Carrera Hybrid is the slot car of the future

Ramon Schneider

20/11/2024

Translation: Elicia Payne

Pictures: Lorenz Keller

Carrera catapulted the classic racetrack into the digital age with its hybrid series. New technology ensures track-free racing and action-packed manoeuvres. But the gaming experience also has weaknesses.

As a child, my Carrera track was the greatest thing ever. I’d spend hours and hours racing my cars around the tracks, lap after lap. Now, years later, Carrera has ushered in a new era with the Hybrid series, which is intended to combine the familiar with modern features. Time to find out whether the Carrera Hybrid really offers what it promises and whether it still excites me as much as it did back then.

First impressions and setup

The packaging comes in a classic Carrera design and, at first sight, the set looks high-quality. The cars, however, just come in a plain cardboard box – I’d have liked something nicer. The cars are surprisingly light compared to normal Carrera vehicles. It probably has to be that way to suit the driving behaviour.

The track sections can be put together intuitively and they’re quick to assemble. For even more varied routes, there’s the option of buying additional parts so you can extend your track or redesign as you wish. The app even has a virtual planning tool you can plan new layouts in, using your existing bends and straight parts.

But before you can get started, there’s a small downside. Logging in to the Carrera app’s mandatory. This seems a bit overkill for a toy. The font size on the login screen is also small, which prolongs the set-up. Once you’ve done it, the app guides you through the first steps.

Vehicles and Bluetooth connection

Currently, the range of vehicles is limited to four coloured Porsche 911 GT3s – not many, but there’s potential for future updates and expansions. To switch the cars on, you have to pull them back briefly, which is unusual but works. The vehicles connect via Bluetooth fast and reliably. If the car doesn’t connect, you have to briefly switch the Bluetooth on your phone off and on again. That’s always worked for me.

Driving dynamics and game modes

The driving experience itself is refreshingly different. The cars move freely and aren’t fixed to tracks. What’s particularly exciting are the overtaking manoeuvres – they require some practice. The more laps you do, the more control you have and the smoother the feel of the game.

Battery life and charging times

With a driving time lasting around 25 to 30 minutes, the cars give a solid performance. After that, the vehicles have to be charged for half an hour. Depending on the situation, you can use this break to rebuild the race track. But, I recommend that you invest in a second set of cars. While you’re driving one, the other can be charged.

Value for money

The app system also has one major advantage: the game can be developed with updates. It’s already been announced that there will be a multiplayer mode, allowing you to compete against players from all over the world. A ghost car variant might be released too – a vehicle that races around the track controlled entirely by AI and it’s your job to beat it.

Ramon Schneider

Editor

Ramon.Schneider@digitecgalaxus.ch

I get paid to play with toys all day.

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