Update Speculation thread

Wait, wait, wait! It looks like a new wheel in the picture! This may mean that developers will replace the sunburst's wheel shared with etk!

 

I think it's pretty obvious they would do that

 

They already updated Hirochi raceway years ago

 

That time just added PBR to the map, and this time it may be a remaster.

 

With the WCUSA track getting this many new features and the Hirochi raceway getting some love, I hope we'll see more racing content like better AI and easier to setup AI races

 

They completely remastered it though. And now I'm realizing it was 5 years ago.. wow.

 

Thats insane. I hope someday we get another city map that's built from the ground up with their current capabilities. The difference in quality is pretty big, imagine how good belasco would look had they originally started making it today.

 

If they are remastering Hirochi Raceway, I hope for bigger run-off areas after some corners, especially after long stretches. In some turns, a braking mistake means your car is totaled because the sandy area is not enough to stop. Skill issue I guess but still, the track should be a bit safer.

 

Deleted

 

Cool, looks like we're getting a drag strip added to Hirochi Raceway which is basically a confirmation that the map will be getting reworked.

Something I don't think anybody has mentioned yet from reading through this thread, a convertible might imply that "ray-traced" audio has been implemented and thus cabin muffling now works completely differently (changing depending on whether doors are ajar, glass is broken etc?). I might be wrong, but I swear that was the primary reasoning that convertibles hadn't found their way into the game yet in any official capacity. So if they were waiting to implement such tech and they're only now adding a convertible into the game, it implies cabin muffling has gotten that much needed rework. Just speculation though

 

Is it just me or does the configuration of the drag strip look like the devs took Bandimere Speedway and gave it steroids? That runoff area looks very COTA with the dramatic elevation

 

A Hirochi Raceway addition makes sense. Putting aside the double Hirochi update, we know the team has been working on what was formerly the motorsport branch of career mode. WCUSA has been getting additions for most updates since career mode was "released" with updates to the Belasco motorsport park coming in the next update, so the team certainly could have had Hirochi in mind for some stuff as well.

As for the convertible speculation.... I'm not sure what to think to be honest. We've had the Hopper and targa Civettas for awhile, and we just got the model 9 Roadster. A convertible Sunburst wouldn't really make sense...

 

Well to fit a drag strip in the relatively small map they would probably have to. And plus it's fun and I would imagine it reduces brake wear.

 

You know what, I had completely blanked on the targa bolides (and others). But when I think sunburst convertible, I don't imagine a targa or t-tops. I imagine a proper fabric retractable roof (in coupe configuration). I might be wishing for too much regarding the muffling but I am pretty sure it was one of the long term wishes on the audio feedback thread.

 

You can race at a drag strip in just about any car as long as it can move.

 

It reminds me of KD dragway.

 

The side guards of the track remind me of the Hirochi Raceway. I'd love to see a remaster/remake of this map, it certainly lacks some variety in its facilities.
As for the car, remember that it could also be an SBR4 remaster since both it and the Sunburst share technical features now. So SBR4 convertible, maybe? Very possible, if you ask me!
On the other hand, it could also be a 2-door Sunburst Coupe, like the Impreza R22B. This would be great too, not complaining! But a convertible Sunburst is certainly going too far for such a car!
As for the track again, I like the fact that the drag strip finishes on an uphill. We haven't had that feature before, plus it reminds me of the Monrovia Maryland 75-80 Drag-a-Way Motorweek used in the past decades!

 

Well since Hirochi Raceway already had a remaster like nearly 5-6 years ago, it prob could see a remake instead

 

I doubt we'd be getting another full HR remaster. Some improvements here and there, sure, I could see that coming with a Hirochi vehicle update. It looks like that's what HR's going to get in 0.35 - how extensive, I'm not sure.

I don't know if it'll happen this update, but I wouldn't be surprised to see HR become the first map outside of WCA to be included in career mode. It would be a very easy map to add in career - it's almost entirely focused on motorsports, with only small back roads around the track for "public" roads. These additions are likely preparing the map for use in career mode, since adding a drag strip would reduce the need to travel across the nation to do one style of motorsport.

As for a Sunburst convertible...while neither the Impreza or Lancer got official convertible variants, the second-gen Euro Ford Focus, Nissan Micra K12, and Opel Astra H all had retractable-hardtop versions, and the Mk6 Golf had a convertible variant, as well. (And the many Peugeot CC variants, as well.) So, while it would be a bit peculiar for the Sunburst to be the first convertible, there's plenty of precedent for compact-sedan/hatch-based convertibles from around the era of the Sunburst. I think we might lose out on a hatch/wagon if there is a convertible coming, though - but I wouldn't mind being surprised by getting both bodystyles, either. It'd be very, very nice to get a proper competitor to the FCV's customization possibilities.

The car looks much closer to the Sunburst than the SBR - it's got the same general lines and shape around that area as the current Sunburst. While that doesn't eliminate the possibilities of the SBR getting a remaster this update, I'm not sure if we'll get one. It'd make sense for it to happen, though.

A 2-door coupe wouldn't be out-of-place for the Sunburst, either - while, again, neither the Impreza or Lancer had two-door coupes by 2009, the Honda Civic was offered as a coupe until 2020, and the Chevrolet Cobalt and first- and second-gen Kia Forte also had coupe versions.