Only the rear wheels are controlled and driven/motorised. It has an ingenious (but inaccurate) method of steering which involves tilting the rear axle leading to the whole car leaning left or right; this motion turns the loose-axled front wheels in the direction of lean.
As far as I could tell, it has only one speed forwards and one speed backwards. When starting off forwards, it had a tendency to wheelie on its rear wheels.
It lasted just a few hours in the hands of our 10 year old. Now it has to be turned off and on again in order to get a few seconds of action before requiring another off-on.
Update:
Despite my claim that our 10 year old had treated it roughly, the Seller (Gearstore ltd) insisted that the car should have lasted more than a few hours under any honest punishment a 10 year old might mete out and that therefore I must have received a faulty item. They wouldn't take no for an answer and immediately sent a replacement... which works !
Result: happy 10 year old and review & ratings updated accordingly.
I would recommend the seller as much, if not more than, the car.