Mattel is a household name in the toy business, but all that success must have gotten to its head. While Google tries to develop a self-driving car, this machine is autonomous in an entirely different way, as it's controlled by the movements of a live cricket trapped in its cabin.
Okay, we got carried away with the title. But when we learned there was a toy giving children a legitimate reason to hurt bugs, we naturally thought of that alien from Men in Black. You know, the one that puts on a human's skin, eats a lot of sugar, and considers humans to be underdeveloped vermin.
We don't know if crickets have the same radiation tolerance as cockroaches, but they probably do. After we nuke each other into oblivion, they will develop opposable thumbs and take revenge for being used to steer these toy cars. Hear our warning and picket Mattel before it’s too late!
The Bug Racer is a regular remote-controlled battery-powered car. Not only is it shaped like a cricket but the creepie crawler also steers the car using sensors that detect its movements. If it jumps left, the car steers left, if it jumps right, the car moves right. Just like a modern day supercar, this toy has several drive modes for you to choose from: Cricket in Charge, Drag Racing, Autodrive, and Light Show.
Even though it's cool, we wouldn't buy this toy for any kid unless it's yours and he lives with your ex-wife. No self-respecting mother would ever be comfortable with the fact that live bugs are intentionally being brought into their house and given the power to control a car.
Before you go telling PETA on us and calling us inhumane for promoting bug abuse, know that crickets are sold as food in pet stores. We wonder if the toy also works with ladybugs, beetles or spiders.
Considering Mattel makes Barbie and Hot Wheels, you'd think the Bug Racer is their idea of an early April Fools’ joke. But it's not. You can buy at Toys R US for $40, and they even filmed the creepiest psychedelic ad ever. Let's watch it and guess what the guy is on to.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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