Much to the chagrin of the already hassled parents of Britain, last week we brought you a bunch of electric kids' cars.

Cool as they were, we baulked somewhat at the thought of splashing out £400 to keep Top Gear Jnr entertained for a few hours.

But those plastic racers look veritably bargainous alongside this Auto Union Type C pedal car.

Officially produced by Audi and limited to a model run of 999 cars, it's sure to become the birthday present of choice for the offspring of oligarchs and dictators.

It's no flimsy plastic effort, either. The 1:2 scale Type C is constructed from aluminium and features handcrafted leather trim, as well as - and we couldn't make it up if we tried - hydraulic dual-disc brakes and a seven-speed hub gear system.

OK, so it's not quite in the same league as the original Type C racer, which at peak performance was powered by a six-litre V12 blowing out 520bhp. The mini replica relies on pedal-power alone for motivation.

Audi reckons it's suitable for drivers up to 1.35 metres tall, so don't be surprised to see lil' Felippe Massa driving one in the Turkish GP.

The only drawback - apart from the fact that your precocious racing progeny will have to exercise their pasty legs to get the car moving - is the price, with Type C costing a eye-watering £6,800.

Top Gear demands a return to the good ol' days, when kids were content with nothing more than a stick, a metal hoop and the very real risk of contracting lockjaw.

Audi brings out the Type C again as a pedal car

Limited-edition collector's item with only 999 cars built

Spearheads quattro GmbH's line of lifestyle articles

A body made from aluminium, handcrafted leather trim and an extraordinary design – the vehicle sends Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking, into a rapture the instant he lays eyes on it: "This car is something really special." And, indeed, the car in front of him is no ordinary car – it's the Auto Union Type C pedal car which AUDI AG has brought onto the market as an absolute first. No other car manufacturer offers a pedal car built so elaborately and to such a high standard.

How did Audi stumble upon this idea? "We needed a highlight for our collection which conveys the brand message and, at the same time, is spectacular enough to find buyers," says Katharina Wicker, Head of Audi design – Lifestyle Articles. And this was how the idea came about to design a pedal car that mirrors the company's heritage at first sight. The Type C Grand Prix racing car provided the ideal blueprint for doing this. The Auto Union Silver Arrow dominated the world of motor racing in 1936, racking up a total of ten Grand Prix victories. Furthermore, the Type C is one of the best-selling heritage models in the range of Audi miniatures. The pedal car will therefore be an exhibition piece for "grown-up" fans too.

The car's execution called for a great deal of technical know-how and creativity. For a start, how large should the pedal car be made? How close should it keep to the original in order to nevertheless demonstrate the quality and workmanship of a true Audi? Which materials are best suited to underlining the Audi brand values of sophistication, progressiveness and sportiness? "The greatest challenge of all was transposing a historical model to a pedal car for children whilst remaining as faithful as possible to the original," reveals Achim Badstübner, director of the Munich design studio that created the first draft designs. Those responsible for the project eventually decided to build the pedal car on a scale of 1:2 to make it large enough to accommodate budding racing drivers up to 1.35 metres tall.

The technical drawings originated in Audi's own tool shop. And in true keeping with the premise "designed by Audi, produced by Audi", special tools and jigs were purpose-designed for the pedal car's manufacture in the Audi tool shop too. The pedal car is made up of over 900 individual parts. It features a hydraulic dual-disc brake and its speed is controlled via the seven-speed hub gear with back-pedalling brake function. Further technical highlights include the aluminium space frame and the body made from aluminium panelling which, just like on the full-size Audi models, symbolise the brand's expertise in the field of lightweight design. The seats, framing and steering wheel have been upholstered in leather by a bag-maker, as in the Audi TT, while the elegant spoke wheels have been custom-made. And because this pedal car seeks to replicate many different aspects of the racing car on which it is modelled, the steering wheel can be removed to make getting in and out easier, just as on the original.

The prototype of the pedal car was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in autumn 2006. Visitors to the show were instantly enthralled. "Lots of people even wanted to buy the exhibition model there and then!" recalls Katharina Wicker.

This pedal car, which is limited to a run of 999 models and is far more than just an exclusive collector's item, was an absolute joy to work on for all involved in the project. "It took me straight back to my childhood days. And I wasn't the only one to be seized by that play instinct again," says a delighted Hubert Waltl, Head of Audi Toolmaking. And Achim Badstübner is equally thrilled about the project's success: "Everyone put their heart and soul into this pedal car. And that is something we are all very proud of."

The pedal car can be ordered from the Audi importer for the specific country, who will also be able to provide details regarding the respective price.