Hey Kerbonauts! Are you tired of just rockets and rovers? FASTCORP, the innovative modding team, is back to introduce a game-changer for your Kerbal Space Program experience: the Autogarage mod!
While Kerbal Space Program is renowned for its rocketry and space exploration, sometimes you need to get around on solid ground with a bit more style and speed. That’s where the Autogarage comes in. Imagine needing to pick up Kerbals who landed just a bit too far for a comfortable walk, but not quite far enough for a plane rescue. Or picture cruising across the Mun in a sleek, real-world car, tackling those long-distance rover trips with unparalleled flair. The Autogarage mod makes all of this, and more, possible.
So, what exactly is this Autogarage mod all about? Let’s dive into the details.
Introducing the Autogarage: Real-World Cars for Your Kerbal Adventures
The Autogarage mod is a fantastic compilation of meticulously converted real-life vehicles, now ready to roll in your Kerbal Space Program saves. It’s important to note that none of these incredible vehicles are originally created for KSP. Instead, they are expertly ported from games like Grand Theft Auto and other sources, always ensuring proper permissions and respect for original creators.
To truly appreciate the variety and quality, take a visual tour through the vehicle showcases:
Click the links above to explore albums filled with screenshots of these amazing cars in action within KSP!
Many of these vehicles aren’t just static models; they are packed with features to enhance your gameplay. Thanks to Firespitter’s FSTextureSwitch, many cars boast alternate textures, allowing for customization and variety. Step inside, and you’ll find detailed internal models in most vehicles, often including functional steering wheels, speedometers, fuel gauges, and even car keys powered by RasterPropMonitor. Just like the Rovers’N’Roadsters mod, the car key is used to ignite the “engine,” bringing these terrestrial vehicles to life in the Kerbal universe. (Note: The Jeep Wrangler is currently an exception and does not have internal props).
For nighttime driving on Kerbin or exploring dimly lit alien landscapes, most vehicles are equipped with toggleable headlights, ensuring your stylish excursions aren’t hampered by darkness.
And for an extra touch of realism, if you have TextureReplacer installed, prepare to be amazed by world reflections in the vehicle side mirrors!
What’s New in the Autogarage Mod?
The latest updates to the Autogarage mod bring some exciting improvements and additions:
- Improved Tire Physics: All tires have been migrated to the new “ground” category in KSP, potentially enhancing ground interaction and physics.
- Smoother Mach 5 Model: The iconic Mach 5 vehicle model has been refined for a sleeker, more polished look.
- Extensive Vehicle Additions: Prepare to expand your garage with a fantastic lineup of new cars, including:
- Porsche 944 Turbo
- VW Bus
- Tesla
- KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand)
- Crown Victoria
- F-1 1949
- Corvette ’59
- BMW GTR
- Ecto-1 (Ectomobile from Ghostbusters)
- A large Peterbilt truck
This update, clocking in at 200mb, marks the largest mod release from FASTCORP to date, with future updates focusing on bug fixes and compatibility. A November 23rd update also tweaked configs to ensure tires are unlocked right from the start in your KSP gameplay.
Getting Started with Autogarage: Prerequisites and Installation
Ready to hit the Kerbin highways (or Munar low-ways) in style? Here’s what you need to get the Autogarage mod running smoothly in your Kerbal Space Program (1.1 ONLY for this version as per the original post – compatibility may vary with newer KSP versions):
Step 1: Adjust Wheel Clipping Settings
This is a crucial step to ensure the car wheels function correctly. Locate your settings.cfg file in your main Kerbal Space Program directory. Open it and find these lines:
<span>WHEEL_CLIP_OFFSET = WHEEL_CLIP_RANGE = WHEEL_CLIP_MULTIPLIER = </span>Change each value to 0 so it looks like this:
<span>WHEEL_CLIP_OFFSET = 0 WHEEL_CLIP_RANGE = 0 WHEEL_CLIP_MULTIPLIER = 0</span>This adjustment is vital because KSP’s default wheel collision detection can interfere with car wheels, making them appear constantly “blocked” and unusable.
Step 2: Download Required Mods
The Autogarage mod relies on a few other fantastic mods to bring its features to life. You’ll need to download these (Firespitter is included with Autogarage):
- RasterPropMonitor: Download RasterPropMonitor – Essential for functional steering wheels, car keys, and interactive dashboards.
- Firespitter: Included with Autogarage – Provides texture switching for vehicle customization.
- TextureReplacer: Texture Replacer (Optional, for reflective mirrors) – Enhances realism with reflective side mirrors (optional but highly recommended!).
Step 3: Download Autogarage Mod
Choose your preferred download link:
- Spacedock: FASTCORP Autogarage on Spacedock
- MEGA (Full Download): Autogarage on MEGA
- MEGA (Singular Downloads): Autogarage Singular Downloads on MEGA
Step 4: Tire Rotation – The ‘S’ Key Secret
After placing a tire on your car in the SPH or VAB, immediately press the ‘S’ key. This crucial step ensures the tire is oriented correctly. Failing to do so will result in incorrectly rotated and non-functional wheels!
Important Considerations for Driving Cars in KSP
Keep in mind that Kerbal Space Program’s physics engine is primarily designed for spacecraft, not ground vehicles. Therefore, you might encounter some quirky physics behavior with cars in certain situations. Embrace the Kerbal spirit of overcoming unexpected challenges!
Also, if the idea of driving a Corvette on the Mun feels a bit too unrealistic for your taste, you can easily customize the vehicles. Navigate to the “body.cfg” file for the specific vehicle and remove the ‘//’ from each line under INPUT_RESOURCE:
<span> Remove these vv //INPUT_RESOURCE //{ // name = IntakeAir // rate = 0.0005 //}</span>This will disable the need for intake air for the vehicle, making them more suitable for airless environments.
License
The Autogarage mod is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Get ready to add a whole new dimension to your Kerbal Space Program adventures with the Autogarage mod! Download it today and start cruising in style!
