Audi e-tron available for "virtual test drives" on PlayStation
Want to know what it's like to drive an awesome electric concept car like the Audi e-tron? Well, we have good news for you... sort of. While you're extremely unlikely to be plunking your real hind end behind the steering wheel of Audi's 3,319 lb-ft of torque monster, you'll soon be able to just that in the virtual world.
If you have a Sony PlayStation 3, head on over to Audi Space, the company's digital realm over at PlayStation Home. Once there, you'll be able to play the Vertical Run driving game, which puts the Audi e-tron through its paces over what sounds like a ridiculous set of unrealistic tracks.
You may never actually get the chance to drive your very own electric Audi R8 – the automaker hasn't exactly made a big deal of its future production possibilities – so this may be the next best thing. Click past the break for the full press release.
Gallery: Audi e-tron concept
[Source: Audi]
PRESS RELEASE:
Virtual test drive with Audi's e-tron electric concept car
• Audi driving game on PlayStation®Home starting in December
• Audi's brand presence in a virtual world
• Audi tv available now through PlayStation Home
Ingolstadt, Germany – Audi fans will be able to drive the e-tron concept car through PlayStation Home starting in late 2009. Audi is the first carmaker to develop its own virtual area there, known as the Audi Space. The Audi e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric engine, was introduced at the International Motor Show (IAA). Starting in December, it will be available in the Vertical Run driving game within the Audi Space.
Racing enthusiasts will soon be able to view the Audi drive concept of the future in PlayStation Home, a 3D social gaming service for the PlayStation 3 community. Four motors – one per wheel – power the e-tron when it drives along the three-dimensional racetrack in Vertical Run. The game will be available exclusively in the new Audi Space within PlayStation Home.
"Most young people gain their first driving experience from video games," explains Kai Mensing, who is responsible for video games and virtual worlds in Online Marketing at Audi. "With the Audi Space, we can bring this target group into contact with our brand in a highly emotion-packed and interactive environment, and demonstrate our 'Vorsprung durch Technik' with the virtual e-tron race."
The goal of Vertical Run is to beat the competition in a multiplayer challenge by collecting enough electrical energy and avoiding driving errors in the e-tron, in order to reach the highest possible speed. While all PlayStation Home users will be able to access Audi Space – with its centrally placed tower reminiscent of major cities like Shanghai and Chicago – the Audi apartments located above the city will only be available to the best drivers.
"It was important to us to create an environment with Audi Space that differed from a classic showroom at an Audi dealership," Mensing said. "To achieve that, we got together with the architects at Allmann Sattler Wappner and developed an interactive concept where the focus is on selected Audi models, making it possible to experience the brand in a selective, interactive way."
Users don't have to wait until the Vertical Run driving game goes online in Audi Space to find Audi content. Audi tv reports are already available in the cinema within PlayStation Home. In 2010, additional Audi content will be added to Audi Space. The U.K. software developer VEEMEE LLP is responsible for implementation of the virtual experience. To access Audi Space as of December, PlayStation®3 players can download PlayStation Home onto their consoles for free. . More information on PlayStation Home can be found at www.playstation.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 3:05PM (9/22/2009)
I think that they invest too much in green road car, this car is way over-built, it take 80 h.p electric to satisfied the consumer and 200 h.p electric to build a nice powerful sport car.
This technology will be better fit to a transcontinental flying 10 passenger car.
Why are they not offering a green car ?? yes it's because they receive ton of subsidies from constricted consumers and from the state and from high-financial folks for NOT selling a green cheap regular green car because a green car cost less , don't pollute and drive better and last longer without fuel cost. Postpone any car expenditure and taxation toward these hackers of the economy and remember their false name like audi, volk, ford, gm, honda, etc.
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Ghen 3:37PM (9/22/2009)
Anyone played yet? Better or worse than the Yaris "game" on xbox live? Pretty low bar to be sure.
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gorr 4:27PM (9/22/2009)
I tried to play the audi game, but it's already disable or the way to join them is too complicated, i lost 1 hour trying to try their game and it never started. The computer business is as cheap and costly as the car business. They always sell their mental troubles instead of selling the product.
Pospone any informatic expence till sony, audi, gran turismo works for real. I have the play station 3 and the online connection is slow and buggy.