SCALEXTRIC RANGE ROVER
 

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Time for something a bit different from my normal GT fare. Every now and then cars come along that appeal to me just because they exist rather than to include in a series or whatever, and this new car from Scalextric falls into that category!

The Range Rover is also available as a silver road car, complete with detailed interior. But I had to have the Police version because I knew my kids would love the flashing lights and working siren - at least that's my excuse!

The Range Rover is one of the first to come in Scalextric's new packaging, a flip-top box with blue base and backing card. The new box feels sturdy enough and is designed to stack neatly. There is no card sleeve, so the cars are more visible and the clear plastic doesn't feel as brittle as the previous cases. I think it's an improvement.

In and out of the box, the car looks impressive. It's a big beast, 6 inches long and 2 1/2 inches tall (152mm x 63mm). It's surprisingly light but still feels solid and durable. As we've come to expect from Scalextric, paint and tampo printing are flawless and there are some nice detail touches like the front grille and light assemblies and some nice photo etched grilles on the sides.

There is no interior detail, the electronics take up most of the room inside, so the windows are blacked out.

Four screws hold the body and chassis together, and the first thing that you see when opening the car is a tangled mass of wires! Be careful because there is no (obvious) way of disconnecting the wiring between the body and chassis.

A large circuit board occupies the centre of the chassis, presumably controlling the light and siren. The guide sits in a recessed well at the front (please note it's a standard guide, not the 360 degree 'drift' guide). Both axles are solid, the front axle runs directly in the chassis, the rear in nylon bushes. The car is rear wheel drive, driven by a sidewinder-mounted motor via an 11-tooth pinion and a huge 48 tooth spur gear. A large bar magnet is mounted in a recess just ahead of the motor, and an alternative (higher) mount is provided further forward. Accessing the magnet and either mount means removing the circuit board which is secured by two small screws.

Just as an aside, the siren can be silenced by cutting the black wire (arrowed). How do I know that...?

The Range Rover is also one of the first cars in the DPR (Digital Plug Ready) range. This system is designed to make it quick and easy to fit the 'chip' necessary for digital racing. A new chip, called the Easyfit Digital Plug, is available separately. 

All you need to do is remove the single screw (arrowed) and partially remove the cover. A lead is connected to the cover, and must be unplugged (it may be a tight fit). The Easyfit Plugs comes attached to a replacement cover. Take your Easyfit plug and connect the lead. Ease the plug and cover into position and replace the screw. Your car is now ready for digital racing.

Running the car on my (analogue) Scalextric track was a pleasant surprise. I expected it to be top-heavy and easy to tip over, but this didn't happen. Most of the weight is comparatively low, and the lowered magnet certainly seems to help. The car is stable in corners, even tight hairpins. It's not quite as fast in a straight line as most Scalextric cars, the gear ratio, tyre size and probably the current draw from the electronics limiting the car's performance slightly. Acceleration and especially braking are good, better than I expected from such a large car.

The real test came a little later. My excuse is that I bought it or my kids, so I let them try it out! They both like the flashing roof lights and headlights, and of course the siren is a winner. The big Rover seems to need more throttle than normal which perturbed my younger daughter, but she soon adapted. Both girls (4 and 7) quickly got used to the car and were driving it confidently. Occasional silliness, like attacking the tightest hairpin at full throttle, ended with the car on its roof, but most of the time it sailed round with only a few twitches from the tail. The end result was an undamaged car and two big smiles - must be good!!

Running the car on my routed track confirmed the first impressions. It's not the fastest thing ever, but it's no slouch either. The Range Rover is quiet and smooth to dive, and with a little care can be hustled round surprisingly quickly. It will de-slot if pushed to quickly into corners, especially tighter curves. It seems to lean onto the outer front tyre and this can lift the guide out of the slot. A little weight at the front might be an option, there may just be room under the front axle. Allowing the front axle a little more vertical movement might also help, but that looks harder to achieve.

But let's not get carried away. The Rover isn't designed as a racer, it's a fun car and as such runs very well without any modifications.

My kids think this car is great, so it's staying! 

 

To be perfectly honest, their reaction is no surprise. I am pleasantly surprised at how well the big Range Rover performs. Yes, the top speed is a little limited and yes it will fall over if you push too hard. But I think Scalextric have made a very useable and competent car, it's better, less compromised, than I expected. 

 

If you fancy something a little different, especially if you're a parent, it's worth a look. What will your excuse be?