1:10 Scale Remote Control Racing Car

What it's for

This is a car that needs somewhere to go.

At 46cm long, the 1:10 scale shell has real presence on the ground, and four-wheel drive puts power through all four corners for grip on tarmac, smooth concrete and hard playground surfaces. It is built for open space, which means finding open space is part of owning it. The driveway, the car park on a Sunday morning, the far end of the playground once the swings have emptied out.

Proportional speed control is the feature that matters most here. The trigger responds to how far it is squeezed, so speed can be fed in gradually and held steady through a corner rather than switching between flat out and stopped. That is the difference between driving a car and simply pointing it.

Two or more cars can run at the same time, which turns one car into a race. Chalk out a circuit, set a couple of cones as a chicane, take turns on the clock. The car supplies the pace. The course is whatever you make of it.

How it works

The pistol-grip controller separates the two jobs a driver does: a wheel under the fingers for steering, a trigger under the index finger for acceleration and braking. Both can be worked at once, which is what makes controlled cornering possible.

A 2.4GHz radio link connects the controller to the car at a range of around 30 metres. The frequency allows several cars to run alongside each other without one controller interfering with another.

A 7.2V rechargeable battery pack sits inside the car and delivers roughly 20 to 30 minutes of driving from a full charge, depending on how hard it is driven. Recharging takes three and a half to four hours over the supplied USB cable. The controller runs on AA batteries, which are not supplied.

Designed for repeat play

The rhythm of this car is roughly one good session at a time. Charging takes longer than driving does, so it works best plugged in the night before or set going after school ready for the weekend.

The battery is a removable 7.2V pack rather than a sealed cell, so it charges separately from the car.

The shell is moulded plastic with a gloss finish, a fixed rear wing, low-profile tyres and multi-spoke wheels. Headlights sit behind clear lenses at the front and light up when the car is running.

Surfaces matter. Gravel, sand, long grass and wet ground all cost grip and are worth avoiding.

Storage & space

The car measures 46 x 20 x 14cm and arrives in a box of 55 x 20.5 x 17.5cm, which fits on a standard shelf or under a bed between sessions.

Driving space matters more than storage space. A domestic driveway is enough for straight-line running, but a car park, tennis court or open stretch of playground gives room to corner properly.

Good to know

Two things tend to decide whether a toy keeps getting picked up. One is whether a second child can join in, because nobody sits through a race they might lose. The other is whether the play ends up outdoors. This car does both by default: a second car turns a driveway into a head-to-head, and the space it needs is outdoor space.

We set out what else to look for in why good toys keep children moving.

Specifications

• Scale: 1:10
• Drive system: 4WD
• Dimensions: 46 x 20 x 14cm
• Radio frequency: 2.4GHz
• Control range: approximately 30m
• Top speed: up to 30km/h on smooth, hard surfaces
• Run time: 20 to 30 minutes per charge
• Charge time: 3.5 to 4 hours
• Car battery: 7.2V 700mAh Ni-Cd rechargeable pack, included
• Controller batteries: AA, not included
• Charging: USB cable, included
• Material: plastic
• Colours: black, yellow
• Age guidance: 6 years and over
• Boxed dimensions: 55 x 20.5 x 17.5cm

In the box

• 1 x 1:10 scale remote control racing car
• 1 x 7.2V rechargeable battery pack
• 1 x 2.4GHz pistol-grip controller
• 1 x USB charging cable
• 1 x instruction leaflet