The Car Files

The Car Files
Type	Purchaseable player business
Chapters	10
Narrator	Hans Liebold
Tier 10 Reward	Legendary Crash Test Morph Suit

"An engineering consultancy, hired to test out extreme cases for a variety of cars."

—Description

The Car Files is a business consisting of ten chapters introduced with Update 9. The business is unlocked upon reaching player level 70, and can be purchased for 100,000 CR.

Set up by Hans Liebold, a German engineer, who requires a business partner for their business, Joel recommends the player to him. Throughout the story, the player drives cars that are used as Hans's "guinea pigs".

At the end of the event, Hans tells the player that whether the claim was proved or disproved, it was a lot of fun working with them; he says he'll still see them around at the Festival, but that they could consider a career in insurance if they ever left.

Earning all thirty stars in the business awards the player with the Crash Test Morph suit.

Chapters

File 001: Negative Downforce

"Client claims that vehicle raised front wheels off road surface during heavy acceleration. Test vehicle: Volkswagen Type 2."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Volkswagen Type 2 De Luxe

At Hans's office, Hans explains to the player that he built performance vehicles in Germany for thirty years before coming to the Festival to pursue an interest in insurance, before telling the player that that was all a lie and saying that was just to get them comfortable, with Hans admitting he failed in that regard before beginning his first test. He then explains to the player his first file, regarding a VW bus and downforce, and is instructed by Hans to take it down the road and "attempt to make it take off".

As the player sets off with the bus, Hans claims that this is "theoretically possible given sufficient speed", having set their navigation to the outskirts of Edinburgh and requesting they stay above 90 mph (145 km/h). As they drive along, Hans remarks that he forgot to close the roads to traffic, but this is okay as they must "reproduce the conditions as closely as possible". On arrival, Hans proudly claims that the theory has been disproved and that a VW bus cannot fly; he then tells the player that they will learn "he is nothing if not thorough".

• 3 stars: 1 min 25 s
• 2 stars: 1 min 35 s
• 1 star: 2 min

File 002: Manoeuvering, Traffic Conditions

"Client claims vehicle incapable of effective manoeuvering through traffic. Test vehicle: BMW Isetta."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: BMW Isetta 300 Export

At Hans's office, Hans tells the player he is glad to see them again for professional purposes and a growing social connection. He then shows the player their next vehicle, a BMW Isetta; while waxing lyrical about the car and its size, he makes fun of the owner who somehow "delivered theirs into the back of a furniture truck".

As the player sets off with the Isetta, Hans instructs the player to keep above 78 mph (137 km/h) for 30 seconds, in order to "test the Isetta's ability to navigate traffic whilst avoiding collisions". On arrival, Hans proudly claims that the theory has been disproved and that a BMW Isetta can navigate dense traffic "with sufficient driver application"; he then tells the player that he will tell the claimant that they must "try harder".

• 3 stars: 1 min 5 s
• 2 stars: 1 min 15 s
• 1 star: 2 min 50 s

File 003: Aerodynamics, Stability

"Client claims damage to roofing caused during high-speed driving. Test vehicle: Reliant Robin Supervan."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Reliant Supervan III

At Hans's office, Hans tells the player that his next case involves an "outlandish claim" and a vehicle with what he feels is an undeserved reputation, and shows them the car: a Reliant Regal Supervan, and states with "some small stability enhancements" the car is actually of a sound design.

As the player sets off with the Regal, Hans instructs the player to head to Bamburgh Castle where "they will attempt a small and highly scientific jump". On arrival, Hans wonders how to recreate the accident "which resulted in a claim for damages to a church roof". At Bamburgh, Hans discusses with the player, waxing lyrical about the car's structure, before stating that he "perhaps overcompensated" for the test.

As the player lands the jump, Hans proudly claims that the theory has been proven and that "it is entirely possible to deposit a Reliant Supervan in the belfry of a county church; he then tells the player that he will tell the claimant the "good news".

• 3 stars: 400 ft (122 m)
• 2 stars: 300 ft (92 m)
• 1 star: 100 ft (31 m)

File 004: Acceleration Testing

"Client requests acceleration comparison of vehicle based on various pop-culture references. Test vehicle: Morris Minor."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Morris Minor 1000

At Hans's office, Hans tells the player that he enjoys watching movies in his spare time, referencing a movie which "sees young people having personal revelations while racing classic cars"; he then goes on to state that their next claimant attempted to recreate scenes of the film using a Morris Minor, to little success.

As the player sets off with the Morris Minor, Hans instructs the player to head to Edinburgh, which Hans states that while not the California in the film, they could "use their imaginations". On arrival, Hans says to the player that they have achieved the optimal result for the first part of the test: "cruising".

At Edinburgh, Hans tells the player that it is time to test the drag racing performance of the Minor and it had been given "a few small engine modifications" of Hans's own, although he later remarks that this is not really recreating the conditions of the film, and that the speed trap they are borrowing doesn't help with recreating conditions either. As the player sets off, he remarks he is looking for straight line speed, and if it helps, tells the player that they can imagine they are racing against "an impossibly handsome actor". As they blast past the speed trap, Hans remarks that he can tell the claimant that he can be confident in lining up against an Austin-Healey Sprite like in the film "once their Morris Minor returns from the crash repairer".

• 3 stars: 141 mph (227 km/h)
• 2 stars: 129 mph ft (208 km/h)
• 1 star: 125 mph (201 km/h)

File 005: Heavyweight Speed Test

"Client requests viability test of high-speed transport vehicles. Test vehicle: Volvo Racing Truck."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Volvo Iron Knight

At Hans's office, Hans tells the player that he was unfamiliar with the term "racing truck", and had to consult with Horizon for a suitable test vehicle: a Volvo Iron Knight, and admits "he was not disappointed with the result". He then asks the player if they'd like to take the truck out for a spin to "get a feel for this machine" before they begin testing.

As the player sets off with the Morris Minor, Hans instructs the player to head to the Moorhead Wind Farm; on arrival, Hans tells the player that they have passed the first test, which the client had failed to do; that the vehicle was not upside down.

At the wind farm, Hans tells the that they may feel "an urge to go offroad" and that they "please resist this urge", and instructs the player to drive through Lakehurst Forest; as they drive, Hans makes comments about the truck and congratulates the player on their restraint. On arrival, Hans said he might dispute the claim that a racing truck could not be controlled, and that it was possible to deliver perishable goods if it were refrigerated.

• 3 stars: 2 min
• 2 stars: 2 min 30 s
• 1 star: 5 min

File 006: Vertical Manoeuvrability

"Client requests fact-checking of historical all-terrain vehicle with regards to hill climbing. Test vehicle: Willys MB."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Willys MB Jeep

At Hans's office, Hans tells the player that video recordings of these claims is important, as he was unaware that many Festival-goers were considering a career in insurance. He then introduces the vehicle, a Willy MB, and tells the player to "enjoy the scenery as well as the performance" as they scout out their next test location. The player is then instructed to drive to the Lakehurst Slate Quarry.

At the quarry, Hans explains to the player that their client had attempted to maneuver the quarry in their Willys MB in the past to mixed results, "expressing dissatisfaction with their performance upgrades", and through a combination of Hans's work and the player's skill, they would set about to prove the client wrong, using a more "aggressive approach to navigation". As they set off, Hans curtly tells the player to ignore the satnav. On arrival, Hans proclaims that he will tell the client that the Willys MB is "more than adequate for the purposes of vertical movement and visceral excitement".

• 3 stars: 32 s
• 2 stars: 35 s
• 1 star: 1 min 10 s

File 007: Maximum Acceleration

"Client claims that vehicle incapable of reaching advertised speed. Test vehicle: Volkswagen Beetle."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Volkswagen Beetle

At Hans's office, Hans asks the player how they are doing before telling the player they are proceeding on "an acceleration test in normal traffic conditions". He then introduces the player to their car, a 1966 VW Bug, with which he has swapped the stock engine with a 2.5L turbocharged flat-4, partly to recreate the conditions of the claim but also because "he would very much like to see what happens".

The player is then instructed to head to the Brookside speed zone to set a speed; as the player drives along, he requests the player be careful as "he may have overdone it", but retracts his comments after remembering that the claim "concerns a driver very much overdoing it" and allows the player to "put the foot down". On clocking a speed, Hans declares another case closed, but states he likes this client, because he never thought to do this to a Volkswagen while in Germany.

• 3 stars: 127 mph (204 km/h)
• 2 stars: 110 mph (177 km/h)
• 1 star: 100 mph (161 km/h)

File 008: Non-standard capability

"Client requests viability assessment of classic vehicle for use in rally and rallycross. Test vehicle: Chevrolet Type 150 Utility Sedan."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan

At Hans's office, Hans talks to the player about their next case and their next car: he states that their next claimant has the intention of turning their 1955 Chevrolet 150 into a rally car, which is "not so far beyond the realms of possibility"; he then states it could be done with the correct modifications, but the client's attempt at doing so ended in failure. Hans is, however, confident that his attempt would not end the same way.

The player is then instructed to head to the S-Bends drift zone located near the Festival; on arrival, Hans states that they have made "a highly adequate rally car", along with not discounting the psychological effects of being overtaken by "a collector's item". Hans then talks about the test to prove that the 150 could be an adequate rally car, and having seen enough of the player's "experimental driving technique", he believes he can drive the car well enough, and are instructed to drive to Derwentwater while staying on dirt roads. As the player sets off, Hans offers to be their co-driver, but waxes lyrical about his creation instead along with random gibberish pertaining to the car's modifications.

On arrival at Derwentwater, Hans stated that the results were "most satisfactory" and that the claimant would be pleased that Hans and the player "have succeeded where they catastrophically failed", although he admitted that the contrary might happen.

• 3 stars: 1 min 50 s
• 2 stars: 2 min 10 s
• 1 star: 2 min 30 s

File 009: All-terrain handling

"Client requests agility and response testing across multiple terrain types. Test vehicle: Meyers Manx."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: Meyers Manx

At Hans's office, Hans remarks to the player if they had noticed an upward trend in "peculiar insurance cases" since they had begun their partnership, thinking that they were possibly a bad influence. He then reads one such case to the player: "The claimant wishes to establish the absolute maximum capabilities and tolerances of the Meyers Manx dune buggy.", and ushers the player into a Manx.

On flagging the player off, the player has some 2 minutes to accumulate a certain amount of skill points, with Hans commenting that the player should find this task easy. Hans also comments on the player's progress at certain milestones. On completion, Hans remarks that they have "successfully established the tolerances of the Meyers Manx", although he is unsure as to what end. He also remarks that they have yet to receive any claims regarding damaged dune buggies, except likely their own.

• 3 stars: 200,000 points
• 2 stars: 60,000 points
• 1 star: 20,000 points

File 010: Race engine, production chassis

"Client requests acceleration and high-speed responsiveness testing of Japanese production automobile fitted with rotary engine. Test vehicle: Mazda Miata."

—Synopsis

• Car(s) used: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata

At Hans's office, Hans laments that this will be their last time together as business partners in terms of proving or disproving claims, for the moment at least; he then goes on to remark for as long as there is insurance, there will always be bizarre cases, such as the next case, regarding the claimant swapping a 2.6L rotary engine inside of a production Mazda MX-5, with Hans remarking that the engine is more common in "high-performance, propeller-driven aircraft". As they set off, Hans tells the player to take the car and "ascertain just how badly this can go wrong".

On flagging the player off, the player has some 5 minutes to reach the bottom end of the M68 while accumulating a certain amount of speed skills, with Hans commenting on the player's progress at certain milestones. On arrival, Hans remarks that whether the claim was proven or disproved, it was a lot of fun working with the player and he thanks them. Aware he has quite a bit to do at the Festival, he tells the player he'd be seeing them around anyway, but told them that they could considering having a career in insurance if they ever left.

• 3 stars: 28 speed skills
• 2 stars: 15 speed skills
• 1 star: 5 speed skills

Post-completion

Post-completion, Joel contacts the player, saying that Hans told him that he was "completely adequate to his purposes", saying that this was the greatest compliment he ever heard him give, and that he'd call the player up if he needed the player again. He then goes on to remark that Hans is grateful even though he doesn't show it, and that he loves to set up test conditions but absolutely loathes driving.