CarSpotter: the new app from Veloce Publishing

For most of us, long car journeys were a theme of childhood holidays. Trips to distant relatives, museums, wildlife parks … all were highly anticipated during the summer holidays, with adventure almost guaranteed (and not only at our destinations). I-Spy and other spotting games provided friendly (mostly) competition, and we were almost guaranteed to see something suitably eye-catching to keep us intently (and quietly) peering out of the car's rear passenger windows.

When car spotting, that sense of excitement for the rarest, oldest, or newest car still kicks-in today – an excitement that we know to be true for many auto buffs. And that's where our latest app comes in …

Veloce CarSpotter is the iOS app you wish you had had on those long childhood car rides. If mobiles had been around back then. It lets you keep a record of the cars you see on your travels, saving the location, and up to three photos for each car, along with notes on each of your 'Spots.' You can even group your Spots together using your own custom Tags. Oh, and it's COMPLETELY FREE! No in-app purchases, no 'bolt-ons,' and no hidden charges.

With a database of over 68,000 cars, encompassing rare, vintage, unusual, and interesting models, as well as 'standard' vehicles, and spanning over 100 years of motoring history, the cars aren't limited to certain countries or era, so the app can be used to spot cars anywhere.

The cars are curated into themed lists: cars from the 70s and 80s, or from film and TV, for example. We also have Veloce Selects lists that relate to some of our own books and series; now you can see how many of those Classic Fiats or Rally Giants you come across on your travels.

The app comes with ten lists, including six Veloce Selects lists:

• Veloce Selects: 2019 Line-up (Cars from our 2019 programme)
• Veloce Selects: Essential Buyer's Guides
• Film Cars: James Bond
• Veloce Selects: Car-tastrophes
• Veloce Selects: Great Cars
• TV Cars: ’70s & ’80s
• TV Cars: '90s & 2000s
• Film Cars: General
• Veloce Selects: Great Small Fiats
• Veloce Selects: Rally Giants

We'll also be making new lists available as we create them, to keep your app fresh … also FREE! So, if you have an idea, and want us to make a list for the app, let us know and we'll see what we can do!

Now, if you're hankering for some of that 'old school' competition, our app awards you points for each of your Spots … Lotus Europa? That's 250 points added to your profile! Each new Spot means more points to help you level-up. How many points you get depends on what you spot, with points awarded as follows:

• Base score – 100 points, for any Spot.
• Photo bonus – 50 points if the Spot has a photo saved with it.
• New make bonus – 25 points the first time you spot a car from a manufacturer you haven’t seen before.
• New model bonus – 25 points the first time you spot a model that you haven’t seen before.
• Marque score – A variable bonus based on the car maker: the rarer the marque, the bigger the bonus!
• Age score – A variable bonus based on the car's age. The older the car, the bigger the bonus – EXCEPT if it’s brand new, in which case you also get a bonus.

You'll also receive extra points if the Spot is on one of our lists:

• List spot – Additional points if the car is on any of our themed lists (generally 250 points).
• List completion – A BIG points bonus if a Spot completes a themed list (from 500 to 5000 points, depending on the size of the list).

As you collect more Spots, your profile summarises your progress, showing your points total, your current 'Level,' how many cars you've spotted, and over what period. It also shows you interesting stats such as the average age of the cars you've spotted, the oldest and newest cars, and how you're progressing through the lists.

For all the Twitter users among you, there is an option to share your Spots via tweet. The app will add the hashtag #CarSpotter, the model, and the year (if available).

If you find a car that isn't in the app, or one that you don't recognise, the app lets you tweet with the hashtag #CarSpotterID, so you can ask the Twitterati for an identification.

We will be following both hashtags, so do post your Spots and your ID requests. Tweet your score and Level using the #CarSpotter or #CarSpotterID hashstags, and you could also find yourself getting a little 'real-life' bonus from Veloce!

Veloce CarSpotter app is available now; head to our website or direct to the App store and get spotting today!

• Track your spots using a database of over 68,000 cars from 350+ manufacturers
• Save images, location information, and supplemental notes on each spot
• Create custom tags for spots to group them together however you want
• Work through themed lists of over 240 curated cars
• Earn points and level up with older and more prestigious spots, or spotting cars on supplied lists
• Entirely free! No in-app purchases or upfront costs. Just download and get spotting

CarSpotter also lets you choose a colour theme to match your mood.

Veloce CarSpotter is currently only available for iOS devices, and you can find out more over on our website: take a look at Veloce CarSpotter … and start your car spotting adventure today!

Find out more at Veloce: http://bit.ly/VeloceCarSpotter

Get it direct from the App store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/veloce-carspotter/id1500594777

FRANCE: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR CAR ENTHUSIASTS – NEW BOOK, eBOOK, APPS AND DEDICATED WEBSITE

Love cars? Love France? Yes? Then you'll love this brand new book! France: the essential guide for car enthusiasts is an invaluable companion for every trip through France.
Divided into five regions – Paris & the Île-de-France, Western France, Southern France, Central France & the Alps, and North-East France – each chapter contains a wealth of detailed information for the auto enthusiast. With sections on museums, classic and modern car shows, automobilia, buying car parts, historic and modern motorsport events, and race circuits.
Whether you prefer vintage models, or the latest sports cars, you’ll find 200 ideas for places to see and events you can take part in inside this unique guide to France. Covering everything automotive, this handbook-sized paperback has 248 full colour pages packed with useful information and essential data and a recommended retail price of £14.99 (UK).

Each event/venue entry features a QR code which can be read by a smartphone to access the relevant website for bang up-to-date information. The book is linked to a dedicated website featuring updates, a news blog about automotive events, an events calendar, and free down-loadable POI (points of interest) files for your satnav device.
A uniquely versatile package, the book is also available in eBook form and as five regional apps with links to websites, ‘phone numbers and navigational information. The eBook has a guide price of £9.99 (UK), while the individual apps each have a guide price of £2.29 (UK).

The eBook and apps are available from your favourite vendors for all major digital platforms and devices.
Note: those buying the physical book on Amazon can opt to receive the eBook version free by selecting that option.

Meet the team behind the book! Left to right: Joe Russell (app and eBook creation), Kevin Atkins (print edition layout and production), Julian Parish (author) and Rod Grainger (publisher).

A passionate Francophile, Julian Parish grew up in southern England but soon crossed the Channel to France, where he has now lived for nearly twenty years. Julian has owned a range of British and American sports cars from the 1960s onwards, and has been an active member of clubs dedicated to MG and to the Ford Mustang. It was with these clubs that he first visited many of the places described in France: the essential guide for car enthusiasts, and began to write features for magazines and online. Julian has also been a successful publisher of travel guides and language learning materials. Check out the latest video on our YouTube channel ...

APP OF THE WEEK IN AUTO EXPRESS!

Our latest app is featured in Auto Express this week!

Automotive A-Z Lane’s complete dictionary of automotive terms.
The most comprehensive guide to automotive terms available. Whether you’re a student, apprentice, mechanic, automative industry worker, a driver, or car/motorcycle enthusiasts, with over 13,000 entries, this app explains the function of thousands of car, truck and motorcycle components.

Click here for more info about the app!

NEW APP! CARING FOR YOUR BICYCLE

Our latest app is available now on iOS, Android & Windows Phone.

This step-by-step guide is packed full of information and tells you all you need to know about caring for your bicycle. It covers everything from the basics of why maintenance matters and which tools you should use, to vital safety checks and more advanced maintenance tasks, even the fitting of accessories. Advice on how to adjust your bike to fit you, how to clean it efficiently, and how to keep it running in top condition, lets you get more enjoyment from your bicycle for longer, more safely, and with the sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you can fix or prevent problems that may arise yourself – you could even save yourself a small fortune in repair bills. With information on maintenance scheduling, troubleshooting advice, and electric bicycles, this book is the perfect companion for every cyclist. Available on iOS, Android & Windows Phone. More info.

VELOCE DIGITAL: NEW AUDI TT EBG APP!

Your complete guide to buying an Audi TT

Looking to buy one of these iconic cars? Then this app is for you! It will help ensure that you avoid the main pitfalls and end up with your very own dream coupe on the driveway.
The app includes expert advice, with images and videos, on all aspects of buying an Audi TT. Included is a unique Evaluation Calculator so you can assess the true quality of a potential purchase, and make sure you don’t forget to check any of the important areas. You can store key information and notes for easy reference later.

Available from: Google Play Store, from the App Store, for iPhone, for Android phones and tablets / Microsoft Store for Windows phone. / Amazon Apps for Kindle Fire, and Android devices.

VELOCE DIGITAL: NEW VESPA SCOOTERS APP!

Looking to buy one of these iconic scooters? Then this app is for you! It will help ensure that you avoid the main pitfalls and end up with your very own slice of La Dolce Vita on the driveway.

The app includes expert advice, with images and videos, on all aspects of buying a Vespa. Included is a unique Evaluation Calculator so you can assess the true quality of a potential purchase, and make sure you don’t forget to check any of the important areas. You can store key information and notes, plus images of the Scooters you view for easy reference later. The app also includes a handy tool to search for Vespas which are for sale on various popular websites.

)

Available from: Apple App Store, for iPhone / Google Play Store, for Android phones and tablets / Microsoft Store for Windows phone. / Amazon Apps for Kindle Fire, and Android devices.

NEW APP! MOTORWAY WALKS AND BREAKS – MORE FUN FOR YOUR FUEL! #MoWaB

How do you find places for your kids to play, somewhere nice to walk (including with your dog), a parking space and, often, even great pub food – all within 5 miles of a motorway exit? Now revised and updated for all major platforms, and therefore much quicker and snappier than the original version, Motorway Walks and Breaks is a fantastically useful App for anyone who drives on the motorways of the UK but likes a break from driving in healthy natural surroundings.

Simple to use – just select the motorway, then browse the junctions and choose the walk you'd like to do. The App includes a handy map view, making it easier to find your way.

We have trekked over a thousand miles tracking down great walks for drivers, families and dogs to enjoy on their journey. The whole of the UK is covered, from Exeter to Perth and from Swansea to Canterbury.

Use this App to get more fun for your fuel, treat yourself and your dog to a great walk, see more of the countryside, take a healthy break, or enjoy a relaxing pub lunch.

Each walk is of 30 to 45 minutes' duration, often with a selected pub or café along the way. Activities for children are included, from bouncy castles to nature trails and the facilities available at each walk venue are described.

All of the walks are suitable for dogs, and those with assistance dogs will find details of accessible paths and facilities for the disabled. The listed pubs – most of which are traditional inns, serving high quality food at realistic prices – all welcome well-behaved canines.

If you want more than mileage from your petrol, this is the App for you!

BULLET POINTS

• All walks within 5 miles of motorway exits

• Pub/café on each walk (or at least a picnic table)

• Ideal for when travelling with your four-legged friend!

• Every walk tried and tested

• Safe and legal parking places

• Driving routes from and back to the motorway described

• Many walks near kids’ activities

• Buggy and wheelchair easy access walks, ideal for assistance dog owners

• Each walk 30-45 minutes – healthy, natural breaks that improve driver concentration

• Redesigned for use on Apple iOS7

• Now available for the first time for Windows Phone, Android, and Kindle Fire.

The full app has 177 walks, each complete with several full-colour high resolution zoomable images, map views, and retails at £1.99 (equivalent price in other currencies).

Also available is a FREE lite version of the full app with 48 sample walks and the same features as the full app.

More information about both editions can be found on their product pages:

Full edition
Lite edition

VELOCE NEWS APP AVAILABLE FOR ANDROID

The FREE Veloce News app pulls all of Veloce's social media activity into one app, giving you the inside track on what is happening in the automotive world. 'Veloce News' includes exclusive video interviews with authors, photos and much, much more ...

Available now from the Google Play Store & Amazon Appstore, for Android phones and tablets.



The Veloce News app is also available for other platforms through the Veloce Digital Website.

NEW WINDOWS PHONE APP - VW BUS EBG

VW Bus - The Essential Buyer's guide, our bestselling iPhone app has now been converted into a Windows Phone app!



NEW Features for Windows Phone!
- Checklist to keep track on what you should look for when viewing a Bus
- Vehicle Notes to add seller and Bus info to the app with an image. Contact the seller direct from the app instead of clogging up your phone's contacts.
- Recorded notes to take down voice memos when viewing a Bus.
- Consistent and familiar design which Windows Phone users love!

Many colour photographs taken especially for this guide
Informative text written by enthusiastic experts with the novice in mind
In-App videos which feature helpful voice-overs by your marque expert, Richard Copping
Three generations of VW Bus covered
Invaluable guide to avoiding pitfalls and getting real value for money
All aspects of buying a VW Bus covered

A unique App dedicated to three generations of VW’s legendary Transporter (almost universally known as the 'VW Bus', whether in Bus, Camper, Van or Pick-up form). Meticulously researched with many model-specific photographs reproduced to illustrate a genuinely informative text.

Covering all the collectable Buses produced by Volkswagen between 1950 and 1990, this App is unique in providing the full story of the high points and pitfalls of buying such models. Written by enthusiasts, the easily readable text is informative to the novice, while still being of considerable value to those who have already owned a Bus. More info