Q-steer
Q-Steer (赤外線コントロールチョロQ -キューステア- Sekigaisen Kontorooru Choro Kyuu -Kyuu Sutea-) is a line of remote-controlled toy cars manufactured by Takara Tomy, based on the popular Choro-Q pullback line. First released in late 2006, Q-Steer replaces Takara's Digi-Q and Tomy's Bit Char-G micro R/C lines.
Overview
Like its Takara predecessor Digi-Q, Q-Steer incorporates micro infrared technology as opposed to the traditional radio control used by other micro R/C brands. It also uses the 40 mm long S-Tech chassis, which is an evolution of Tomy's Bit Char-G chassis. Much like their Choro-Q contemporaries, Q-Steer cars have a slot at the rear, where users can insert a coin to change the cars' handling characteristics, such as doing a wheelie. The slot also identifies the car model and the available frequencies. The car and the remote weigh 16 grams.
Each Q-Steer car can be set to one of two IR channels, which consist of A-B and C-D bands, and up to four cars can race simultaneously. The controller is white with grey buttons and features the basic six-point movement function, a turbo boost button, a channeling switch to select either the A, B, C or D band and a special grey tool used to switch the power and channel levers underneath the car, as well as to open the car's battery case. It is also possible for users to operate their cars with I-mode compatible cell phones or a Sony PSP via a special software download.[1]
Unlike other micro R/C cars in the market, Q-Steer cars are not rechargeable. Instead, the car and controller are powered by two LR44 button cell batteries each. Maximum operation range is 1.5 meters or 5 feet.
Starter kits come with the car and controller only. QSH lines come with mini traffic cones and a "Spin Tire" axle which enables the car to drift. Aside from cars based on real models, Q-Steer also offers cars from licensed anime, movie and video game franchises such as Initial D, Disney/Pixar's Cars and Nintendo's Mario Kart Wii and Pokémon. The Lightning McQueen Q-Steer car (available in both Rust-eeze and Dinoco paint schemes) comes with a set of "Noco-Noco" tires, which are unevenly mounted to give the car a wobbly movement.[2]
Tamiya X Q-Steer
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tamiya Corporation's successful off-road R/C line, the company collaborated with Takara Tomy to release Q-Steer versions of their popular 1/10 scale dune buggies such as The Frog, The Grasshopper and The Hornet. In contrast to regular Q-Steer cars, these models are rechargeable through the controller and have a S-TechV2 chassis, which is 60mm long and features suspension and different back tyres to cross terrain. The buggy only has 1 IR channel to select which is printed underneath, but the controller can control other buggies, as well as the original Q-Steers.[3] This line is currently available in North America by Spin Master as Terrain Titans.[4]
Choro-Q Hybrid
A newer iteration of the Choro-Q line with both the original pullback chassis and an upgraded remote chassis. The remote chassis sports a higher dash speed and are can be recharged via remote akin to the Tamiya Buggies. Car bodies are interchangeable between chassis types, along with new varieties wheel and chassis addons and playsets that allow for different methods of driving or types of play. Special Mario Kart versions of the remotes exist that feature an item randomiser system that affects the controlled car, as well as cars on other frequency bandwidths to replicate the use of items from the video game.