More reality will not capture the experience of an off-road dusty ride in an open-top Jeep Wrangler, which smelled the smell of rubber from a track day behind the wheel of a new Porsche 911 POAHY,
or the all-day comfort that Volvo’s VLVLY offers,
supportive sets, but the new iOS and Android service may help customers feel like they’re in the showroom from the comfort of their own home.
Jeep, Porsche, Volvo, and several other manufacturers are taking advantage of unique augmented reality experiences specific to smartphones offered by Google GOOGL,
on iOS and Android devices.
See also: Cars costing more than $ 200,000
The timing could not have been better. Showroom traffic has dropped dramatically when car buyers are staying at home due to a pandemic coronavirus infection. Retailers have responded by offering home walks and trial trials, but even those can be time consuming for both consumers and vendors for customers who are just for kicking tires.
The new augmented reality program was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics virtual reality show in early 2021 and features in Google searches for some vehicles.
Related: CES will introduce new tools to stop the spread of COVID-19
While this isn’t the real McCoy, the experience offers a close-up view with awesome precision. Moving in on ToyotaTM,
A 3D-modeled RAV4 by Google features as subtle detail as the grain on the leather steering wheel.
In some cases, Google’s augmented reality even allows drivers to park a virtual car behind themselves – such as in their driveway or preferred road.
For now, there is a largely developed truth about enabling consumers to experience a vehicle before they hop in for a real drive, but it could also shorten the shopping experience.
First run this story on Autotrader.com.