Editing Radio-controlled car (section)

{{short description|Battery or gas-powered model cars or trucks controlled from a distance}}
{{for|miniature car replicas or toys|Model car}}
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{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2015}}
{{unreliable sources|date=November 2011}}
{{Too many photos|date=May 2023}}
{{Cleanup|reason=long paragraphs not complying with standards|date=April 2025}}
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[[File:97rcsonn2.jpg|thumb|right|Small radio-controlled car in front of three humans]]

'''Radio-controlled cars''', or '''RC cars''' for short,<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are remote controlled (RC) cars: The Ultimate Guide |url=https://rccararena.com/what-are-remote-controlled-cars/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=rccararena.com|date=25 December 2022 }}</ref> are [[model vehicle|miniature vehicle]]s ([[car]]s, [[van]]s, [[buses]], [[buggy (automobile)|buggies]], etc.) [[Radio control|controlled via radio]]. 

Nitro powered models use [[glow plug (model engine)|glow plug]] engines, small [[internal combustion engine]]s fuelled by a [[glow fuel|special mixture]] of [[nitromethane]], [[methanol]], and oil (in most cases a blend of [[castor oil]] and [[synthetic oil]]). These are referred to as "nitro" RC cars. Nitro fuel can be dangerous. It causes complications like cancer if ingested and blindness if in the eyes. Exceptionally large models, typically of scale 1:5, are powered by small [[gasoline]] engines, similar to [[string trimmer]] motors, which use a mix of oil and gasoline. Electric cars are generally considered easier to work with compared to fuel-driven models but can be equally complex at the higher budget and skill levels. Both electric and nitro models can be very fast, although electric is easier to upgrade and more versatile.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} 

In both of these categories, both ''on-road'' and ''[[off-road vehicle]]s'' are available. Off-road models, which are built with fully functional off-road suspensions and a wide tire selection, can be used on various types of terrain. On-road cars, with a much less robust suspension, are limited to smooth, paved surfaces. There are also rally cars, which fall somewhere between on-road and off-road and can be driven on gravel, dirt or other loose surfaces. In the past decade, advances in "on-road" vehicles have made their suspension as adjustable as many full scale race cars, today.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}