diff --git a/data/kart_characteristics.xml b/data/kart_characteristics.xml
index 77c750faa..2ef284baa 100644
--- a/data/kart_characteristics.xml
+++ b/data/kart_characteristics.xml
@@ -180,11 +180,13 @@
             Distance between kart and camera.
             forward-up-angle: Angle between camera and plane of kart (pitch)
                 when the camera is pointing forward
+            forward-smoothing: if true, use smoothing (forward-up-angle become relative to speed) when pointing forward
             backward-up-angle: Angle between camera and plane of kart (pitch)
                 when the camera is pointing backwards. This is usually
                 larger than the forward-up-angle, since the kart itself
                 otherwise obstricts too much of the view. -->
-        <camera distance="1.0" forward-up-angle="15"
+        <camera distance="1.0"
+                forward-up-angle="0" forward-smoothing="true"
                 backward-up-angle="5" />
 
         <!-- Jump animation
diff --git a/src/graphics/camera_normal.cpp b/src/graphics/camera_normal.cpp
index 3af1b427c..6770bb626 100644
--- a/src/graphics/camera_normal.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/camera_normal.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ CameraNormal::CameraNormal(Camera::CameraType type,  int camera_index,
  *  \param dt Delta time, 
  *  \param if false, the camera instantly moves to the endpoint, or else it smoothly moves
  */
-void CameraNormal::moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth)
+void CameraNormal::moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth, float cam_angle, float distance)
 {
     if(!m_kart) return;
 
@@ -108,11 +108,16 @@ void CameraNormal::moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth)
 
     // distance of camera from kart in x and z plane
     float camera_distance = -1.25f - 2.5f * ratio;
-    if (camera_distance > -2.0f) camera_distance = -2.0f; // don't get too close to the kart
+    float min_distance = (distance * 2.0f);
+    if (distance > 0) camera_distance += distance + 1; // note that distance < 0
+    if (camera_distance > min_distance) camera_distance = min_distance; // don't get too close to the kart
+
+    float tan_up = 0;
+    if (cam_angle > 0) tan_up = tanf(cam_angle) * distance;
 
     // Defines how far camera should be from player kart.
     Vec3 wanted_camera_offset(camera_distance * sinf(skid_angle / 2),
-        (0.85f + ratio / 2.5f),
+        (0.85f + ratio / 2.5f) - tan_up,
         camera_distance * cosf(skid_angle / 2));
 
     float delta = 1;
@@ -172,7 +177,7 @@ void CameraNormal::moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth)
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void CameraNormal::snapToPosition()
 {
-    moveCamera(1.0f, false);
+    moveCamera(1.0f, false, 0, 0);
 }   // snapToPosition
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -203,7 +208,7 @@ void CameraNormal::getCameraSettings(float *above_kart, float *cam_angle,
             // quadratically to dampen small variations (but keep sign)
             float dampened_steer = fabsf(steering) * steering;
             *sideway             = -m_rotation_range*dampened_steer*0.5f;
-            *smoothing           = true;
+            *smoothing           = kp->getCameraForwardSmoothing();
             *cam_roll_angle      = 0.0f;
             if (UserConfigParams::m_multitouch_controls == MULTITOUCH_CONTROLS_GYROSCOPE)
             {
@@ -369,7 +374,7 @@ void CameraNormal::positionCamera(float dt, float above_kart, float cam_angle,
 
     if (smoothing)
     {
-        moveCamera(dt, true);
+        moveCamera(dt, true, cam_angle, distance);
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/graphics/camera_normal.hpp b/src/graphics/camera_normal.hpp
index 88a3b5ae7..ffa90a09c 100644
--- a/src/graphics/camera_normal.hpp
+++ b/src/graphics/camera_normal.hpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ private:
 
     Vec3            m_camera_offset;
 
-    void moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth);
+    void moveCamera(float dt, bool smooth, float cam_angle, float distance);
     void handleEndCamera(float dt);
     void getCameraSettings(float *above_kart, float *cam_angle,
                            float *side_way, float *distance,
diff --git a/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.cpp b/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.cpp
index 1cb5f9c67..562a7425f 100644
--- a/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.cpp
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ AbstractCharacteristic::ValueType AbstractCharacteristic::getType(
         return TYPE_FLOAT;
     case CAMERA_FORWARD_UP_ANGLE:
         return TYPE_FLOAT;
+    case CAMERA_FORWARD_SMOOTHING:
+        return TYPE_BOOL;
     case CAMERA_BACKWARD_UP_ANGLE:
         return TYPE_FLOAT;
     case JUMP_ANIMATION_TIME:
@@ -863,6 +865,18 @@ float AbstractCharacteristic::getCameraForwardUpAngle() const
     return result;
 }  // getCameraForwardUpAngle
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool AbstractCharacteristic::getCameraForwardSmoothing() const
+{
+    bool result;
+    bool is_set = false;
+    process(CAMERA_FORWARD_SMOOTHING, &result, &is_set);
+    if (!is_set)
+        Log::fatal("AbstractCharacteristic", "Can't get characteristic %s",
+                    getName(CAMERA_FORWARD_SMOOTHING).c_str());
+    return result;
+}  // getCameraForwardSmoothing (advanced option)
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 float AbstractCharacteristic::getCameraBackwardUpAngle() const
 {
diff --git a/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.hpp b/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.hpp
index 6254a0e05..9c23340d6 100644
--- a/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/abstract_characteristic.hpp
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ public:
         // Camera
         CAMERA_DISTANCE,
         CAMERA_FORWARD_UP_ANGLE,
+        CAMERA_FORWARD_SMOOTHING,
         CAMERA_BACKWARD_UP_ANGLE,
 
         // Jump
@@ -298,6 +299,7 @@ public:
 
     float getCameraDistance() const;
     float getCameraForwardUpAngle() const;
+    bool getCameraForwardSmoothing() const;
     float getCameraBackwardUpAngle() const;
 
     float getJumpAnimationTime() const;
diff --git a/src/karts/kart_properties.cpp b/src/karts/kart_properties.cpp
index b3f968fce..33c624bf9 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart_properties.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart_properties.cpp
@@ -785,6 +785,11 @@ float KartProperties::getCameraForwardUpAngle() const
     return m_cached_characteristic->getCameraForwardUpAngle();
 }  // getCameraForwardUpAngle
 
+bool KartProperties::getCameraForwardSmoothing() const
+{
+    return m_cached_characteristic->getCameraForwardSmoothing();
+}  // getCameraForwardSmoothing
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 float KartProperties::getCameraBackwardUpAngle() const
 {
diff --git a/src/karts/kart_properties.hpp b/src/karts/kart_properties.hpp
index 13797cb5e..f9b15563c 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart_properties.hpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart_properties.hpp
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ public:
 
     float getCameraDistance() const;
     float getCameraForwardUpAngle() const;
+    bool getCameraForwardSmoothing() const;
     float getCameraBackwardUpAngle() const;
 
     float getJumpAnimationTime() const;
diff --git a/src/karts/xml_characteristic.cpp b/src/karts/xml_characteristic.cpp
index 3eabf9833..ae1a410ad 100644
--- a/src/karts/xml_characteristic.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/xml_characteristic.cpp
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ void XmlCharacteristic::load(const XMLNode *node)
             &m_values[CAMERA_DISTANCE]);
         sub_node->get("forward-up-angle",
             &m_values[CAMERA_FORWARD_UP_ANGLE]);
+        sub_node->get("forward-smoothing",
+            &m_values[CAMERA_FORWARD_SMOOTHING]);
         sub_node->get("backward-up-angle",
             &m_values[CAMERA_BACKWARD_UP_ANGLE]);
     }