, a driver sits inside a luxurious Mercedes interior, wearing a casual jacket and turning the wheel with no gloves.
We also get a closeup of a driver’s shoes working the pedals in a slick animation. This focus on licensed clothing suggests that Assetto Corsa EVO may feature customisable drivers, adding a new level of personalisation to the series.
This, of course, opens up more room for speculation. For example, Kunos could use this element to further monetise the game or introduce season passes, similar to the F1 series or Forza. Clothing options are now common in major racing franchises, so we will not be surprised if Assetto Corsa Evo joins this trend.
Did you notice any new details in the Assetto Corsa EVO trailer? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion in the forum.
Sim racing fans rejoice: Assetto Corsa EVO is speeding onto Steam Early Access on 16 January, 2025. The direct follow-up to the acclaimed Assetto Corsa looks set to raise the bar for racing simulations again, with an announcement trailer giving us a first glimpse of gameplay footage.
While information on the highly-anticipated racing simulation is still limited, there are plenty of hidden details in the trailer you may have missed.
New Cars
When the Steam Page went live in April, we were treated to screenshots showing close-ups of immaculately detailed cars, from the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm to the Alpine A110. Now, the reveal trailer has showcased several new cars in motion for the first time.
While a few thoroughbred race cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT2 and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup are shown, there is an emphasis on production road cars. This suggests that Assetto Corsa EVO will return the series to its roots with an eclectic car roster after Competizione focused exclusively on GT racers.
New cars highlighted in the trailer include the track-focused BMW M4 CSL, the Ferrari 296 GTB hybrid supercar, the McLaren 765LT, a three-wheeled Morgan Super-3, and a classic Mini Cooper. Kunos Simulazioni’s close relationship with Ferrari has resulted in the Ferrari Daytona SP3 appearing for the first time in a PC racing simulation, while a Ferrari F40 Competizione is also shown in an official screenshot – the Competizione variant of the iconic F40 is rarely seen in racing games.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N hot hatch is also thrown around corners towards the end of the trailer, confirming that production electric cars will feature in Assetto Corsa EVO – a series first outside of mods. It will be joined by the Alpine A290 electric concept, first shown in early screenshots. It will be interesting to see if Kunos replicate the IONIQ 5 N's various functions such as driving modes and sound settings.
A shot of scale model cars displayed on a shelf at the trailer's beginning may also offer more clues: several historic race cars are shown, such as the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI and Lotus 49 from the original Assetto Corsa. Look closely, and you can also see a Tyrrell P34 model, teasing that the six-wheeled Formula 1 car could be coming to Assetto Corsa EVO.
From modern hypercars to classic sports cars and quirky three-wheelers, it's clear that Assetto Corsa EVO will celebrate different aspects of car culture. However, Japanese cars were notably absent in the trailer. Iconic models like the Toyota Supra MKIV and Mazda RX-7 will hopefully return from the first game, along with new additions like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza rally legends, but we will have to wait until Kunos releases an official car list.
Free Roam?
While several iconic circuits such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife have already been confirmed, the trailer gave a brief glimpse of Imola, Brands Hatch and another track - a viewer of our live stream spotted a Panasonic banner, which may be from Fuji or another Japanese track.
And then there was a big surprise: public roads. Open roads are nothing new in Assetto Corsa. Fans of the original game will remember driving along the winding country roads of the USA’s Black Cat Country, and there are plenty of Assetto Corsa mods that allow you to enjoy some open-world cruising.
However, what is surprising here is that the BMW traffic car driving on the opposite side of the road in the trailer. This may suggest that Assetto Corsa EVO will have free-roaming elements on open road courses, possibly inspired by the myriad of mods created for the original game. While nothing is confirmed yet, this will be uncharted territory for Kunos, which has focused exclusively on track-based racers throughout its history.
The country road appears to be based on an actual road near the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Comparing photos from Google Maps, the location in the trailer looks nearly identical, from the placement of the cobble stones to the angle of the guardrail.
If open roads are coming, it will be an exciting and unexpected new direction for the series. Assetto Corsa EVO’s state-of-the-art physics would provide a far more realistic open-road driving experience than Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest, and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, broadening the appeal of sim racing to more casual players.
Realistic Reflections
We also noticed a lack of water spray effects, but the gameplay is not representative of the final game, so this should be added in a later build. This confirms that rain will be available from the start when the final game launches, although it remains to be seen if wet weather racing will be in the initial early access build. Racing in the rain was only possible with mods in the original Assetto Corsa, but was a staple feature of the Assetto Corsa Competizione spin-off.
Another shot towards the end of the trailer shows an Alpine A110 appearing in reflections on a Lotus Emira’s rear bodywork during an intense battle. This could mean that Assetto Corsa EVO will boast ray-tracing reflections during races like Gran Turismo 7 on PS5 Pro – but you may need a powerful PC to take advantage of these effects.
Customisable Drivers?
We also get a closeup of a driver’s shoes working the pedals in a slick animation. This focus on licensed clothing suggests that Assetto Corsa EVO may feature customisable drivers, adding a new level of personalisation to the series.
This, of course, opens up more room for speculation. For example, Kunos could use this element to further monetise the game or introduce season passes, similar to the F1 series or Forza. Clothing options are now common in major racing franchises, so we will not be surprised if Assetto Corsa Evo joins this trend.
Did you notice any new details in the Assetto Corsa EVO trailer? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion in the forum.
