Codemasters aren’t ones to just sit around on their laurels.

After having released the rather different, yet absolutely fantastic, Dirt: Showdown and continually having success with the F1 yearly iterations, you couldn’t blame them if they decided to play it safe and stick to what they know. However, today it was announced that they will be revisiting the under-appriciated Racedriver GRID series with GRID 2.

The announcement was accompanied by a trailer (viewable below) that shows off the game’s new locations, including both Chicago and Paris, and gives a reasonably accurate representation of the action you can expect to find in the newest entry in the series. At least, thats what the press release tells us.

Having been in pre-production for two years already, GRID 2 has finally entered full development and utilises the newest EGO Engine to power those meaty cars.

Codemasters are also aiming to up the racing genre once again with GRID 2 after the orignal implemented new standards for AI, damage, visuals and a Flashback time rewind feature.

“GRID’s back and we’re going to make street, track and road racing exciting again,” said GRID 2′s executive producer Clive Moody. “The core design philosophy for GRID 2 is that we treat the race as a character, not a consequence of simply putting cars on tracks. Everything that goes into the game impacts on that second-to-second, in the moment, blockbuster drama – the feel and personality of the race.

“We’re pushing boundaries once again with what can be accomplished in the genre via new tools, technology and innovations. In single-player, split-screen and online, the next-generation of the EGO Game Technology Platform will power graphics, AI, handling and damage advancements that will immerse players in the racing experience like never before. Like its predecessor, GRID 2 will put the sheer thrill and adrenaline rush of the race at the heart of the experience. It’s what we call Total Race Day Immersion.”

GRID 2 will also introduce the ‘TrueFeel Handling System’ which uses “real physics to hit a sweetspot [sic] between accessibility and simulation and deliver handling that is approachable yet challenging to master.”

The campaign mode on offer seeks to put you at the forefront of intense racing action across three continents  - USA, Europe and Asia – and each contains licensed circuits as well as “edge-of-control” (whatever that means) mountain roads to race down. Codemasters are really aiming to outdo themselves, and it seems rather apparent that they could do that.

Multiplayer will also be brought in and made use of, boasting “an entirely distinct and extensive gameplay component and unique progression system.” It’ll also be integrated to the RaceNet network found in Dirt: Showdown and offers players a rather extensive customisation system.

Check out the release trailer below and screens while you wait for GRID 2 to arrive in 2013.