The NewStratos concept sportscar is set to hit the rally tracks in a new computer game, Colin McRae: DIRT, emulating the now-legendary exploits of its iconic predecessor which has long since entered the history books as one of the most charismatic rally machines of all time. The NewStratos project hit the headlines at the Geneva Motor Show almost exactly two years ago when a new concept sportscar - that aimed to reinterpret the famous Lancia Stratos - was unveiled by Fenomenon Holistic Design, a design studio headed by Christian Hrabalek, the world's foremost collector of these incredible cars.

With ambitious plans in place to put NewStratos project into production, which include a feasibility study being carried out by the reputed Prodrive organisation, Fenomenon see this year a being all about placing the NewStratos firmly into the mix of the "digital" revolution, embedding it into the consciousness of a new generation whose lives revolve around this medium. The first step has been to feature the NewStratos in Colin McRae: DIRT, the latest instalment of the popular computer game.

Colin McRae: DIRT roars with all the sensational realism and sublime car handling that the series is renowned for, only this time, with true next-generation technology under the bonnet, and featuring the exciting NewStratos concept. Coming in 2007 for the Playstation 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, Colin McRae: DIRT is the first game being created using Codemasters Studios’ proprietary engine, Neon.

Neon is a growling powerhouse of a game engine that will drive the next-generation of the series’ impeccable car handling, incredibly detailed vehicles and fantastic living environments. Neon is a multi-platform continuous technical development that’s already been in production for over 18 months with over 30 tech experts on the team. Neon is being used to build Colin McRae: DIRT from the ground up with technology developed exclusively for next-generation formats; there’s no adaptation of previous McRae tech in DIRT.

Neon will ensure that DIRT’s exhilarating mix of off-road race events will be compounded into one adrenaline rush of a video game with playability that’s true to the Colin McRae series. With more than 40 officially licensed vehicles covering 12 car class categories, fans of the McRae series will get their fix of throwing official 2WD, 4WD, Classic and RWD cars, including Colin McRae’s prototype R4, the NewStratos concept, and Travis Pastrana’s X Games-winning Subaru Impreza, around the most challenging and treacherous rally stages around the world.

Says Gavin Cheshire, Vice President of Codemasters Studios: “Neon delivers an engine that provides us with so much more scope and possibilities than an update of existing tech would have ever allowed.
 

"The most obvious result is in the visual detail and physics that produce incredible particle effects," continues Mr Chashire, add that: "Neon makes it possible to go into seemingly minute detail but will create the most realistic and involving environments in the racing genre.”

The detail Neon provides enables the team to model locations and environments as accurately as possible, providing each with a unique look and feel, right down to the effects of the wind. Using real-time physics to model air movements, everything will be affected by the wind: exhaust smoke, trees, foliage, trackside flags, rainfall and the vehicles themselves. A car will create an air rush wake that will have an effect on everything it passes and also generate a real-time slipstream. Impact from damage will see metal crumple, glass smash and everything that you collide with in the environment will be destroyed in a realistic way.

Small trees snap and bend, grass can be flattened, wood will splinter and stone will be smashed, it’ll even wrap a car around a tree if the crash is serious enough. As the evolution of the world’s favourite rally game series, Colin McRae: DIRT - featuring the NewStratos - is coming in 2007 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Sign up for total mud splattering, gravel churning, handbrake turning, off-road racing online at www.codemasters.com/dirt.

Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for a global audience on current and future gaming platforms and channels. Established in 1986, the company’s dominant brands include Colin McRae Rally, TOCA Race Driver, LMA Manager, Brian Lara Cricket and Operation Flashpoint. The company is headquartered in Southam, Warwickshire UK and maintains operations in the US, Germany, France, Spain, and Benelux.