Shut up and D.R.I.V.E. your brand new car through Undermine in WoW patch 11.1

Players, we won’t be flying in Undermine itself in WoW patch 11.1. Yes, that is disappointing, but never fear — the D.R.I.V.E. system is here, ready for your use in navigating the ever-so-safe roads of Undermine. If you ever wanted to Mario Kart your way through Azeroth, this is your chance.

Here’s what we know about D.R.I.V.E., the new riding system coming in patch 11.1.

During Warcraft Direct, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas described Undermine as “built for speed, with roads designed for driving.” Of course, you need a vehicle to match that demand! D.R.I.V.E. is Undermine’s unique method of transportation. It’s a car you’ll earn early in 11.1’s story arc (after you reach Undermine) that’s just as flashy and explosive as the goblins themselves.

Similar to your formerly-dragonriding mounts and Delver’s Dirigible, this zippy go-kart will be customizable. Not only will you create the blinged-out ride of your dreams to match your goblin allies, but you’ll also be able to “push the boundaries of locomotion” by playing with its driving characteristics. Yes, this is a mount with its own spec! So far, the WoW team has mentioned better road grip (with less chance of sliding) versus drifting (better for handling tight corners and turns), as well as quick acceleration (how fast you’ll speed up) versus top speeds (the highest you can reach) as options.

Your hot rod is 3-5x faster than ground mounts at top speed, with the potential to boost an extra 10% faster when you reach special conditions. This is literally taking you to dragonriding speeds, going from the 220% speed boost of ground mounts to 650-1200% speed. Don’t forget, you still have to interact with the environment — remember, Undermine is the goblin city, and there will definitely be construction surrounding you.

There are no plans to integrate D.R.I.V.E. into the upcoming Liberation of Undermine raid. Remember, we didn’t see dragonriding designed into an encounter until we fought Tindral Sageswift in Amirdrassil. That said, it’s not out of the question that it could feature in future goblin encounters, and there’s still the possibility of skyriding-style races within the city itself for us to conquer.

Don’t worry; your current ground mounts will not languish in your collection. You can still use them — even in Undermine — but your car is the option to use when you want to get around fast. You can also fly in other 11.1 regions, per Assistant Lead Quest Designer Mark Kelada. It’s only the Undermine that’s specially restricted.

So, are you already planning how to trick out your new ride? Or are you prepping to handle those rapid twists and turns like a Mario Kart pro? Your D.R.I.V.E. car awaits you in World of Warcraft patch 11.1 — Undermined.