The big new product for 2025 is the CARRERA Speed Arena range. But what is it? Well, it’s a case that contains a road circuit. Once opened, the case reveals a track, and it doesn’t require any assembly.
The principle isn’t new; my daughter had a Strawberry Shortcake track when she was little. And more recently, KidzTech, with the Hot Wheels license, has used the track in a controller. The catalog even shows a Transformers version. So, it’s not new. Is it a simple adaptation, or has CARRERA added a little something extra?
What I love about this kit is that you can play on the floor, just like kids like, but if your legs don’t like to stay on the floor for long, you can play on the table too.
And you can take the track to your family’s house on Sundays or to a friend’s house to share races.
The briefcase
For our review, we chose the Police Chase version, reference 20016001, at a recommended retail price of €47.
This set contains a police car and another vehicle. There’s also another case with vehicles from the CARS cartoon featuring Lightning McQueen.
The size of the closed case is:
- Width: 46cm
- Height: 51cm
- Thickness: 12.5cm
The assembly
The case is opened using four small clips that must be turned to release the two elements.
An adult’s help is required to apply the four stickers to the track edges, around the rev counters, on the two flags, and two panels.
Then simply connect a USB-C cable or insert four AA batteries into the compartment.
As required by European Standard EN 71, for safety reasons, a screwdriver must be required to access the batteries and avoid any risk of ingestion by children.
Then simply connect the two controllers, place the cars on the track, and off you go.
The cars may stop at certain points on the track; remember to position the braids under the car as indicated in the instructions. Be careful, this isn’t First, and you could go off the track if you go too fast.
The controllers
The throttles are identical to the CARRERA FIRST range, with the same shape and connectors.
And a new accessory has appeared on the throttles: the limiter. A small clip that fits over the throttle to limit its travel and thus the top speed. (This is exactly the accessory missing from the GO range to help beginners.) The small U-shaped clip is attached to a wrist strap so you don’t lose it.
The cars
The two cars on offer are halfway between sporty and futuristic. The name of the set is “Police Chase,” which is why it includes a police car and a classic car (the gangster).
The police car has a very nice American-style look, a very good choice on the part of CARRERA. The robber’s car, in bright green, has a sporty look that evokes speed. The chases promise to be thrilling with these two cars.
The cars in the set are 35.2 mm wide.
The photo shows the two speedsters next to the FIRST vehicles from a CARS set. We’ll come back to this comparison later.
The track
The track fits in a briefcase, as is the principle of this set, so let’s see what the layout offers us.
The track length is 2.77m. How can we fit such a track length into a 42x80cm space?
Features:
Single-track width: 42.5mm
Double-track width: 81mm
Each track runs around the briefcase but also loops around one side of the case. And since this forces the tracks to cross, there is a bridge to cross over the other track. A car that is on the outside of the track on one side of the track finds itself on the inside of the track on the opposite side. Thus, each track has the same length, ensuring balance.
To pass the hinge zones, the track rises in the center, allowing the bridge to be at the same level. This is not a flat circuit, but rather one with relief. The consequences of this unevenness are that it’s important to properly install your tires. If they’re not thick enough, you’ll have poor contact with the track in the dips; if they’re too thick, your wheels risk spinning on bumps.
Since the cornering radii are small, you’ll need to take turns with caution. If the car darts too much, a wheel could end up floating on the bridge ramps. The radius of the tightest curve, which is also uphill, is only 10.5 cm.
The track is equipped with a counter on each lane. The counter can only count from 0 to 9.
A quick note: the controllers are on the same side of the track, so the players are on the same side. Therefore, the counter numbers are the right way around to be read, but the sticker on the opposite side has the text “RESET,” which is the wrong way around.
Warning: If the car loses speed, the counter sensor can stop it.
The race
To race, the cars don’t start side by side, but in front of their lap counters, which must be reset by repeatedly pressing the reset button.
After the start, you have to pace yourself with your throttle and be careful in the tight corners. The advantage of a small track is that you don’t have to get up to get the car back on track; you just have to stretch out your arm. It’s not easy to know who’s in the lead because of the staggered start procedure on the track.
If on a FIRST track the car almost never leaves the track, which is good for the very young, here, you have to know how to dose and using the limiter on the handle also helps.
FIRST or not FIRST?
From the outside, this SPEED ARENA case has all the features to be a FIRST. So why isn’t it included in this range? Let’s compare these two products.
Track Width
The track width determines the width of the cars, so let’s take a closer look.
Speed Arena 2-lane track width: 81mm
FIRST track width: 100mm
Speed Arena lane center distance: 40mm
The width and center distance indicate that the theoretical maximum width of a car is 40mm, but since a small gap is required between the cars, as there is a small amount of play in the slot, the reasonable maximum width is 36mm.
The bridge
To pass under the bridge, the height of the car must be less than the height under the bridge. The measured height under the bridge is 42mm.
A car can make small jumps on the track, so the maximum reasonable height for a car on the track is 40mm.
Car Size and Compatibility FIRST
Knowing the maximum height and maximum width of a car we can deduce the compatible vehicles
soon…
Storage
The Speed Arena case allows you to set up a track in seconds and easily take it anywhere, but is it really that easy to store?
The size of the closed case is:
- Width: 46cm
- Height: 51cm
- Thickness: 12.5cm
The equivalent box in length (2.9m) FIRST 20063050 – Spidey has a cardboard box with the dimensions of
- Width: 50cm
- Height: 30cm
- Thickness: 7cm
So the volume of a FIRST box in its box is much less, about 2.5 times. Knowing that it is not always easy to fit everything back into the box. There is therefore a choice to be made between the space taken up by the Case and its ease of storage. Paradoxically, the case, which is easier to transport, takes up more space.
Power supply
While the FIRST range runs exclusively on four LR-14 (C) batteries, the SPEED ARENA runs on four LR06 (AA – Mignon) batteries. This difference in battery size means that a FIRST circuit will last 3 to 4 times longer than the SPEED ARENA.
But be warned, surprise: the SPEED ARENA has a USB-C power port. If you have a USB charger, you can use it to power the circuit. No more batteries.
The cost: on Amazon, Duracel Plus LR14 batteries are priced at €8.90 for four. LR06 batteries are €9.50 for twelve, or €3.15 for four.
An LR14 battery lasts 3 to 4 times longer than an LR06, but its price isn’t 3-4 times higher, but only 2.9 times.
Now if you are not lucky enough to have a UBC charger and you have to invest, it will cost you between 10 and 15 euros.
Batteries are essential for mobility, while USB requires a power outlet as a source. So, two complementary uses.
You always need a plan B: In the world of USB chargers, there are Power Banks. These are a power source for USB devices. I’ve obviously tested them, and they work.
Please note: the instructions state that the batteries must be removed to use the USB-C power supply.
It’s a shame; a small power source selection switch to avoid any electrical interference between the two sources would have been welcome.
I measured the voltages on the track with (new) batteries and with USB-C power supply on mains and on Battery. Here are the voltage differences
- Batteries: 5.9V
- USB-C to AC: 4.8V
- USB-C to power bank: 4.7V
There is a voltage difference of 1 Volt between USB-C and alkaline batteries. I specify Alkaline batteries because rechargeable batteries are 1.2V and not 1.5V, this amounts to having a voltage of 4×1.2 = 4.8 V just like USB. That is a drop of 20%. Not sure that the speed of the car is 20% lower because the circuit is technical without long straights.
Advice
Keep the transparent module for storing the cars and controllers to keep them secure during transport when the case is closed.
Conclusion
The most
- The case’s portable and mobile design
- Quick and easy to set up
- USB power supply available
- The car’s look
- The throttle limiter
- Compatible with some FIRST cars
The least
- Not compatible with all FIRST vehicles.
- Elevations may affect the vehicles’ power supply.
- Remove the batteries to use the USB port.
- Space taken up by the case.