Carrera Hybrid is the slot car of the future

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.

When driving several vehicles you might encounter some problems. During my test, I wasn’t able to start the same race mode in pairs initially. Yet, when I connected my phone and my opponents to the same Wi-Fi, the problem was resolved. You can also control the vehicles with any game controllers that can be paired with a phone. See how this works with a PS4 controller in this video.

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.

Career mode adds variety to the game by integrating a level system and expanding the classic race track experience. With each round the challenges get harder and each challenge is scored, which encourages you to keep trying. The very first task requires precise driving and good timing – not as easy at it sounds, not just for beginners either. Anyone who enjoys recording their wins and constantly improving will find long-lasting fun here. However, career mode may be too demanding for those who prefer a straightforward ride.

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.

Car racetrack accessories

EUR58,49

Carrera Porsche 911 GT3

1

Car racetrack accessories

EUR53,13

Carrera Porsche 911 GT3

2

Value for money

Carrera Hybrid is priced in the middle of the range between Carrera GO and Carrera Digital – but in terms of manufacturing costs, this is quite high. However, when you consider the amount of fun and the sophisticated app, the price is still reasonable. For what you get in terms of play value and technology, the Carrera Hybrid remains an affordable pleasure.

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.