Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game V4.2.13
Automation isn't just about making a car look cool; it is about the engineering compromises.
v4.2.13 represents the most stable and feature-complete version of the "Tycoon" aspect, finally giving players a reason to care about the margins of their engine blocks.
Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game version (Open Alpha) introduced several critical fixes and quality-of-life improvements to the car and engine design process. Whether you are aiming for a performance powerhouse or a campaign-dominating economy car, Key Updates in v4.2.13
Physical Header Glow: A new physically-based model for header and turbo glow was added, improving the visual realism of high-stress engine testing.
Photoscene Enhancements: The update introduced undo buttons for camera settings and a more workable resolution slider for better high-quality captures. UI & Stability Fixes:
Fixed a persistent issue where the car designer framerate would drop after moving the hoist. Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game v4.2.13
Improved the demographic comparison tooltips and fixed visibility issues for non-production engine variants in the campaign hub.
Corrected wheel size limit imports for cars brought over from version 4.1 or earlier. Essential Design & Performance Tips
To get the most out of your builds in this version, keep these meta-strategies in mind:
Engine Families vs. Variants: If you need a different engine size for a new car, clone the entire family rather than just the variant. Changing the bore or stroke on the first page of the designer affects every variant in that family, which can ruin existing car designs.
Avoid "Dino Queens": Don't just chase peak horsepower. A realistic, flat torque curve is better for racing and general driveability than an engine that only makes power at the very top of the RPM range. Header Selection: Automation isn't just about making a car look
Short Cast: The standard for 90% of your builds; reliable and balanced.
Tubular: Better for sporty mid-range cars, offering improved flow and lighter weight.
Race Tubular: Best reserved for hypercars or low-production limits due to massive engineering and production costs.
Turbo Tuning Strategy: Start by lowering compression and opening the exhaust. Aim for the turbo's path on the compressor map to sit within 70-80% efficiency throughout the rev range to avoid surge stress and maximize performance. Campaign Efficiency
LCV4.2.13 - Open Alpha · Automation - The Car ... - SteamDB The core loop of Automation v4
The core loop of Automation v4.2.13 is defined by compromise. In other tycoon games, "better" is usually just "more expensive." In Automation, "better" is subjective.
Do you build a cheap, unreliable, gas-guzzling V8 for a demographic that craves power but lacks funds? Or do you invest millions into Research and Development to perfect a turbocharged, direct-injection inline-4 that offers high fuel economy for the eco-conscious market?
The 4.2.13 update shines in its economic balancing. The market simulation has been tweaked to be more reactive. No longer can you simply spam the market with identical chassis and expect profit. The AI competitors are aggressive, the demographics are picky, and the manufacturing costs are unforgiving. You might design the perfect sports car, but if you failed to invest in a proper marketing budget or if your factory tooling is outdated, you will bleed money.
The core of Automation has always been the engine designer. In v4.2.13, the thermodynamics model has been tweaked again. Turbo lag now behaves more realistically based on exhaust manifold design and turbine sizing. You can no longer simply slap a giant turbo on a small engine and expect it to spool instantly.
Electrification. The 4.2.13 patch includes a revamped Hybrid and EV system. Unlike the crude electric motors of v4.1, you now design:
After 200 hours in this patch, here are the strategic truths: