Audi is first automaker to join Japanese virtual reality event

MANILA: Audi is turning Japanese! By displaying the e-tron Sportback in “Virtual Market 4,” the German automaker becomes the first automaker to participate the world’s largest virtual reality event. It started April 29 and will end on May 10, 2020.

The all-new Audi e-tron Sportback is an all-electric mid-sized SUV with a roof that slopes to the rear. It has an electric motor at the front axle that puts out 201hp and 355Nm of torque while the rear axle gets a pair of electric motors that together delivers 354hp and 618Nm. When used together as e-quattro, total output is 429hp and 808Nm.

Virtual Market 4 was created by Japanese company Hikky and is coming off a highly successful third event last year where 710,000 international virtual visitors attended.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers expect up to one million attendees this year appearing as 3D characters while they go through the virtual space called “Para-real Tokyo” and interact with one another.

Audi sees this as a great opportunity to display the e-tron Sportback in Japan. The model will be launched in Europe in this quarter and will reach dealers in the United States and Asia in the second half of the year.

See the Audi e-tron Sportback in "Para-real Tokyo" at selected locations. When a 3D character touches the vehicles, they will be guided to a very special virtual Audi stand: The Audi booth is a digital recreation of the “Audi Meteorite,” a special e-tron experience facility installed physically at Munich Airport for a limited period from beginning 2019 and in Shanghai in autumn 2019.

There, visitors will see second model of the e-tron family along with various features, design and technology will be explained live by Audi avatars. A guided virtual test drive around the Meteorite is also available.

Forty-two other companies in around 1,400 stores are also participating in the Virtual Market 4.

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