Carrera VR glasses and Cam Car for virtual racing experiences

Virtual perspectives are increasingly finding their way into classic gaming systems. With VR glasses and Cam Car, the familiar racetrack is supplemented by a digital level in which the top view no longer dominates, but instead the action is experienced from the driver's position. Speed, track layout, and overtaking maneuvers thus appear more immediate and fundamentally change the view of the familiar system.

From slot car to driver's perspective

For decades, the focus on the racetrack was on the outside view. Vehicles were observed, curves assessed, maneuvers planned. The Cam Car picks up on this and shifts the focus to the inside. An integrated camera transmits the race directly from the vehicle's perspective. Curves appear tighter, straights longer, accelerations more intense – simply because of the change in perspective. This approach picks up on a behavior that has long been established. Many users film their races, document elaborate tracks, or share clips online. Here, the camera is no longer an accessory, but is permanently integrated into the vehicle and precisely matched to the scale of the track.

Cam Car in a revised generation

The current version of the Cam Car is the result of deliberate further development. Regulatory requirements and technical experience from earlier versions were used to make the system more compact and clearer. The technology no longer takes center stage, but discreetly supports the driving experience. The image is transmitted in real time to a smartphone or tablet. No additional special hardware is required, which makes it easy to get started. At the same time, this openness creates the basis for the use of VR glasses, which can be used to further intensify the driving experience.

VR glasses and scale speed

In combination with VR glasses, an immersive racing experience in miniature format is created. The camera provides the image, while the glasses transport the user directly into the cockpit. The effect of so-called scale speed is particularly impressive: a small slot car suddenly conveys a feeling of speed that corresponds to several hundred kilometers per hour. The perception of the track changes noticeably. Corners demand more attention, and acceleration feels more dynamic. This brings the experience closer to a racing simulator, but remains firmly anchored in the physical structure of the track.

Video, social media, and new usage patterns

A central idea behind Cam Car and VR usage is to extend the game beyond the moment of driving. Races no longer end at the finish line, but continue in videos, clips, and shared content. The track thus becomes the starting point for further activities. Typical usage scenarios are:

• Onboard recordings from the vehicle's perspective
• Clips for social networks and video platforms
• Documentation of complex track layouts
• Shared experience of races via VR glasses

Analog basis, digital expansion

The hybrid approach is crucial. The physical racetrack remains the center of the game: tracks are built, vehicles are deployed, controllers are operated. Digital technology complements this experience, but does not replace it. VR glasses and cameras add an additional layer that opens up new perspectives without changing the core of the system. It is precisely this combination of haptic construction and digital enhancement that distinguishes the concept from pure virtual reality games. The experience arises from the interaction of both worlds.

Positioning in the Carrera portfolio

Within the product range, VR glasses and Cam Car mark a step towards a networked gaming experience. In addition to classic competition and track construction, topics such as immersion, media use, and change of perspective come to the fore. This means that the system is not only aimed at children, but also at teenagers and adults who want to experience their racetrack in a new way.

Carrera VR glasses and Cam Car for virtual racing experiences thus represent a further development of the racetrack principle: the familiar scale remains, but is supplemented by a view that makes the race closer, more intense, and more personal.