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At the Toy Fair in New York, Carrera is focusing on a system that is deliberately understood as a further development of classic slot car racing. Carrera Hybrid has been available in the USA since 2025 and, according to the company, has been very well received there.
The concept is aimed at a target group that has grown up with both traditional car racing tracks and video games – and wants to combine the two worlds.
In this case, hybrid means slot car racing without slots. The vehicles no longer move rigidly in a guide rail, but drive freely across the track – comparable to a small RC vehicle. At the same time, the typical racetrack experience is retained. At the heart of the system is AI that supports and controls driving behaviour. Depending on the selected difficulty level, the artificial intelligence intervenes to varying degrees. Beginners can be kept on the track automatically, advanced drivers receive only slight corrections, and experienced drivers drive completely independently. Carrera Hybrid thus opens up the system to different levels of experience. Control is via an app with a deliberately reduced, clearly structured interface. Numerous functions can be set and simulated via this interface. The classic video game approach is visibly integrated: you ‘level up’, unlock functions and develop your vehicle further.
Various parameters can be influenced via the app. These include tyre conditions, gear changes, braking behaviour and turbo boost. Even different road conditions such as wet or dry tracks are simulated. During the race, the AI analyses the terrain and reacts accordingly. This creates a new kind of racing experience that goes beyond just stepping on the gas. The main functions include:
Beneath the black coating of the track is a special hatching pattern. A sensor at the front of the vehicle constantly reads this structure. This means that the car always knows where it is on the track. This constant communication between the vehicle and the track is the technical basis for free driving without a slot. Carrera thus remains true to the racetrack principle, but significantly expands it in technical terms. While classic systems are mechanically guided, this system uses digital track guidance.
As is usual with Carrera, there is a wide range of vehicles to choose from. Audi, Porsche, BMW and, particularly relevant for the US market, the Ford Mustang are available. The introduction of Formula 1 vehicles has been announced for the end of the year. Models from Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Audi are planned. This positions Carrera Hybrid not only as a technical experiment, but as a fully-fledged platform with well-known brands and racing series.
In German-speaking countries, Carrera tracks are virtually synonymous with slot car racing. In the USA, the brand is less deeply rooted, but still strongly represented. According to its own figures, Carrera claims around 80 per cent of the hobby market. In the mass market, the company is perceived as the slot car racing manufacturer. Competition arises primarily in the lower price segment from suppliers in China. However, Carrera sees itself as clearly positioned in terms of quality. The brand is present in specialist shops as well as at major retailers such as Walmart, Target and Costco. The claim remains the same: anyone who buys a Carrera track expects quality and technical expertise.
Carrera Hybrid marks an attempt to bring classic slot car racing into the present. The combination of a physical track, digital control and artificial intelligence appeals to a generation that has grown up with video games. The system answers the question of what can come after traditional slot car racing. Free driving, AI support, app control and a level system create a hybrid gaming experience. The basic idea remains the same: two or more vehicles on a race track competing for positions. Carrera Hybrid, as the next step in slot car racing, thus represents a technical opening up of the format. It is no longer just a car racetrack, but a racing system that combines analogue mechanics and digital logic – and thus positions itself between toy, hobby and video game.
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