Hi-Res Render, need ideas on re-creating a scene...

My task is to create something similar in atmosphere to the NFShift 2 Unleashed intro video where the camera pans down over the asphalt and moves up to the wheel.

Here are some references:



My trouble is in establishing a good way of making the asphalt to a similar style. I've taken some asphalt textures and turned them into detail maps for stamping in ZBrush, beyond that I don't know. Perhaps layer them and use the polish feature in the end. From what I can see, the top surface is like some sort of polished concrete, it may not even be asphalt? The cracks are large but have small vains that sprite out with far less depth. So I suppose playing with the hardness of the brush and then using a noise pass could get something similar?

Just wanting know if I'm on the right track?
I read up on this tutorial and it seems to shed some light, a little:
http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/tutorials/max/samurai/samurai.html

Also on a separate node, the glowing on the brake discs, should this be done as an emission map?

Thanks fellas!