It is no secret that some of today’s most notable car designers started their engineering journey with the world’s best-known R/C car brand – Tamiya.
The original Tamiya Wild One (58050) was released in 1985 and became one of the brand’s most iconic models. Such was the popularity of the model it was even re-released in 2012 (58525) to further acclaim.
Now, The Little Car Company has announced that the Wild One will make its return a decade later - only this time, with a difference.
The Little Car Company is developing the Wild One MAX for release in 2022 under licence from Tamiya. Rather than being 1/10th scale, the Wild One MAX will be an impressive 8/10th scale, and you will not need an R/C controller, because it is big enough to drive yourself!
The Tamiya Wild One MAX is expected to cost from US$8,250 (RM34,000) plus local taxes and is planned for global release in 2022. Customers can reserve a build slot at WildOneMax.com with a US$139 (RM570) fully refundable deposit.
Developed in partnership with the company behind the Bugatti Baby II and Aston Martin DB5 Junior - The Little Car Company - the Wild One MAX will be a rear-wheel drive, off road electric buggy. At 3.5m long,1.8m wide and weighing around 250kg, the Wild One MAX will take up a bit more space than the R/C kits of the past. But just like the original, you get the opportunity to assemble these models at home.
The Wild One MAX will have a spaceframe chassis with four-wheel coil-over suspension and rear wheel drive. It puts the power to the ground through 15” off-road tyres on lightweight wheels. The buggy’s braking system includes hydraulic Brembo disc brakes on each corner, backed up by regenerative braking to maximise range.
When taking to the driving seat, customers will find an adjustable composite seat with a three-point seatbelt, digital gauges and a racing steering wheel. This allows drivers between 160cm and 195cm to get comfortable. There are even multiple driving modes including Novice, Eco & Race, which offer different top speeds, throttle mappings and power outputs according to driver skill level.
The base Wild One Max comes with a top speed of 48kph and a peak power output of 4kW (5.5 bhp). It has a single PowerPack onboard with a capacity of 2kWh and a range of up to 40km, depending on terrain and driving style.
However, if you would like to go faster or further, several of the modular PowerPacks can be added to increase the performance and range.
