A veteran toy racing company is trading slots for smartphone-controlled RC cars
1 min read
Summary
Traditional German toy-maker Carrera has launched a new hybrid racing experience that uses a smartphone app to eliminate the need for slot tracks.
Carrera Hybrid’s 1:50 scale cars are controlled via Bluetooth connectivity to a mobile device, which can be tweaked to simulate different track conditions and offer driving aids or more of a challenge, depending on the user’s preference.
The cars are powered by rechargeable batteries that offer 30 minutes of racing time, and sensors in the car’s underside can detect printed patterns on the track to identify the car’s position.
Although up to 30 users can race on one layout, for competitive races the app limits this to 16 users, which is still far more than the traditional slot-car racing format.
Carrera Hybrid cars will beExpand TextAvailable in the US from 1 September, starting with a $199.99 starter set featuring Porsches and a mix of track pieces.