REWIND and Imagination Launch Jaguar’s Electric Motorsport Future with VR Experience

To mark the launch of Jaguar's entry into the Formula E motorsport series, REWIND has produced a first-of-its kind social Virtual Reality driving experience, in collaboration with Imagination. The VR experience was launched at Paris Auto Show as part of the Jaguar stand and will remain at the event for its duration, before going on tour to Hong Kong, LA and other major cities.

The experience, which promotes Jaguar’s return to racing, puts you in the driving seat of a Formula E single seater racing car, taking you on a multi-sensory journey and allowing you to compete against others. The four minute VR experience uses high end 4D experience systems, including physical fans so you can feel the wind in your face as you accelerate, a custom rumble-seat system so you can really feel the road through your seat, and an industry leading force feedback wheel system.

HTC’s Vive and the latest gaming technology transports the user to another time and reality. To hark back to the Golden Era of Jaguar motorsport, the user is treated to a Heritage montage of Jaguar Racing, featuring legendary British motor racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss OBE. The user then meets the new drivers of the “Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team”. Next the user’s skills are put to the test on a series of high-speed driving challenges through famous street circuits that Formula E will visit in Season 3: from Paris to Hong Kong, New York to Marrakech. As a final climax to the experience, the user gets to activate their own #FanBoost to go for the win.

The experience was developed using bespoke assets in Unreal Engine 4 (UE4) and is suitable for viewing on the HTC Vive.  Based on the creative strategy from Imagination, REWIND has developed a server-side back-end which allows up to six people to have a unique social experience - aware of each other's movements and customisation options -  within the experience itself.  In addition, each user can see the scores of other players as they drive around the track via a social score board and they can share their adventures on social media.

Sol Rogers, REWIND's CEO/Founder commented: "We've used our VR expertise to create a truly unique experience to mark Jaguar's return to motor racing. Built in Unreal Engine 4, the experience for HTC's Vive uses a custom built seat and high end 4D experience systems to push the level of immersion, whilst the social aspects draw out the competitive nature in all who try it. The VR experience will be on display until 16th October at the Paris Motor Show, we hope many more visitors will be putting themselves in the driving seat to experience this exhilarating piece of theatre and VR technology."