NFS HEAT Handling Overhaul
You can view the handling mod in action in the videos below.
Drift Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk_7Ke-D1oM&ab_channel=Rattler
Racing Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg_sXjF-QJY&ab_channel=Rattler
IMPORTANT NOTE: Car replacement mods will break the handling, do not use them alongside the handling mod.
== Handling Overview ==
With the removal of brake-to-drift, driving techniques from more conventional racing titles can be used. Proper braking zones and racing lines are required to take corners at the highest speed, and drifting requires throttle management and counter steer to hold the slide. Driving styles which work in Forza Horizon or Grid can be used effectively to win events.
== Upgrade Changes ==
Some upgrades have been changed to allow more variety, builds should generally make more sense now, for example, drag tires are no longer the meta for drifting.
Nitrous now works like it did in the BlackBox games.
New tire upgrades that changes up how the car drives drastically.
Drivetrain swaps. (RWD/AWD)
Drift suspension with extra steering angle.
Rebalanced passive and active auxiliary parts. (Including a Drag Kit!)
== Live Tuning Changes ==
The tuning system in the game remains simple, but the sliders now more directly affect vehicle handling. Make sure to experiment with these new settings.
Downforce Offset, choose which part of the car receives more downforce.
Suspension Setup, choose between a focus on understeer or oversteer.
Fully adjustable traction control.
Brake Balance, choose whether the front or rear brakes get more braking force.
== UPDATE 4.0.1 ==
-FWD cars perform more realistically, this will also affect AWD cars slightly.
-Added a race 6-speed gearbox with custom gear ratios.
-Added new differentials with shorter final drive options.
-Fixed a few cars that had incorrect values applied to them that caused various issues like the brakes locking up too easily.
-Fixed the 10LBS NOS bottle not having a nos bar.
-Downforce offset can be adjusted further to the front, giving more oversteer at high speeds.
== Credits ==
Rattler – Main Mod Developer
JamesMiata – Mod tweaks, Testing, Tools, UI and Branding
Brawltendo – Tools
Comments
MrRossa (July 07, 2025 @ 22:04)
didnt expect to see an update this fast, can't believe you did it, thanks you so much dude! i can't recommend this mod enough to everyone, the higher front downforce combined with the new gearbox and differentials makes it feels soooooo good now driving low HP/Rating cars
Rattler (July 07, 2025 @ 08:18)
I would love to add things like custom gearboxes with short ratios but i cant promise that it'll be a thing, i can probably add a diff with a shorter final drive that keeps the original drivetrain in the next update
MrRossa (July 06, 2025 @ 21:19)
one thing i wanted to ask tho was how hard would it be to add more diff options? my biggest gripe with this game ever since it released was how the Gear Ratio suck so much in some cars, and thankfully this mod fixes that with some of the Elite Parts adding differentials with shorter gears and final drive, but the problem is it feels weird using AWD Swaps on some cars like the older muscle cars and all that, would it be possible to add some RWD Differentials with lower ratios? thx once again for this mod!
MrRossa (July 06, 2025 @ 21:10)
this is exactly the kind of handling this game needed when it released, after trying it i had to start a new game so i could enjoy it to the fullest. its amazing how much more fun driving becomes with this installed both when drifting around and gripping in corners, and even more when you start to get high HP RWD cars and a controller to slide around corners and push the tires to the limit. thank you so much for releasing this amazing mod!