Mattel, the makers of Hot Wheels and Barbie dolls, have really outdone themselves this time. In an insane and possibly brilliant attempt to combine two of young boys' favorite activities—racing toy cars and catching bugs—Mattel created the "Bug Racer," an electric toy car that is steered by a live cricket.

Sensors in the car detect where the cricket is and steer according to its movements from one side to the other. A little habitat for the cricket, complete with a spacious living area and a feeding area, slots into the car. The cockpit at the front of the habitat has a magnified windshield for observing your insect driver. When the car bumps into something, which it will, it automatically backs up and repositions before letting the crazy cricket inside continue to terrorize your kitchen.

Bug Racer suggests buying a cricket from a pet store, but it seems more fun to hunt down your own pet racer. And you're not limited to crickets—why not experiment with spiders, small frogs, and other critters to find the best driver? You could even organize horny-toad-style neighborhood races where you place all the Bug Racers in the middle of a big circle and see which escapes first.

The promotional video for the Bug Racer is so bonkers that the product seems like a farce. But Toyland assures us that it's real, and you can apparently buy the Bug Racer from Toys "R" Us for $35. So get in the bug-catching mood this holiday season, and pray that Mattel doesn't start making a Bug Drone.

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Source: Bug Racer via Toyland

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