Car manufacturer Lexus is providing consumers with the opportunity to take a test drive from the comfort of their own living room, with its latest foray into virtual reality marketing for the Lexus RC F.

Lexus has experimented with VR before, deploying Oculus Rift headsets and simulated driving seats at car shows in American and around the world, but the latest advancement not only gives users new racetracks to experience, but adds support for the Google Cardboard headset, meaning consumers can try it anywhere using their smartphones.

Using the new app, available for iOS and Android devices, users can choose from two race-tuned RC F models to race around the famous Ascari circuit in Spain, experiencing the thrill of the track from the drivers point of view, or various other vantage points.

The app is designed to not only showcase the feeling of racing in one of Lexus premier models, but also the cars design, with users able to pause the action to enjoy a 360-degree view of the car.

“At Lexus we are determined to push the boundaries in everything we do, whether thats in the design of our cars or the way we market our products to customers,” said Spiros Fotinos, head of marketing in Europe for Lexus. “For the RC F we have created an amazing virtual reality experience that can enjoyed and shared by anyone, anywhere – without the traditional hardware limitations.

“The combination of realism, multi-platform availability and YouTube 360-degree video streaming makes it truly a world first.”