Car and Driver, Electronic Arts and the golden age of DOS racing

Car and Driver is a DOS racing game published by Electronic Arts, released during the vibrant early 1990s era of PC driving simulators. At a time when racing games were experimenting with 3D graphics, realistic physics and recognizable car brands, this title set itself apart by combining a credible simulation feel with the editorial personality of the Car and Driver magazine. Instead of a purely technical menu system, you are welcomed by a virtual issue of the magazine, complete with car features and specifications presented like printed articles.

The result is a game that feels as if a glossy automotive magazine has come to life. You are not just choosing cars from a dry list; you are browsing pages, reading about each vehicle, and then heading straight to the track to see if the driving dynamics live up to the write-up. It captures the excitement of reading about exotic machinery and then imagining what it would be like to drive it, turning that fantasy into an interactive experience.

Legendary cars, memorable tracks and satisfying driving physics

One of the most appealing aspects of Car and Driver is its garage of ten carefully selected cars. These include icons such as the Porsche 959, Ferrari F40, Ferrari 250 Testarossa, Lamborghini Countach, Toyota MR2, Lotus Esprit, Shelby Cobra, Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, Eagle Talon, and the Mercedes-Benz C11 prototype racer. Each vehicle has its own acceleration, handling and top-speed characteristics, and the game encourages you to experiment, learning which car suits your driving style on each course.

The track selection is equally varied. Rather than focusing solely on traditional circuits, Car and Driver offers a mix of road sections, raceways and even more unusual locations. You can test your skills on winding coastal roads inspired by California Route 1, drive at high speed on classic race circuits, or navigate a mall parking lot that turns into a surprisingly technical challenge when marked out as a racing course. Among the most memorable venues is Dobbs Raceway, a strange circuit adorned with surreal imagery and in-jokes that give the game a quirky sense of humor alongside its serious racing ambition.

Underneath the stylistic presentation lies a driving model that leans toward realism for its time. Contemporary reviewers praised Car and Driver for its believable car behavior, noting that it offered some of the most interesting and diverse vehicles available in a PC racing game. The first-person cockpit view, the sense of speed and the need to manage braking points and corner entry lines all contribute to a feeling that you are really wrestling with powerful machines, not simply tapping keys in an arcade toy.

Magazine-style immersion and classic PC racing atmosphere

Another distinctive strength of Car and Driver is the way it integrates information and atmosphere. Instead of relegating car details to a manual, the game folds specifications, commentary and design notes right into its in-game magazine interface. As you flip through the virtual pages, you get background on each vehicle, learn about performance figures and design philosophy, and then jump seamlessly into a race.

This approach helps the game feel richly contextualized. You are reminded that each car has a real-world history and reputation, and that your lap times are part of a broader automotive story. Compared with other DOS racers of its era, which often presented cars as anonymous choices distinguished only by top speed, Car and Driver adds personality and narrative to the selection process.

The game also supports head-to-head competition via computer-controlled opponents or linked play, depending on configuration, adding a competitive layer on top of solo hot-lapping. Replays with different camera angles let you analyze your lines, watch your car hurtle through corners from cinematic perspectives, and appreciate the early-90s polygonal visuals for what they are: a snapshot of PC 3D racing at an important stage in its evolution.

Play Car and Driver online

Although Car and Driver was originally created for MS-DOS computers, it continues to be enjoyed today through emulation and browser-based solutions that keep classic games accessible. Modern DOS emulators make it possible to play Car and Driver online, preserving its original look and feel while removing the need for vintage hardware. You can experience the complete game for free in a browser, with emulated keyboard or virtual controls that allow you to drive its powerful sports cars and race cars on a wide range of devices.

Many setups also support touch interfaces and on-screen controls, so it is entirely feasible to enjoy Car and Driver on mobile devices without restrictions, taking quick races on the go or spending longer sessions dialing in your favorite car and track combinations. While details of specific services change over time, the idea remains the same: you can revisit this DOS racing classic without needing to install the original system or hunt down physical media, keeping the spirit of the game alive for new generations of players.

How Car and Driver compares to other classic racing games

Within the broader landscape of DOS racing simulations, Car and Driver occupies an interesting middle ground. On one side, you have hardcore circuit-focused titles like Formula One Grand Prix, which emphasize full championships and deep race engineering. On the other, there are car-centric experiences such as Test Drive III that focus heavily on exotic road cars and long open routes. Car and Driver borrows elements from both traditions, pairing realistic handling and diverse circuits with a strong emphasis on the identity and story of each vehicle.

This blend makes the game particularly appealing if you enjoy both the romance of reading about high-performance cars and the challenge of mastering them on the track. The magazine-inspired interface gives context and personality, while the on-road action demands concentration, timing and careful control. The ability to experiment with ten very different cars and as many varied tracks ensures that the experience remains fresh, whether you treat it as a casual time trial playground or a serious test of your virtual driving skills.

In play, the game rewards smooth inputs and careful planning. Cornering too aggressively can unsettle the car, while learning braking markers and acceleration points allows you to shave seconds off your best times. The replay function helps you understand where you are losing time and invites you to refine your technique. As a result, Car and Driver delivers the kind of satisfying loop that defines the best racing games: you run a lap, analyze what went wrong, and immediately want to jump back in for another attempt.

Toward the end of a session, you may find yourself switching cars and tracks simply to enjoy their differences. A nimble mid-engine sports car will feel completely different from a torquey muscle machine or a purpose-built race prototype, and discovering those contrasts is a major part of the game’s enduring charm. Even after many years, this focus on believable handling, distinctive vehicles and varied venues keeps Car and Driver engaging for anyone who loves classic driving games.

In terms of controls, Car and Driver typically uses the keyboard for steering, throttle and braking, with arrow keys or similar directional inputs to guide the car and additional keys or joystick options for shifting gears and changing camera views. The scheme is straightforward enough for beginners to grasp quickly, yet responsive enough that advanced players can push each car close to its limits once they become familiar with the handling model.

All used codes are publicly available and Car and Driver, including all related content and assets, remains the property of its original authors and rights holders.