A mini 4WD is a 1:32-sized[1] battery powered plastic model race car without remote control. All 4 rubber-tired wheels are driven, thus "4WD" for 4 wheel drive. Side rollers secure the vehicle against the vertical walls of the un-banked track for steering, providing very fast speeds compared to slot or RC cars. In Japan, Mini 4WD is also known as mini yonku (ミニ四駆) in Japanese.[2] Though mostly popular in Asia, they have also been sold in the United States.
Mini 4WD was first created by the Japanese company Tamiya in 1982 as a powered variant of common plastic automobile model kits. Since then racing and tuning up mini 4WD cars have become a hobby for people across the world