Download lowdown: the monthly test bench for in-car apps, CAR+ September 2015

Published: 27 August 2015 Updated: 09 September 2015

► The month’s best motoring apps
► Rated and slated by CAR magazine
► Phone apps for iOS and Android
 

Table Top Racing

£: Free/Apple/Android
What is it? Imagine Mario Kart meets Gran Turismo
How it works: You race on kitchen-table circuits, earning points to progress and upgrade your car
Cool feature: Lacking skill/patience? Buy your dream garage
Usability: Great fun, easy to use, lowest levels still good
Rating: 8/10

RM Catalogues

£: Free/Apple
What is it? Brochure fest from high-end classic-flogger RM Auctions
How it works: Download a brochure, pore over the in-depth descriptions of these incredibly desirable classics
Cool feature: Premium magazine-like quality
Usability: Tricky to search, print can frustrate on smartphone. No function to track results
Rating: 6/10

World Rally Championship

£: Free/Apple/Android
What is it? All the latest on WRC, a sport perfect for the app treatment
How it works: Background info (calendar, results, drivers) mingles with Live section featuring stage times, maps and news
Cool feature: Tune in to WRC Radio during rallies
Usability: Layout busy, but quickly sussed, and better than WRC.com
Rating: 6/10

Volkswagen UK Car Configurator

£: Free/Apple
What is it? Virtually spec your dream Dub, plus see standard spec, mpg and tax costs
How it works: Choose your car, add options, see the results inside and out with 360deg tour
Cool feature: Book a test drive in a few quick steps
Usability: Clear, mostly intuitive, and better than Audi’s (good) configurator
Rating: 7/10

By Ben Barry

Contributing editor, sideways merchant, tyre disintegrator

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