This isn't the first time we've had the opportunity to look at a "mini Mini". At London 2012, BMW's radio-controlled Minis were used to relay javelins, discuses, hammers and shots from the grass.

There's little chance that the smartphone-controlled mini Mini Cooper S by BeeWi would be able to lug around such weighty gear - maybe a couple of toothpicks or a marble at a push, who knows?

Still, that's not the purpose of this miniature marvel, instead this Mini's focus is big on the fun front.

Download the BeeWi Control Pad app to your Android (v2.1 or later) or Symbian smartphone, switch on Bluetooth to sync the car through the app and you'll be away.

You can then use your phone to control steering as well as forwards and backwards motion via its touchscreen, or a gyro-enabled controller option responds when titling the phone to accelerate and steer.

Although the app does also appear in Apple's App Store, we couldn't get it sync with the car, and we've experienced and heard of other compatibility issues with various Android devices.

This model sure does put the "mini" in Mini: the 20cm-long car might seat a Lego minifig (if its doors opened). Take a look through our in-hand pics in the gallery below to get an idea of the scale we're talking about.

Available now, this mini Mini will set you back £40. It's fuel - we're talking three AA batteries here - ought to cost a few quid more... though that's nothing compared to the price of petrol at the pumps.