Car bodies sculpted, wheels that spin, destruction that reads

Skin pass (build_cars.py, whole procedural fleet rebuilt):
- warp_obj() kills the slab: plan taper (nose/tail pull in), tumblehome (the
  glasshouse leans inward above the belt) and rocker tuck, applied to
  world-space verts so det_ panels stay flush with the body.
- Beveled body edges catch light instead of vanishing into flat shading.
- Wheels are tyre + rim with the mesh centred on the hub and the OBJECT at the
  hub -- the old wheels baked position into their verts, so a spinning wheel
  would have orbited the car's origin. Chrome det_hub hubcaps on every corner,
  dark arch shrouds so wheels sit in wells rather than under a slab.
- B-pillars over the one-piece glasshouse, licence plates, exhaust, door
  handles. Mirrors anchored to where the tapered flank actually ends up.

Destruction feel:
- Visual wheels spin with road speed and the fronts steer (rotation order YXZ:
  yaw then roll, so steered wheels roll about the steered axle).
- Shed panels burst outward with lift instead of just detaching; light hits
  ping a hubcap off first, saving doors for crashes that deserve them.
- Sparks on every impact, soft-puff smoke on wrecks and heavy damage, tyre
  smoke while drifting (src/fx.gd -- procedural particles, radial-gradient
  billboards, no textures). Camera shake on player crashes, applied after
  look_at so it reads as the camera being knocked, not re-aimed.
- Crumple strength up ~40% now that scratches and dulling ride on it.

Traffic and parked cars inherit all of it via the shared fleet GLBs.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

shot_juice1.png.import

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+[remap]
+
+importer="texture"
+type="CompressedTexture2D"
+uid="uid://d00cb83dfqjw4"
+path="res://.godot/imported/shot_juice1.png-fba2fcb034fbfdcb8d9ae2a583d4d311.ctex"
+metadata={
+"vram_texture": false
+}
+
+[deps]
+
+source_file="res://shot_juice1.png"
+dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/shot_juice1.png-fba2fcb034fbfdcb8d9ae2a583d4d311.ctex"]
+
+[params]
+
+compress/mode=0
+compress/high_quality=false
+compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
+compress/hdr_compression=1
+compress/normal_map=0
+compress/channel_pack=0
+mipmaps/generate=false
+mipmaps/limit=-1
+roughness/mode=0
+roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
+process/fix_alpha_border=true
+process/premult_alpha=false
+process/normal_map_invert_y=false
+process/hdr_as_srgb=false
+process/hdr_clamp_exposure=false
+process/size_limit=0
+detect_3d/compress_to=1

shot_juice2.png.import

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+[remap]
+
+importer="texture"
+type="CompressedTexture2D"
+uid="uid://l2umf3kh323s"
+path="res://.godot/imported/shot_juice2.png-2a393fa7456855db0f24793b286f65ec.ctex"
+metadata={
+"vram_texture": false
+}
+
+[deps]
+
+source_file="res://shot_juice2.png"
+dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/shot_juice2.png-2a393fa7456855db0f24793b286f65ec.ctex"]
+
+[params]
+
+compress/mode=0
+compress/high_quality=false
+compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
+compress/hdr_compression=1
+compress/normal_map=0
+compress/channel_pack=0
+mipmaps/generate=false
+mipmaps/limit=-1
+roughness/mode=0
+roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
+process/fix_alpha_border=true
+process/premult_alpha=false
+process/normal_map_invert_y=false
+process/hdr_as_srgb=false
+process/hdr_clamp_exposure=false
+process/size_limit=0
+detect_3d/compress_to=1

shot_skin_f.png.import

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+[remap]
+
+importer="texture"
+type="CompressedTexture2D"
+uid="uid://s6i8tuutr6lt"
+path="res://.godot/imported/shot_skin_f.png-c6f63b09adc28589fda207aea5e20aef.ctex"
+metadata={
+"vram_texture": false
+}
+
+[deps]
+
+source_file="res://shot_skin_f.png"
+dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/shot_skin_f.png-c6f63b09adc28589fda207aea5e20aef.ctex"]
+
+[params]
+
+compress/mode=0
+compress/high_quality=false
+compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
+compress/hdr_compression=1
+compress/normal_map=0
+compress/channel_pack=0
+mipmaps/generate=false
+mipmaps/limit=-1
+roughness/mode=0
+roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
+process/fix_alpha_border=true
+process/premult_alpha=false
+process/normal_map_invert_y=false
+process/hdr_as_srgb=false
+process/hdr_clamp_exposure=false
+process/size_limit=0
+detect_3d/compress_to=1

shot_skin_r.png.import

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+[remap]
+
+importer="texture"
+type="CompressedTexture2D"
+uid="uid://bkffl21h7ydui"
+path="res://.godot/imported/shot_skin_r.png-d462c89253aeeef933841bff40b3422a.ctex"
+metadata={
+"vram_texture": false
+}
+
+[deps]
+
+source_file="res://shot_skin_r.png"
+dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/shot_skin_r.png-d462c89253aeeef933841bff40b3422a.ctex"]
+
+[params]
+
+compress/mode=0
+compress/high_quality=false
+compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
+compress/hdr_compression=1
+compress/normal_map=0
+compress/channel_pack=0
+mipmaps/generate=false
+mipmaps/limit=-1
+roughness/mode=0
+roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
+process/fix_alpha_border=true
+process/premult_alpha=false
+process/normal_map_invert_y=false
+process/hdr_as_srgb=false
+process/hdr_clamp_exposure=false
+process/size_limit=0
+detect_3d/compress_to=1

src/car.gd

@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ var _deform: Deformer = null
 var _snd_eng: AudioStreamPlayer3D
 var _snd_skid: AudioStreamPlayer3D
 var _snd_boost: AudioStreamPlayer3D
+var _vis_wheels: Array = []   # {node, front, radius, spin}
+var _smoke: GPUParticles3D
+var _dust: GPUParticles3D
 
 @onready var wheels: Array[Node] = [$FL, $FR, $RL, $RR]
 
@@ -70,6 +73,12 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		_deform = Deformer.new()
 		if not _deform.setup(model):
 			_deform = null
+		# visual wheels spin and (front pair) steer -- static wheels are half of
+		# why the old cars read as toys. Requires hub-origin wheels (build_cars).
+		for w in model.find_children("wheel_*", "MeshInstance3D", true, false):
+			var mi := w as MeshInstance3D
+			var r := maxf(mi.get_aabb().size.y * 0.5, 0.1)
+			_vis_wheels.append({"node": mi, "front": mi.position.z < 0.0, "radius": r, "spin": 0.0})
 	else:
 		var bm := BoxMesh.new()
 		bm.size = Vector3(stats.width, 1.0, stats.length)
@@ -81,6 +90,8 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	_snd_skid = Sfx.looper(self, "skid", -7.0 if is_player else -14.0)
 	if is_player:
 		_snd_boost = Sfx.looper(self, "boost", -8.0)
+	_smoke = Fx.smoker(self, Vector3(0, 0.6, -stats.length * 0.32))
+	_dust = Fx.duster(self, Vector3(0, 0.1, stats.length * 0.42))
 
 func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 	if is_player:
@@ -152,6 +163,15 @@ func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 		elif not boosting and _snd_boost.playing:
 			_snd_boost.stop()
 
+	var fwd_speed := -global_basis.z.dot(linear_velocity)
+	for w in _vis_wheels:
+		w["spin"] = fposmod(w["spin"] + fwd_speed / w["radius"] * delta, TAU)
+		(w["node"] as Node3D).rotation = Vector3(w["spin"], steer if w["front"] else 0.0, 0.0)
+	if _smoke:
+		_smoke.emitting = wrecked or (_deform != null and _deform.damage > 0.7)
+	if _dust:
+		_dust.emitting = drift_in and grounded >= 2 and linear_velocity.length() > 10.0
+
 	var jolt := linear_velocity - _prev_lv
 	_prev_lv = linear_velocity
 	_impact_cd = maxf(_impact_cd - delta, 0.0)
@@ -169,13 +189,14 @@ func _impact(jolt: Vector3) -> void:
 		-2.0, randf_range(0.9, 1.1))
 	if dv > WRECK_DV:
 		Sfx.shot(self, "glass", -4.0)
+	Fx.sparks(self, clampi(int(dv * 3.0), 10, 44))
 	var side := (global_basis.inverse() * -jolt).normalized()
 	if _deform:
 		# no contact manifold from the jolt heuristic, so approximate the strike
 		# point by pushing out along the impact direction to the body shell
 		var shape := ($Shape as CollisionShape3D).shape as BoxShape3D
 		var reach := side * shape.size * 0.5
-		_deform.impact(reach, -side, minf(dv, 26.0) * 0.035)
+		_deform.impact(reach, -side, minf(dv, 26.0) * 0.048)
 	for i in 1 + int(dv > 8.0) + int(dv > 12.0):
 		_shed_panel(side)
 	if dv > WRECK_DV and not wrecked:
@@ -193,9 +214,16 @@ func _recover() -> void:
 func _shed_panel(side: Vector3) -> void:
 	if _parts.is_empty():
 		return
-	var best: Node3D = _parts[0]
+	# light hits ping a hubcap off first -- cheap, funny, and saves the doors
+	# for crashes that deserve them
+	var pool: Array[Node] = _parts
+	if _prev_lv.length() < 14.0:
+		var hubs := _parts.filter(func(p): return String(p.name).begins_with("det_hub"))
+		if not hubs.is_empty():
+			pool = hubs
+	var best: Node3D = pool[0]
 	var best_d := -INF
-	for p: Node3D in _parts:
+	for p: Node3D in pool:
 		var d := to_local(p.global_position).normalized().dot(side)
 		if d > best_d:
 			best_d = d
@@ -213,7 +241,13 @@ func _shed_panel(side: Vector3) -> void:
 	get_parent().add_child(rb)
 	rb.global_transform = best.global_transform
 	best.reparent(rb)
-	rb.linear_velocity = linear_velocity
+	# burst outward, not just detach: inherit the car's motion plus a radial
+	# kick away from the hull and a bit of lift -- panels FLY, hubcaps roll
+	var out := (rb.global_position - global_position)
+	out.y = 0.0
+	out = out.normalized() if out.length_squared() > 0.01 else Vector3.UP
+	rb.linear_velocity = linear_velocity + out * randf_range(2.5, 6.0) \
+		+ Vector3.UP * randf_range(1.5, 3.5)
 	rb.angular_velocity = Vector3(randf_range(-8, 8), randf_range(-8, 8), randf_range(-8, 8))
 	get_tree().create_timer(8.0).timeout.connect(rb.queue_free)
 

src/fx.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+class_name Fx
+## Procedural particle effects -- sparks, smoke, tyre dust. No textures: soft
+## billboard quads shaped entirely by process-material ramps built in code,
+## same no-assets philosophy as the sound kit.
+
+static var _spark_mat: ParticleProcessMaterial
+static var _smoke_mat: ParticleProcessMaterial
+static var _dust_mat: ParticleProcessMaterial
+static var _spark_draw: QuadMesh
+static var _smoke_draw: QuadMesh
+
+static func _ramp(colors: Array[Color]) -> GradientTexture1D:
+	var g := Gradient.new()
+	for i in colors.size():
+		if i == 0:
+			g.set_color(0, colors[0])
+		elif i == colors.size() - 1 and colors.size() > 1:
+			g.set_color(g.get_point_count() - 1, colors[i])
+		else:
+			g.add_point(float(i) / (colors.size() - 1), colors[i])
+	var t := GradientTexture1D.new()
+	t.gradient = g
+	return t
+
+static func _draw_quad(size: float, color: Color, emissive: bool) -> QuadMesh:
+	var q := QuadMesh.new()
+	q.size = Vector2(size, size)
+	var m := StandardMaterial3D.new()
+	m.transparency = BaseMaterial3D.TRANSPARENCY_ALPHA
+	m.shading_mode = BaseMaterial3D.SHADING_MODE_UNSHADED
+	m.billboard_mode = BaseMaterial3D.BILLBOARD_PARTICLES
+	m.vertex_color_use_as_albedo = true
+	m.albedo_color = color
+	# radial soft falloff -- without it every particle is a hard-edged square
+	# and smoke reads as flying pixels rather than puffs
+	var grad := Gradient.new()
+	grad.set_color(0, Color.WHITE)
+	grad.set_color(1, Color(1, 1, 1, 0))
+	var disc := GradientTexture2D.new()
+	disc.gradient = grad
+	disc.fill = GradientTexture2D.FILL_RADIAL
+	disc.fill_from = Vector2(0.5, 0.5)
+	disc.fill_to = Vector2(0.5, 0.02)
+	disc.width = 64
+	disc.height = 64
+	m.albedo_texture = disc
+	if emissive:
+		m.emission_enabled = true
+		m.emission = color
+		m.emission_energy_multiplier = 2.0
+		m.blend_mode = BaseMaterial3D.BLEND_MODE_ADD
+	q.material = m
+	return q
+
+static func _init_shared() -> void:
+	if _spark_mat:
+		return
+	_spark_mat = ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
+	_spark_mat.direction = Vector3(0, 1, 0)
+	_spark_mat.spread = 75.0
+	_spark_mat.initial_velocity_min = 4.0
+	_spark_mat.initial_velocity_max = 11.0
+	_spark_mat.gravity = Vector3(0, -14, 0)
+	_spark_mat.scale_min = 0.5
+	_spark_mat.scale_max = 1.0
+	_spark_mat.color_ramp = _ramp([Color(1.0, 0.9, 0.5), Color(1.0, 0.45, 0.05), Color(0.6, 0.1, 0.0, 0.0)])
+	_spark_draw = _draw_quad(0.09, Color(1, 0.7, 0.2), true)
+
+	_smoke_mat = ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
+	_smoke_mat.direction = Vector3(0, 1, 0)
+	_smoke_mat.spread = 25.0
+	_smoke_mat.initial_velocity_min = 0.8
+	_smoke_mat.initial_velocity_max = 1.8
+	_smoke_mat.gravity = Vector3(0, 0.9, 0)
+	_smoke_mat.scale_min = 0.7
+	_smoke_mat.scale_max = 1.5
+	_smoke_mat.scale_over_velocity_min = 0.0
+	_smoke_mat.color_ramp = _ramp([Color(0.25, 0.23, 0.22, 0.0), Color(0.30, 0.29, 0.28, 0.45), Color(0.45, 0.45, 0.45, 0.0)])
+	_smoke_draw = _draw_quad(0.9, Color(0.3, 0.3, 0.3), false)
+
+	_dust_mat = ParticleProcessMaterial.new()
+	_dust_mat.direction = Vector3(0, 1, 0)
+	_dust_mat.spread = 55.0
+	_dust_mat.initial_velocity_min = 1.0
+	_dust_mat.initial_velocity_max = 2.5
+	_dust_mat.gravity = Vector3(0, 0.4, 0)
+	_dust_mat.scale_min = 0.6
+	_dust_mat.scale_max = 1.2
+	_dust_mat.color_ramp = _ramp([Color(0.75, 0.73, 0.70, 0.0), Color(0.72, 0.70, 0.66, 0.4), Color(0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 0.0)])
+
+static func sparks(parent: Node3D, amount := 24) -> void:
+	## One-shot burst at the parent's position, self-freeing.
+	_init_shared()
+	var p := GPUParticles3D.new()
+	p.process_material = _spark_mat
+	p.draw_pass_1 = _spark_draw
+	p.amount = amount
+	p.lifetime = 0.5
+	p.one_shot = true
+	p.explosiveness = 1.0
+	parent.add_child(p)
+	p.emitting = true
+	parent.get_tree().create_timer(1.2).timeout.connect(p.queue_free)
+
+static func smoker(parent: Node3D, offset: Vector3 = Vector3(0, 0.5, 0)) -> GPUParticles3D:
+	## Persistent smoke column; caller toggles .emitting.
+	_init_shared()
+	var p := GPUParticles3D.new()
+	p.process_material = _smoke_mat
+	p.draw_pass_1 = _smoke_draw
+	p.amount = 26
+	p.lifetime = 1.6
+	p.emitting = false
+	p.position = offset
+	parent.add_child(p)
+	return p
+
+static func duster(parent: Node3D, offset: Vector3) -> GPUParticles3D:
+	## Tyre smoke/dust for drifts; caller toggles .emitting.
+	_init_shared()
+	var p := GPUParticles3D.new()
+	p.process_material = _dust_mat
+	p.draw_pass_1 = _smoke_draw
+	p.amount = 20
+	p.lifetime = 0.9
+	p.emitting = false
+	p.position = offset
+	parent.add_child(p)
+	return p

src/fx.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dnj43dt8fa3xf

src/game.gd

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ var info_label: Label
 var msg_label: Label
 var msg_timer: SceneTreeTimer
 var _sticky := false      # a result screen is up; transient messages must not clobber it
+var _shake := 0.0         # camera jolt on impacts, decays exponentially
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	var level: Node = (load(level_path) as PackedScene).instantiate()
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 				t.model_idx = midx
 				midx += 1
 				add_child(t)
-				t.smashed.connect(_traffic_smashed)
+				t.smashed.connect(_traffic_smashed.bind(t))
 				traffic.append(t)
 	elif race_path:
 		var n: int = TRAFFIC_COUNT.get(mode, 4)
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 			t.offset = race_path.curve.get_baked_length() * (i + 0.5) / n
 			t.speed = randf_range(9.0, 14.0)
 			add_child(t)
-			t.smashed.connect(_traffic_smashed)
+			t.smashed.connect(_traffic_smashed.bind(t))
 			traffic.append(t)
 
 	cam = Camera3D.new()
@@ -879,6 +880,7 @@ func _nearest_off(pos: Vector3, seed_off: float, L: float) -> float:
 	return best
 
 func _player_crash(dv: float) -> void:
+	_shake = maxf(_shake, clampf(dv / 16.0, 0.12, 0.65))
 	if mode in ["crash", "junction"] and not over:
 		score += minf(dv, 30.0) * 120.0
 	if dv > 3.0:
@@ -905,7 +907,9 @@ func _rival_wrecked(r: Rival) -> void:
 	Sfx.shot(car, "sting_win", -4.0)
 	_msg("TAKEDOWN!", 56)
 
-func _traffic_smashed(impulse: float) -> void:
+func _traffic_smashed(impulse: float, t: TrafficCar) -> void:
+	if is_instance_valid(t):
+		Fx.sparks(t, clampi(int(impulse * 2.0), 12, 40))
 	if mode in ["crash", "junction"] and not over:
 		score += impulse * 400.0
 		_msg("$%d" % int(impulse * 400.0), 40)
@@ -1020,6 +1024,12 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> void:
 	var target := car.global_position + car.global_basis * Vector3(0, 2.4, 6.0)
 	cam.global_position = cam.global_position.lerp(target, 1.0 - exp(-5.0 * delta))
 	cam.look_at(car.global_position + Vector3.UP * 1.2)
+	if _shake > 0.005:
+		# post-look_at, so the jolt reads as the camera being knocked, not re-aimed
+		cam.global_position += Vector3(randf_range(-1, 1), randf_range(-1, 1),
+			randf_range(-1, 1)) * _shake * 0.35
+		cam.rotation.z += randf_range(-1, 1) * _shake * 0.03
+		_shake *= exp(-6.0 * delta)
 	cam.fov = lerpf(cam.fov, 84.0 if car.boosting else 72.0, 6.0 * delta)
 	speed_label.text = "%d km/h" % roundf(car.speed_kmh())
 	boost_bar.size.x = 160.0 * car.boost_max

tools/build_cars.py

@@ -131,6 +131,40 @@ def add_obj(name, mesh, mat):
     return obj
 
 
+def smoothstep(x):
+    x = max(0.0, min(1.0, x))
+    return x * x * (3 - 2 * x)
+
+
+def warp_obj(obj, L, belt, roof):
+    """Slab-buster: plan taper (narrower nose/tail), tumblehome (glasshouse
+    leans in above the belt) and rocker tuck (sides pull under below the sill).
+    Applied to world-space verts, so det_ panels stay flush with the body."""
+    f, r = L / 2, -L / 2
+    for v in obj.data.vertices:
+        y, z = v.co.y, v.co.z
+        t = (y - r) / L
+        plan = 1.0 \
+            - 0.11 * smoothstep((t - 0.70) / 0.30) ** 1.4 \
+            - 0.07 * smoothstep((0.16 - t) / 0.16) ** 1.4
+        tumble = 1.0
+        if z > belt and roof > belt:
+            tumble = 1.0 - 0.15 * min((z - belt) / (roof - belt), 1.0) ** 1.15
+        tuck = 1.0
+        if z < 0.34:
+            tuck = 1.0 - 0.07 * ((0.34 - z) / 0.34) ** 2
+        v.co.x *= plan * tumble * tuck
+
+
+def bevel_body(obj, width=0.035):
+    bm = bmesh.new()
+    bm.from_mesh(obj.data)
+    bmesh.ops.bevel(bm, geom=list(bm.edges), offset=width, segments=1,
+                    profile=0.7, affect='EDGES')
+    bm.to_mesh(obj.data)
+    bm.free()
+
+
 def extrude_profile(name, profile, half_w, mat):
     """Closed (y,z) polygon extruded from -half_w to +half_w along x."""
     n = len(profile)
@@ -163,15 +197,61 @@ def box(name, center, size, mat, rot_x=0.0):
     return add_obj(name, mesh, mat)
 
 
-def wheel(name, x, y, r, mat):
+def wheel(name, x, y, r, tyre_mat, rim_mat):
+    """Tyre + inset rim, mesh centred on the hub and the OBJECT placed at the
+    hub -- the old version baked position into the verts, which meant a spinning
+    wheel in-game would orbit the car's origin instead of its own axle."""
     mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(name)
     bm = bmesh.new()
-    bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=True, segments=14, radius1=r, radius2=r, depth=0.24)
+    res = bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=True, segments=14, radius1=r, radius2=r, depth=0.24)
+    for f in {f for v in res["verts"] for f in v.link_faces}:
+        f.material_index = 0
+    res = bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=True, segments=12,
+                                radius1=r * 0.58, radius2=r * 0.58, depth=0.26)
+    for f in {f for v in res["verts"] for f in v.link_faces}:
+        f.material_index = 1
     bmesh.ops.rotate(bm, cent=(0, 0, 0), matrix=Matrix.Rotation(math.pi / 2, 3, "Y"), verts=bm.verts)
-    bmesh.ops.translate(bm, vec=(x, y, r), verts=bm.verts)
     bm.to_mesh(mesh)
     bm.free()
-    return add_obj(name, mesh, mat)
+    obj = add_obj(name, mesh, tyre_mat)
+    obj.data.materials.append(rim_mat)
+    obj.location = (x, y, r)
+    return obj
+
+
+def hubcap(name, x, y, r, side, mat):
+    """Chrome dish on the wheel's outer face. det_ so it pings off on impact --
+    every shitbox loses a hubcap eventually, that's canon."""
+    mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(name)
+    bm = bmesh.new()
+    res = bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=True, segments=12,
+                                radius1=r * 0.42, radius2=r * 0.30, depth=0.05)
+    bmesh.ops.rotate(bm, cent=(0, 0, 0),
+                     matrix=Matrix.Rotation(math.pi / 2 * (-1 if side < 0 else 1), 3, "Y"),
+                     verts=bm.verts)
+    bm.to_mesh(mesh)
+    bm.free()
+    obj = add_obj(name, mesh, mat)
+    obj.location = (x + side * 0.135, y, r)
+    return obj
+
+
+def arch(name, x, y, r, mat):
+    """Dark half-shroud over the wheel so it reads as sitting in a well
+    rather than bolted under a slab."""
+    mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(name)
+    bm = bmesh.new()
+    res = bmesh.ops.create_cone(bm, cap_ends=False, segments=10,
+                                radius1=r * 1.22, radius2=r * 1.22, depth=0.30)
+    bmesh.ops.rotate(bm, cent=(0, 0, 0), matrix=Matrix.Rotation(math.pi / 2, 3, "Y"), verts=bm.verts)
+    # keep only the top half of the drum
+    doomed = [v for v in bm.verts if v.co.z < 0.05]
+    bmesh.ops.delete(bm, geom=doomed, context="VERTS")
+    bm.to_mesh(mesh)
+    bm.free()
+    obj = add_obj(name, mesh, mat)
+    obj.location = (x, y, r * 0.95)
+    return obj
 
 
 def build(car_id, s):
@@ -221,7 +301,9 @@ def build(car_id, s):
                              (0.06, half - 0.06, door_h), paint_dk))
             parts.append(box("det_door_r%s" % side, (sx * hw, boot_y + 0.05 + half / 2, door_z),
                              (0.06, half - 0.06, door_h), paint_dk))
-        parts.append(box("det_mirror_%s" % side, (sx * (hw + 0.09), ws_base + 0.05, s["belt"] + 0.10),
+        # hugs the warped body: mirrors skip warp_obj (they stay proud), so
+        # anchor them to roughly where the tapered flank actually ends up
+        parts.append(box("det_mirror_%s" % side, (sx * (hw * 0.94 + 0.08), ws_base + 0.05, s["belt"] + 0.10),
                          (0.14, 0.09, 0.12), dark))
     parts.append(box("det_bumper_f", (0, f + 0.05, bottom + 0.16), (W + 0.06, 0.15, 0.16), bumper_mat))
     parts.append(box("det_bumper_r", (0, r - 0.05, bottom + 0.16), (W + 0.06, 0.15, 0.16), bumper_mat))
@@ -282,10 +364,53 @@ def build(car_id, s):
             trim.append(box("trim_strip_%s" % ("l" if sx < 0 else "r"),
                             (sx * (hw + 0.015), -L * 0.02, 0.52), (0.03, strip_len, 0.055), dark))
 
+    # licence plates, exhaust and door handles -- the cheap details that read
+    plate_f = material("plate_f", (0.88, 0.88, 0.84, 1), rough=0.5)
+    plate_r = material("plate_r", (0.82, 0.74, 0.38, 1), rough=0.5)
+    trim.append(box("trim_plate_f", (0, f + 0.09, bottom + 0.17), (0.36, 0.02, 0.11), plate_f))
+    trim.append(box("trim_plate_r", (0, r - 0.09, bottom + 0.17), (0.36, 0.02, 0.11), plate_r))
+    ex = bpy.data.meshes.new("exhaust")
+    bmx = bmesh.new()
+    bmesh.ops.create_cone(bmx, cap_ends=True, segments=8, radius1=0.045, radius2=0.045, depth=0.3)
+    bmesh.ops.rotate(bmx, cent=(0, 0, 0), matrix=Matrix.Rotation(math.pi / 2, 3, "X"), verts=bmx.verts)
+    bmx.to_mesh(ex)
+    bmx.free()
+    exo = add_obj("trim_exhaust", ex, dark)
+    exo.location = (-W * 0.28, r - 0.02, bottom - 0.04)
+    trim.append(exo)
+    span_h = (ws_base - 0.05) - (boot_y + 0.05)
+    for sx in (-1, 1):
+        for k in range(1 if s.get("doors", 4) == 2 else 2):
+            hy = ws_base - 0.05 - span_h * (0.30 + 0.5 * k)
+            trim.append(box("trim_handle", (sx * hw, hy, s["belt"] - 0.10),
+                            (0.05, 0.14, 0.03), chrome))
+    # B-pillar over the one-piece glasshouse so the cabin reads as windows, not canopy
+    if s.get("doors", 4) != 2:
+        py = ws_base - 0.05 - span_h / 2
+        for sx in (-1, 1):
+            trim.append(box("trim_bpillar", (sx * hw * 0.82, py, (s["belt"] + s["roof"]) / 2),
+                            (0.035, 0.07, s["roof"] - s["belt"] - 0.02), paint_dk))
+
+    # sculpt: bevel the slab edges, then taper/tumblehome/tuck everything but
+    # mirrors (stay proud) and wheels (positioned by object, not verts)
+    bevel_body(obj=body)
+    for o in [body] + parts + trim:
+        if "mirror" in o.name:
+            continue
+        warp_obj(o, L, s["belt"], s["roof"])
+
+    def plan_at(y):
+        t = (y - r) / L
+        return 1.0 - 0.11 * smoothstep((t - 0.70) / 0.30) ** 1.4 \
+                   - 0.07 * smoothstep((0.16 - t) / 0.16) ** 1.4
+
     ax_f, ax_r = f - s["ohang_f"], r + s["ohang_r"]
-    wx = hw - 0.10
-    wheels = [wheel("wheel_fl", -wx, ax_f, s["wheel"], tyre), wheel("wheel_fr", wx, ax_f, s["wheel"], tyre),
-              wheel("wheel_rl", -wx, ax_r, s["wheel"], tyre), wheel("wheel_rr", wx, ax_r, s["wheel"], tyre)]
+    wheels = []
+    for wn, wx_s, ay in (("fl", -1, ax_f), ("fr", 1, ax_f), ("rl", -1, ax_r), ("rr", 1, ax_r)):
+        wx = (hw - 0.10) * plan_at(ay)
+        wheels.append(wheel("wheel_%s" % wn, wx_s * wx, ay, s["wheel"], tyre, material("rim", (0.28, 0.28, 0.30, 1), rough=0.6)))
+        wheels.append(hubcap("det_hub_%s" % wn, wx_s * wx, ay, s["wheel"], wx_s, chrome))
+        wheels.append(arch("arch_%s" % wn, wx_s * wx, ay, s["wheel"], dark))
 
     for obj in parts + trim + wheels:
         obj.parent = body
@@ -355,8 +480,9 @@ def build_moke(car_id, s):
     axles = [ax_f, ax_r] + [r + e for e in s.get("extra_axles", [])]
     wheels = []
     for i, ay in enumerate(axles):
-        wheels.append(wheel("wheel_%dl" % i, -wx, ay, s["wheel"], tyre))
-        wheels.append(wheel("wheel_%dr" % i, wx, ay, s["wheel"], tyre))
+        rim = material("rim%d" % i, (0.28, 0.28, 0.30, 1), rough=0.6)
+        wheels.append(wheel("wheel_%dl" % i, -wx, ay, s["wheel"], tyre, rim))
+        wheels.append(wheel("wheel_%dr" % i, wx, ay, s["wheel"], tyre, rim))
 
     for obj in parts + trim + wheels:
         obj.parent = body