Review by CoMod Alex (aka Lotus) of the Carrera DIGITAL 124 Audi R8 LMS "Carrera Safety Car" (Item No. 23799)
Carrera . Well, a lot
of
club members are going to start smiling when they see the headline of this review—some more than others. ;-)
We CoMods are used to CARRERA vehicles evoking strong emotions—sometimes very different ones. One of our tasks, then, is to keep these emotions in check among the club members when some of them get a little too “carried away.”
But what makes the whole thing difficult is when you agree 100% with the club members’ opinions but aren’t allowed to get worked up yourself.
The Audi R8 Safety Car was a long-cherished wish of the 124 faction. So the joy was all the greater when the car appeared on the 2014 new product list. We saw a prototype of the Safety Car for the first time in December 2013 in Salzburg. At that time, it still had black windows, just as originally planned for production. This led to heated discussions with the design, engineering, and marketing teams right there in the CARRERA showroom in Puch (as one CoMod put it: “That’s just not acceptable!”).
When the first pictures of the car were shown at the toy fair, the club members’ reaction was predictable: a storm of outrage broke out! A 1:24 scale model with black windows? No driver figure? It looks just like a toy. These and similar comments were among the more harmless remarks that those in charge had to endure even at the trade show.
After endless discussions—which the decision-makers ultimately took to heart—it was decided to produce the vehicle true to the prototype with clear glass windows. Technically, this means that routing the various cables for the turn signal assembly in the roof is significantly more complicated, although certain compromises obviously have to be made here. In the end, the club members’ wishes prevailed. It might sound a bit dramatic, but that’s how it is.
Now, a few more words about the car:
I won’t say much about the design, since that, too, has sparked discussions within the club. Just this much: Some things simply aren’t feasible due to licensing restrictions, unfortunately. Personally, I like it; the design has a “contemporary” feel. And in the LMS starting grid, the car is a pleasant change of pace, if only because of the turn signal. :D
The R8’s handling is well-known; the base version of the LMS racer is rightly among the most popular and best-performing cars in the 124 lineup. The Audi has excellent acceleration and flawless cornering. It's no surprise that this car is also a popular choice in club racing series.
While Team Phoenix's "Spider" R8 was a visual treat, the SafetyCar is the technical standout. I hope you all have a lot of fun with the car!
Best regards,
CoMod Alex
We CoMods are used to CARRERA vehicles evoking strong emotions—sometimes very different ones. One of our tasks, then, is to keep these emotions in check among the club members when some of them get a little too “carried away.”
But what makes the whole thing difficult is when you agree 100% with the club members’ opinions but aren’t allowed to get worked up yourself.
The Audi R8 Safety Car was a long-cherished wish of the 124 faction. So the joy was all the greater when the car appeared on the 2014 new product list. We saw a prototype of the Safety Car for the first time in December 2013 in Salzburg. At that time, it still had black windows, just as originally planned for production. This led to heated discussions with the design, engineering, and marketing teams right there in the CARRERA showroom in Puch (as one CoMod put it: “That’s just not acceptable!”).
When the first pictures of the car were shown at the toy fair, the club members’ reaction was predictable: a storm of outrage broke out! A 1:24 scale model with black windows? No driver figure? It looks just like a toy. These and similar comments were among the more harmless remarks that those in charge had to endure even at the trade show.
After endless discussions—which the decision-makers ultimately took to heart—it was decided to produce the vehicle true to the prototype with clear glass windows. Technically, this means that routing the various cables for the turn signal assembly in the roof is significantly more complicated, although certain compromises obviously have to be made here. In the end, the club members’ wishes prevailed. It might sound a bit dramatic, but that’s how it is.
Now, a few more words about the car:
I won’t say much about the design, since that, too, has sparked discussions within the club. Just this much: Some things simply aren’t feasible due to licensing restrictions, unfortunately. Personally, I like it; the design has a “contemporary” feel. And in the LMS starting grid, the car is a pleasant change of pace, if only because of the turn signal. :D
The R8’s handling is well-known; the base version of the LMS racer is rightly among the most popular and best-performing cars in the 124 lineup. The Audi has excellent acceleration and flawless cornering. It's no surprise that this car is also a popular choice in club racing series.
While Team Phoenix's "Spider" R8 was a visual treat, the SafetyCar is the technical standout. I hope you all have a lot of fun with the car!
Best regards,
CoMod Alex
