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Category: Automotive

Our Favourite Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are now entering the mainstream, accounting for 6.6% of new car sales last year. What’s more, their rise is only going to accelerate as rules are introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities.  

We’re definitely seeing an increase in clients coming to us to talk about their EV launches and we’ve recently worked on fully integrated real-time 3D configurators and marketing stills for leading EVs including the Lotus Evija and the recently launched Rimac Nevera.  

So, we thought it would be fun to ask our automotive team which electric vehicle they would pick if money was no object. The car-fanatics of our studio did not disappoint…Let us know which car you would choose! It’s time to get excited about making the switch to electric.

 

Lotus Evija, Pininfarina Battista and Rimac Nevera

Client Services Director, Paul McSweeney, couldn’t stop at just one. “With a wife and four children I need six places. So, I choose a Lotus Evija, a Pininfarina Battista and a Rimac Nevera!” Paul is especially familiar with these particular vehicles, as our team partnered with each brand on the launch marketing campaigns and configurators for these incredible cars. 

Porsche Taycan Turbo

Our CEO, Tony Prosser, didn’t have to think twice before he chose the Porsche Taycan Turbo. “Instantaneous power, the biggest thrill with the safety of all-wheel drive, beautiful Porsche styling inside and out and superb German build quality. 5 stars from me.” 

Audi E-Tron

Our Senior Automotive Artist, Damian Biliński, has gone for style mixed with size and function: “My choice is the Audi e-Tron black edition. A big SUV, family friendly and just look at it, no words needed!” As well as looking the part, Audi boasts that their e-Tron is capable of travelling up to 252 miles on a single charge and can be charged in under an hour. 

Honda E

Arguably the friendliest-looking car on the list is Senior Producer, Graham James’ pick of the Honda e Electric Car – Honda’s first fully-electric urban car comes in a nifty compact size just little bit bigger than a Fiat 500: “It has an incredible retro style, with a pretty high-tech interior.” 

Cizeta-Moroder V16T

Will Wilson, Senior Automotive Artist, breaks the rules with his obscure choice, choosing to resurrect the car that very nearly made it; “There will be generations of electric cars to look forward to and enjoy. I would mark the end of an era and choose a car which to me represents the ultimate vision of what a supercar can be. The Cizeta-Moroder V16T. A car developed by Claudio Zampolli, designed by Marcello Gandini (Miura, Countach, Stratos), and powered by a Lamborghini derived V16 engine. “ 

Jeep Wrangler Magneto

Our Operations Director, Libby Behrens, has chosen something a little more adventurous: “I love what Jeep are going to do with The Jeep Wrangler Magneto. This is because one day I will be that adventurous and go off-roading in the desert…” The Magneto’s single-motor powertrain is said to offer performance on a par with the standard Wrangler’s 3.5-litre Pentastar petrol V6, packing what they call “unmistakable rock-climbing force.” We couldn’t be more excited to see the final product.

VW Buzz

Last, but by no means least, we have Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz, curtesy of Senior UE4 Auto Artist Paul Stevenson; “A great revamp but this time without the wheezy air-cooled motor.” Unveiled at the Munich motor show, the ID. Buzz features a raft of camera, lidar and radar sensors to enable the autonomous technology developed by US start-up Argo. 

What would you pick? An updated retro design or the kind of EV that looks like it’s straight out of Blade Runner? Be sure to let us know! 

At REALTIME, we have 20 years of experience making car configurators for the biggest names in the automotive sector. Work with us to ensure your car configurator offers the best experience to your customers.

For more information on our car configuration options, fill out the below form or email me at [email protected]

 

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021: Review

For the car enthusiasts among us, it was encouraging to see the Goodwood Festival of Speed take place after a Covid-enforced hiatus last year. The event opened its doors last Thursday as part of the UK Government’s Event Research Programme and as such could run at full capacity as far as visitors were concerned, although it definitely impacted the number of motor manufacturers in attendance.

In any case, I was very happy to be there – if only as it felt like progress on the return to normality. So, ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts for my little round up of the highlights:

Genesis

Much like Nissan’s Infiniti and Honda’s Acura, Hyundai used the Festival of Speed to launch its Genesis brand, including the G70 Shooting Brake pictured, which is unique to these shores. It is not the easiest task in the world to break the European prestige market without any heritage as such, but Genesis seems to be including all the right ingredients in its recipe.

Ineos

Goodwood was the first opportunity to get up close and personal with Ineos’ Grenadier, fondly thought of by many as the ‘real’ replacement for the workhorse Series III Land Rover Defender. Certainly, the extremely rugged construction and serious-looking ironmongery, visible within the wheelhouses and exposed door hinges, leave us in no doubt whatsoever as to its intentions.

Pininfarina

A quick rock down to Electric Avenue and it was lovely to see the beautiful yet sustainable Battista on show and accessible to the public via the very friendly Pininfarina staff team. Just like its sister car, the recently christened Rimac Nevera, deliveries begin later on this year for those with €2m burning a hole in their ecologically sound, recycled cotton-lined pockets. 

Lamborghini

Lamborghini took the opportunity to share the swansong Aventador, the Ultimae, with the appreciative Goodwood audience. Sporting a final-iteration 780PS V12, I’m sure this will fly off the shelves as we tick off yet another brand making the transition to hybrid, if not full-electric power.

McLaren

Woking’s finest continues its tradition of warm hospitality for all visitors, open chequebook or not, and welcomes you to a sit (and dream) in the stunning Elva.

The real star of the McLaren stand, however, was the new Artura, making its public debut in the UK and really looking the part. The public car was displayed in its now famous Flux Green finish but if you ask me, the car looks best off its tall show plinth and closer to the ground, to be approached as you would on the street. It’s a real testament to its design, so here’s a snap of it at the back of ‘McLaren House’ looking mean and moody in its satin paintwork:

Lotus Cars

Finally, to the storied British brand Lotus, and it’s unanimous star of the show; the new Emira. While the electric Evija still looks totally fresh as it takes its place amongst the new ‘holy trinity’ with the Pininfarina Battista and the Rimac Nevera, the sweet-as-a-nut Emira, billed as the final internal combustion-engine or ICE Lotus, saw queues around the block to have a closer look. Very well judged with even better pricing (starting at under £60k), my head and my heart are both telling me that the new £100m Lotus production facility is going to have a job on its hands to keep up with demand…

What a welcome return to an automotive event: breathe a sign of relief, everyone! EV and hybrid reveals are soon to comfortably outnumber their ICE counterparts, but it seems that the public’s enthusiasm will never be eclipsed!

 

The Year Automotive Events Went Digital

We absolutely love a motor show and are really excited to be back at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, which is allowed to go ahead at full capacity as part of the UK Government’s pilot Events Research Programme. In the run up, we look back at how successfully the automotive industry embraced digital events last year, and what the future of motor shows looks like now.

Last year, the events industry took a massive hit. It is a significant contributor to the global economy. As per the report published by Allied Market Research, the global events industry was valued at $1,135.4 billion in 2019, with corporate events & the seminar segment holding the highest market share.

That was before the pandemic. With a sudden lockdown, every physical event was thrown up into the air. Like many other industries, there was no consensus on how to handle this unfamiliar situation. Eventually, with the writing on the wall, the events industry had to make a choice: cancel outright or move to digital events. The automotive industry was no different.

But with digital events being the only alternative, did the automotive industry take advantage of everything they had to offer? And did those that took up the challenge succeed in providing a worthwhile experience? And what will happen in 2021 and beyond for motor shows? Read our brand-new E-Guide on the subject and let us know your thoughts!

Why your car configurator is a vital sales feature

Shopping around for a car online offers more choice and comfort than the in-person experience at a dealership. Online car shopping has only accelerated in the face of COVID-19 and is more important than ever to focus on. It’s part of a slow shift that’s been happening for years; in 2019, a Cox Automotive car buyer survey reported that 61% of car shoppers’ time was spent online and now 37% of people looking to buy a car imminently are likely to make their final purchase without ever visiting a dealership. 

In this increasingly digital world, we cannot overstate the value of imagery. A car configurator is a core feature of online car shopping and provide a valuable service to customers who utilise them. But a key component to making it a success is selling the dream of owning that car, something you can achieve by making it look as realistic and desirable as possible. This isn’t just a car, it’s their car. So what are the benefits of creating a car configurator with impressive visual fidelity?

 

It’s engaging

Interactive content gains twice the engagement of static content on websites. A car configurator, therefore, is an effective way of encouraging your customers to not just look at the car but engage with it. Interactive content also increases the number of return visits to your site, keeping your business and a customer’s dream car in their mind.

The more they interact with it, the higher the chances of them making the purchase are. By engaging with the car, it makes the idea of owning it more real. And the better it looks, the more real it feels, taking it from a dream purchase to an actual purchase.

 

It’s personal

Customising a car online makes the final product feel more personal. The end result is created by your customers themselves and reflects them directly. Making all the choices for a vehicle allows the customer to feel involved in the creation process; the final product becomes a collaboration between you and your customer.

When they create their dream car, every choice is intimate. What finish do they want on the dashboard? What colour do they want the seats? And what gadgets do they crave? This is their car and it’s a feeling you can’t recreate at the dealership.

 

It’s persuasive

One of the most simple benefits of a car configurator is how it allows customers to fully visualise their car. Picking a paint colour from a sheet is not the same as seeing the car in their chosen colour fully styled with all their customisation choices. This confirms for customers that what they see is what they want – it removes the guesswork or hesitation from the process. 

Seeing a finished product in a car configurator will make it more real for your customer. They can look at it and know that what they see is a car unique to them. This makes the product feel attainable and more tangible than words on a screen or a conversation in a dealership.

With the pandemic making it riskier to be in proximity to strangers, more people who previously didn’t have a need for a car are now looking to buy one. As they turn online, you want your customers to have all the tools they need at their fingertips to make the best choice for them. With an intricately detailed configurator, you can make their next car-buying experience a painless one.

At REALTIME, we have 20 years of experience making car configurators for the biggest names in the automotive sector. Work with us to ensure your car configurator offers the best experience to your customers. For more information on our car configuration options, get in contact with me at [email protected].

REALTIME Pledges Party Budget for Worthy Causes #xmaspartypledge

REALTIME is pledging unused Christmas party budgets to worthy causes this year. 

And we’re appealing to UK businesses to do the same!

More than 55 staff at UK-based REALTIME (www.reatimeuk.com) have already pledged their Christmas party budget to support health, wellbeing and youth homelessness charities. 

We hope to raise £2,000 for Centrepoint (www.centrepont.org); a charity that provides housing and support for young people regionally in London, Manchester, Yorkshire and the North East and through partnerships all over the UK.

Our pledge has now inspired a simple #xmaspartypledge appeal.

REALTIME Head of Production TV, Jane Forsyth, explains: “Christmas is going to be very different for everyone this year. And some people will be struggling more than most. Here at REALTIME, we were particularly touched by the national effort to look after children who need meals. It was important that we did what we could to help out.

“As a digital animation studio, our business hasn’t been affected as much as others during the pandemic. That’s why everyone wanted to help. Swapping the money we would normally spend on a Christmas party feels like a common sense simple way we can help a worthy cause.

“Our hope now is that others in our industry who have the means to do so will donate their unused Christmas party budgets to worthy causes too.”

Hannah Jones, regional fundraising manager for Centrepoint said: “We are incredibly grateful to REALTIME for showing us this support, at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year. This donation will ensure that Centrepoint continues to offer tailored, holistic support to some of the country’s most disadvantaged young people.”

REALTIME has also set up a JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/xmaspartypledge