The Firefly Sport has been revealed as a ‘scaled-down EV motor car’ that aims to get children as young as four behind the wheel.
Produced by Young Driver Motor Cars – the sister company to Young Driver, a driving school for under-17s – the junior car has been developed by former employees of British car firms including Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover.
Called the ‘country’s first all-British EV’, the Firefly Sport is made from fully UK-sourced parts, including the batteries and electric motors, which are usually secured from overseas.
Far more than a plastic toy, it’s built on an aluminium suspension and uses all-round independent steering. Young Driver Motor Cars says it hopes it will offer ‘young drivers a taste of how a road car looks, handles and performs’.
Using two recyclable batteries and two small electric motors, the Sport can travel up to 25mph depending on the gearbox fitted, while it has a remote cut-off facility that means a parent can bring it to a stop.
Ian Mulingani, managing director of Young Driver Motor Cars, said: “Firefly Sport is a fully fledged, scaled-down motor car.
“From its launch this month, it will allow four-to-10-year-olds the chance to get behind the wheel and have an authentic motoring experience, thanks to this model’s sophisticated design and components, which fundamentally mirror the way a road car behaves but at fully manageable speeds.
“Being electric and looking like a junior supercar, it also aligns with the type of vehicle that children see themselves driving when they pass their test.”
