Maybe not everyone knows but it´s the GTR/GTL developers that make Shift. So they could make quite a decent simulation if they wanted to. Already made racing games with better physics then Forza 2 lol. Now I don´t expect Shift to be a hardcore simulator. I mean their physics polling rate at 160 hz or what it was give it away just there and all these achievements unlocked labels is very GRID like. But they may succeed a lot better then PGR or GRID attempted. Something very playable/accessible and still quite realistic.
That is what I expect anyway.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out. 40 cars or what it was in Shift so they could fine tune them better then what Turn 10 have time for with their 400 cars so it´s not a given really which one will feel better
SHIFT's physics engine actually runs at 400 hz (cycle) which is higher than Forza 2 (360hz) and probably more in line with FM3. And unlike FM3, the grid is at 16 cars for both SP and MP.
Here's more from Ian Bell describing SHIFT's physics:
car physics: will each different car model have a dedicated physics file? How many car and physics file in NFS Shift?
IB: Yes, each car has its own unique physics file, plus there are unique files for suspension types, tire types, gearbox types, turbo/supercharger types, engine types, etc. There are more than 500 separate physics files in the game as of now, many with dynamically changing aspects. This huge collection of files allows our physics programmers to create a detailed and realistic simulation of all of the key defining factors in car behaviour and many of the more subtle details that are missed in nearly all racing games. This is the difference that makes a player say "this just feels right!" when playing SHIFT. For example, when the tyre sidewalls flex under load in a corner, it minutely changes the shape and location of the tyre's contact patch, which in turn changes how the tyre grips the tarmac as it strains to keep hold. Without details like this a driving game can still be fun, but it can feel sterile and dead. With SHIFT we're pushing the limits of physics processing on consoles, delivering a racing experience that is alive, gripping, visceral, and believable.
Sounds promising enough.
I was seriously going to Forza 3 but lack wheel support (I own a G25 and can't afford a Fanatec) and to top it all off, 8 car grid- I want visceral, dynamic, weaving thrrough my opponents kind of racing.