Details You May Have Missed In The Assetto Corsa EVO Trailer

Details You May Have Missed in the Assetto Corsa Evo trailer.jpg
Images: Kunos Simulazioni / 505 Games
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.


New Cars​

Assetto Corsa EVO Hyundai Ioniq 5.jpg


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.

Assetto Corsa EVO trailer toy cars.jpg


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?​

Assetto Corsa EVO free roam.jpg


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​

Assetto Corsa EVO ray tracing reflections.jpg

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.

Customisable Drivers?​

Assetto Corsa EVO driver.jpg

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.
About author
Martin Bigg
Arcade racing addict. Can usually be found causing carnage in Wreckfest and still craving a new Driver and Burnout game. Car movie nerd.

Comments

Well-known YouTubers have analyzed the AC EVO trailer down to the smallest detail. This article also describes many details. I like that I see a detail that has not yet been mentioned. The first generation Volkswagen Golf was in two variants. The older and the newer. The difference was clearly visible at the taillights and bumpers. The older variant has narrow taillights and smaller bumpers and the newer variant has wider taillights and larger bumpers. The Golf GTI in the AC EVO trailer is the old variant, really the first generation. I like that, because the first car I bought myself was one of those.

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And ... hype about what, that you will have two golfs ? AC for sure has these mods now. It is way to early to hype to **** to your pants...
 
Premium
And ... hype about what, that you will have two golfs ? AC for sure has these mods now. It is way to early to hype to **** to your pants...
I just see a nice little detail, nothing more, nothing less. There is nothing here that I am trying to hype. I have no idea where you get that from. So why this reaction?
Ohe and yes, I have both mods you mentioned in AC. But these mods are no official release and don't have the quality of original Kunos cars.
 
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Stupid petty rant incoming... Has any racing game/sim developer actually been to a racing event and had a look around at the crowds and how people interact? A minor thing for sure, but I can't stand how much the 'spectators' destroy immersion in every sim I've ever played. Just a bunch of random cardboard cutouts all standing 10ft away from each other. No couples or groups or families. Every 'person' is standing, nobody is sitting in chairs or chilling on the ground except those in the grandstands. In the pouring rain, nobody has an umbrella or wears a hood. And I see KS has brought back the flag waving dudes :mad: LITERALLY NOBODY DOES THIS AT A RACE KUNOS, it doesn't look cool or fun, it looks ridiculous and annoying. Why bother having spectators in your sim at all if they're going to be implement so poorly? I'm so glad Custom Shaders had an option to remove spectators in AC, wish ACC had the same option, hope ACE does too. End rant :coffee:
 
Why do people keep making assumptions by looking at the scale models?
Those are present in the new Kunos office since they have moved in and are nothing but a collection of models especially dear to Massarutto.
Does this mean he has an interest in licensing them? Sure. Does it mean they are actually gonna be in the game? Absolutely not.
Can't we just having fun while waiting for the early access release?
 
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Premium
Stupid petty rant incoming... Has any racing game/sim developer actually been to a racing event and had a look around at the crowds and how people interact? A minor thing for sure, but I can't stand how much the 'spectators' destroy immersion in every sim I've ever played. Just a bunch of random cardboard cutouts all standing 10ft away from each other. No couples or groups or families. Every 'person' is standing, nobody is sitting in chairs or chilling on the ground except those in the grandstands. In the pouring rain, nobody has an umbrella or wears a hood. And I see KS has brought back the flag waving dudes :mad: LITERALLY NOBODY DOES THIS AT A RACE KUNOS, it doesn't look cool or fun, it looks ridiculous and annoying. Why bother having spectators in your sim at all if they're going to be implement so poorly? I'm so glad Custom Shaders had an option to remove spectators in AC, wish ACC had the same option, hope ACE does too. End rant :coffee:
Thanks for the rant warning. Everyone has their own personal preference for the level of detail of the spectators. There are also people who don't even see the spectators because they are very focused on driving. I sometimes see a spectator waving a flag in real life. I see that almost every TV broadcast of Formula 1. But I do understand what you are saying. The first thing I thought when I saw the spectators in this trailer was, that looks like the spectators in Codemasters Grid. I thought that was Arcade, but at the same time also fun.
 
Thanks for the rant warning. Everyone has their own personal preference for the level of detail of the spectators. There are also people who don't even see the spectators because they are very focused on driving. I sometimes see a spectator waving a flag in real life. I see that almost every TV broadcast of Formula 1. But I do understand what you are saying. The first thing I thought when I saw the spectators in this trailer was, that looks like the spectators in Codemasters Grid. I thought that was Arcade, but at the same time also fun.
Most people will understandably say "Who looks at the crowd while racing?" With that logic though, why have any track objects at all in a sim? Can't even argue that spectators are a minor and understated detail when you look at the effort KS put into the annoying flag waving guy. It's not so much about the level of immersion as much as certain things that instantly break the immersion, and poorly done spectators definitely does that IMO.

On the flip side, it seems like ACE will be mighty impressive from the looks of the trailer. Ranting aside, I cannot wait to see how it drives :)
 
Obviously, this is ALL speculation at this point but it would be a shame if they go down the whole F1 world of owning a house, kitting it out, buying licensed clothing. I would say, at a guess, probably about 97-98% of us here wouldn't give a toss about stuff like that. Detailed FFB, great AI to race against, excellent weather system, that's probably more important in a racing title than additional fluff like clothes and ornaments in a house... So hopefully they've not gone down that route.
 
Well-known YouTubers have analyzed the AC EVO trailer down to the smallest detail. This article also describes many details. I like that I see a detail that has not yet been mentioned. The first generation Volkswagen Golf was in two variants. The older and the newer. The difference was clearly visible at the taillights and bumpers. The older variant has narrow taillights and smaller bumpers and the newer variant has wider taillights and larger bumpers. The Golf GTI in the AC EVO trailer is the old variant, really the first generation. I like that, because the first car I bought myself was one of those.

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Hey! My probation officer drove one of these, right up to my house every week. Wayyyy back when.
 
Detailed physics and well parametrized nice to drive each individual cars, great AI to race against, awesome online racing and stats, excellent weather system and tire physics in these various weather conditions. That's probably few of most important aspects in a car driving and racing simulation title.

Edited quote. I just put words in your mouth. Aggressively.
 
Premium
Ohhh, a new Gran Tourismo, AMS3, Raceroom 2 trailer, yay!
A few curbs, some asphalt, a few vehicles that everyone knows and the trailer is ready for...
For what exactly?
If it didn't say Assetto Corsa Evo, it could have been made for all Sims and those who think they are.
What about the rules, multi-class races, etc.?
Are the rules freely configurable, or can I drive an F1 from the 70s under modern rules again?
Ohhh, that pissed me off with GT Legends. Luckily, the Altbierbude was available as a mod lexicon.
And what about a fully operable VR cockpit and steering wheel?
That would be a real evolution in the dusty racing game sector.
The publisher that brings out a racing game like that owns my money and I'll buy DLCs
from them for the rest of my life.
All I can say is L.A.Noir on the PS4. A Console. Unbelievable.
I think that if your computer is powerful enough, you can get the graphical look with the old Assetto.
The rest is done by the texture, the light CM, Sol and CSP and a fair amount of esoteric imagination.
The little clip doesn't arouse any interest in me, any emotions or the desire to switch.
 
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Ohhh, a new Gran Tourismo, AMS3, Raceroom 2 trailer, yay!
A few curbs, some asphalt, a few vehicles that everyone knows and the trailer is ready for...
For what exactly?
If it didn't say Assetto Corsa Evo, it could have been made for all Sims and those who think they are.
What about the rules, multi-class races, etc.?
Are the rules freely configurable, or can I drive an F1 from the 70s under modern rules again?
Ohhh, that pissed me off with GT Legends. Luckily, the Altbierbude was available as a mod lexicon.
And what about a fully operable VR cockpit and steering wheel?
That would be a real evolution in the dusty racing game sector.
The publisher that brings out a racing game like that owns my money and I'll buy DLCs
from them for the rest of my life.
All I can say is L.A.Noir on the PS4. A Console. Unbelievable.
I think that if your computer is powerful enough, you can get the graphical look with the old Assetto.
The rest is done by the texture, the light CM, Sol and CSP and a fair amount of esoteric imagination.
The little clip doesn't arouse any interest in me, any emotions or the desire to switch.
I think it was showcasing the bare minimum that it could. They just want to get it out there, that there is rain, night/day, all that. While still hinting towards sticking to 'AC roots' by showing some cars in the original AC.
 
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Missed nothing, every screenshot is intended as Bling.
Started with NFS / Shift and took over the market.
What I noticed is terrible looking BLUR, LOD, DOF
For mine all engines showcase to some extent and mostly it just looks off.
S397 has a more natural looking approach imho but still needs work.
 
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I watched Jimmers impressions of a trailer. I liked when he put an impression that there could be proper implementation of rain racing lines, when looking at the scene where Alpine slips off. He knows, I know it could be a wishful thinking. I really wish also. I would love uncompromised quality simulations that is not just about "woooohoo". I worry a lot, too much, that Kunos once again just won't have balls to do it. And balls it would take, I probably also wouldn't want to cut my profits in half due to principally fixing on to hardcore simulation features working actually as hard as they do IRL. Cutting balls off is more profitable.
 

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