Volkswagen's Sports Car Challenge sets the driving game benchmark on iOS

When you think of driving games, chances are your iPhone or iPad won’t be your first port of call.

Having said that, the last couple of years have seen an explosion in quality mobile games to the point the platform is now taken seriously as a worthy competitor to the handheld gaming market. 

Forgetting the lacklustre Gameloft ports of existing console racing games, there have been quite a few compelling racers for iOS, such as Death Rally, Reckless Getaway and the visually impressive attempt at a simulator, Real Racing 2.

Sports Car Challenge is the latest attempt at a racing game app for the market, developed by Fishlabs and endorsed by Volkswagen.

Thankfully, there’s not a Beetle in sight. Instead, you get a plethora of Volkswagen’s contemporary high performance range comprising of the Audi TTS, Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Porsche Cayman R and the Volkswagen Scirocco R. The developer has also confirmed that licenses have been acquired for a Audi RS3, Seat Ibiza, and Volkswagen up! to be added into the game by late January. 

“But wait, are my eyes deceiving me or is that a brand new Porsche in the car list? I thought the greedy goblins of EA held the exclusive rights to Porsche,” I’m sure you’re all thinking.

Indeed, Sports Car Challenge marks the first time we’ve seen Porsche appear in a game not published by EA. But before you get your hopes up in thinking that this must surely mean Forza Motorsport 4 will be regaining Porsche, don’t forget that this game is endorsed by Volkswagen – Volkswagen Group own the Porsche marquee, which explains the collaboration.

Each car can be taken for a spin in time trial mode, or put through their paces in a series of slalom and brake tests. What’s more, VW pundits can also customise the rims and paint jobs and even take photos of their rides in a 360 degree garage.

It all sounds pretty sophisticated for a mobile game, but where Sports Car Challenge really seems to stand out is the fact it looks to raise the bar for graphical prowess on iOS. Judging from the screens and trailer we posted, it’s looking very handsome indeed, though we do wonder if it would look as silky smooth if other cars were on the track simultaneously.

Best of all? It’s completely free of charge.

This would normally be a near impossible feat for a game that features fully licensed cars, but not so for Volkswagen since they already own all of the manufacturer marquees.

Granted, you don’t seem to get much actual 'game' and the fact it’s free makes it seem more like a glorified tech demo/marketing tool for Volkswagen. But if this is to be the new standard for free games, count us well and truly in.

Being an Android man who didn’t succumb to the trendy Apple craze, I unfortunately can’t get access to the App to take it for a test drive. Still, it’s already available on the store for free right now, so you probably don’t need my convincing anyway.

Words by Martin Bigg (Twitter: @drivinggamespro)

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