Celebrating 50 years!
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:02 amSalzburg, Feb. 2013 – Carrera, the worldwide market leader in the scale model racetrack sector, has had several great ideas to celebrate 50 years of the Carrera brand. The cult pop group Yello have joined up with Carrera and are ready to hit the grid, put the pedal to the metal and fire up the worlds of music and slotcar racing with a special Carrera remix of the world famous hit ‘The Race’. There’s also a prototype Carrera App for iPhones and iPads to let Slotcar pros know they’re using state of the art technology, and there are great new products for young and old alike. Of course, Carrera continues to stand for top quality and innovation, and its 2.4 GHz WIRELESS+ technology now enhances the slotcar market. In fact, WIRELESS+ is now also available with the analogue Evolution system. Numerous reproduction license agreements with big-name automobile manufacturers make driving on Carrera’s world famous tracks a true joy. Budding Carrera drivers also have plenty to enjoy in 2013 as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrate their debut in this commemorative year. Alongside the universally recognizable Turtles there are other stars such as Disney/Pixar Cars and The Amazing Spider-Man to keep young fans busy. Kart legends ‘Mario’ and ‘Luigi’ are also in the thick of the action with Nintendo Mario Kart™7.
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To kick off Carrera’s 50th birthday there are two top contenders pitted against each other on the commemorative ‘Race de Luxe’ circuit, so tension is guaranteed in Carrera’s premium racing class with the 1:24 digital system. Carrera fans will love exciting race action with these dream cars: a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 ‘Heico Motorsports, No. 1’, VLN 2012 and the Ferrari 599 XX. The gull-wing car from Mercedes-Benz came 2nd in the 24-hour race in Dubai and has been in the GT class since 2011. Carrera 2.4 GHz WIRELESS+ technology allows those running the cars complete freedom of movement around the circuit and innovative accessories such as the driver display and start light make races an unforgettable experience.
In 2013 the Salzburg slotcar specialists have again shown what ‘Motorsport at home’ is all about by putting together an amazing car pool full of top class track-bound automobiles. The Carrera portfolio is being complemented by several great new 1:24 scale cars to boost the adrenaline levels of Carrera fans everywhere.
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The ‘Time Race’ set builds a bridge between past and present motor racing worlds to mark 50 years of Carrera with two 1:32 scale models; the legendary Porsche 904 Carrera GTS from the early 1960s, and a futuristic hybrid super sports car - the Porsche 918 Spyder. This anniversary celebrates 50 years of great automotive technology and motor racing history and there are plenty of impressive features to look forward to. The sleek and authentically detailed scale model Porsches evoke plenty of nostalgia around every Carrera circuit. What’s more, Carrera’s 2.4 GHz WIRELESS+ technology, first introduced in 2012, provides complete freedom of movement around the tracks.
Acquisition of the official DTM reproduction license means the ‘DTM Challenge’ set is now ready to roll on every Carrera circuit. It includes a dogfight between DTM pros, the German driver, Martin Tomczyk, in the BMW M3 DTM Team RMG and the AMG Mercedes C-Coupe DTM ‘D. Coulthard, No.19’.
Carrera power freaks will love the ‘Power Racing’ set. The stars of this set are the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 ‘AF Corse, No. 71’ 2012, first unveiled to the public in 2009 at the IAA trade fair in Frankfurt; and the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 ‘Young Driver, No.007’, driven in 2012 by the two sons of the legendary racing driver Hans Joachim ‘Strietzel’, and members of Team Stuck³, at the 24-hour race around the Nürburgring in Germany.
Evolution
The special ‘Celebracers’ commemorative set also features a clash of the Porsche generations that couldn’t differ more greatly than the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS and the Porsche 918 Spyder. These super sports cars are ready to roll out for battle. While the 800 bhp 918 Spyder makes its first appearance on the circuit in 2013, its rival hit the track in 1963 – the year of the first ever Carrera race circuit.
Another wireless highlight offering superlative racing fun is guaranteed by 2.4 GHz WIRELESS+ technology which is now also available in the analogue Carrera Evolution system.
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DTM motor racing in the smallest available scale 1:43 is what the new ‘Power Race’ set has to offer. The three speed kings from the Touring Car Masters are all in the hunt for victory and are all from different stables. The Audi A5 DTM ‘M. Ekström, No.3’, the BMW M3 DTM ‘M.Tomczyk, No.1’ and the AMG Mercedes C-Coupe DTM ‘J. Green, No.5’ will be staging exciting 3-way battles in homes everywhere as they honour the Carrera slogan ‘Motorsport for home’.
Formula-1 enthusiasts can also experience the intense emotion of their favourite hobby in the smallest of the DIGITAL systems with the ‘Champions Cockpit’ as the superstars Vettel and Alonso fight for the ultimate prize.
GO!!!
The worldwide market leader has a veritable firework display of 1:43 scale licenses for Carrera’s youngest fans. Brand new inhabitants of the Carrera universe in 2013 are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who offer great thrills, spills, high bends and loop action as they chase their arch rival Shredder in the ‘Ninja X-Loop’ set in thrilling races around Carrera circuits in living rooms and bedrooms everywhere.
The Disney/Pixar Cars heroes Lightning McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli are also out on the latest GO!!! circuit in ‘Disney/Pixar Cars – Silver Racer’ and their spectacular silver looks introduce a generous portion of racetrack glamor. The Ultimate Spider-Man – Spider Racer unleashes his superpowers as the world’s most famous arachnid hunts down the evil Green Goblin in the ‘Spider Race’ set. The world’s most lovable Kart drivers ‘Mario’ and ‘Luigi’ are also armed and ready for every challenge on their new ‘Nintendo Mario Kart™7’ track.
This year the DTM is honoring Carrera with two sets. The ‘Ultimate DTM’ and ‘DTM Showdown’ will be transforming bedrooms around the globe into all-action racetracks with double loops, fly-over bends and lane crossovers.
Carrera App
Right at the start of Carrera’s 50th birthday year the brand has taken the opportunity to show how young and dynamic it is. A prototype Carrera app for the iPhones 4S, 5 and the 3rd generation iPad is was showcased at the Nuremburg Toy Fair in 2013 and features a number of innovative functions. This new app enables all Carrera fans to establish their own profile and then to link it up with the control unit on the Carrera circuit. The specially developed Bluetooth receiver is the interface between the control unit and the app. Users who are ‘Ready-to-race’ can choose between training or race modes before speeding round their tracks with their friends. The app transforms compatible iPhones and iPads into genuine race monitors and as well as displaying specified details they also show all the relevant information on fuel levels, brake performance and speed, all of which can be set in the ‘Race Profile’ in advance. All this, great sounds and announcements of current race positions, contribute to an unbeatable race day atmosphere.
Carrera Online
There will also be loads of exciting features on the official carrera-toys.com website in 2013: In particular, this special year is being commemorated with a number of online competitions related to several automobile reproduction licenses, such as the original DTM license. The Carrera Facebook site will be supporting all Carrera’s campaigns, offers and commemorative specials and is a guarantee for even more online action. Over 185,000 visits per month are proof that carrera-toys.com is the first stop on the web for slotcar fans and Carrera friends.