[Bicester, UK and Shizuoka, Japan] Today, The Little Car Company, renowned creators of meticulously crafted electric scaled cars, proudly introduces the highly anticipated Tamiya Wild One MAX to the world.
Reviving the spirit of the original Tamiya Wild One (58050) radio-controlled car, which captured hearts back in 1985, the Tamiya Wild One MAX has now been reborn as a full-scale vehicle, ready for global sales. Excitingly, road-legal versions are available to customers residing in the UK and EU.
The development of the Tamiya Wild One MAX by The Little Car Company is the culmination of meticulous design work, incorporating invaluable feedback from deposit holders and subsequent upgrades to ensure exceptional performance and usability. Despite the challenges posed by industry-wide supply delays, The Little Car Company has taken the time to actively engage with the community and incorporate enhancements that elevate the overall experience.
Tamiya Wild One MAX
Equipped with premium features, the Tamiya Wild One MAX offers a lavish experience. It boasts Cobra bucket seats with 4-point harnesses, a 5" digital screen adorned with marine-grade switches, Brembo disc brakes on all corners, and adjustable Bilstein dampers paired with Eibach springs. The vehicle cruises on 14" Maxxis off-road tires, ensuring optimum performance both on and off the beaten path.
To prioritize safety and comfort, The Little Car Company has made key modifications to the original R/C car design. The cockpit has been widened, providing ample space to accommodate two adult passengers comfortably, a longstanding request from existing deposit holders. Moreover, the front suspension turrets have been refined, improving visibility and pedestrian safety, while the front suspension itself has been upgraded to double wishbones from its previous "trailing arm" design. Over the course of its development, the car has grown in size, measuring an impressive 3.6 meters (141.7 inches) in length and 1.9 meters (74.8 inches) in width. The Little Car Company has also gone the extra mile to develop a windscreen and wiper mechanism, enhancing the car's practicality.
For off-road enthusiasts, the Wild One MAX offers a remarkable ground clearance of 270mm, an approach angle of 34.1 degrees, a breakover angle of 28.4 degrees, and a departure angle of 50.8 degrees.
The Wild One MAX draws power from eight swappable battery packs, delivering a total capacity of 14.4kWh. With an estimated maximum range of 200 kilometers (on road) and a top speed of up to 62 mph (100 km/h), this electric marvel weighs approximately 500 kilograms. Responding to the overwhelming interest expressed by existing deposit holders for a road-legal version, The Little Car Company has painstakingly developed each Wild One MAX to include a road legal pack, ensuring compliance with L7e quadricycle regulations* for the UK and EU markets. The Wild One MAX will be available in both left-hand drive and right-hand drive configurations.
Tamiya Wild One MAX Launch Edition
Each vehicle from the exclusive Launch Edition collection proudly flaunts a titanium plaque on its dashboard, signifying its status as one of the highly coveted 1 of 100 Launch Edition units. The Launch Edition package also encompasses a captivating carbon fiber dashboard, seamlessly complemented by a matching carbon fiber key-fob. Furthermore, recognizing the enduring influence and significance of the vehicle, Tamiya has decided to reissue a limited number of the original Wild One R/C model kits. As part of the 100 limited-run Launch Edition package, the first 100 customers will be treated to a prized Tamiya model kit of the iconic Wild One, allowing them to embark on an exciting building journey while awaiting delivery of their full-size car.
For a touch of personalization, the mesmerizing holographic decals exclusive to the Launch Edition can be replicated at a smaller scale, enabling owners to adorn the roll bars of their R/C model vehicles to match their full-size counterparts.
Ben Hedley, CEO of The Little Car Company, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "At The Little Car Company, we are dedicated to proving that electric cars can be a source of tremendous enjoyment. We firmly believe that a thousand horsepower, mind-boggling acceleration, or electronic torque vectoring systems are not prerequisites for making EVs truly fun. In creating the Tamiya Wild One MAX, we have embraced Colin Chapman's philosophy of 'Simplify, then add lightness,' striving to deliver an exhilarating driving experience. In our opinion, modern cars have become excessively large, fast, complicated, and heavy. We believe that an alternative exists. Our goal is to craft innovative lightweight vehicles that restore the purity and joy of driving."
Hedley also expressed his pride in The Little Car Company's engineering team, who have brought the iconic Tamiya R/C car to life as a full-size vehicle, capturing the nostalgia of the 1980s and introducing it to a fresh audience armed with today's cutting-edge technology. He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Tamiya community and deposit holders for their unwavering support and invaluable contributions throughout the design process. Their unwavering enthusiasm, insightful suggestions, and constructive feedback have culminated in the extraordinary product being unveiled to the world today. Hedley eagerly looks forward to delivering the premium-spec Tamiya Wild One MAX, packed with all the "bells and whistles." Meanwhile, The Little Car Company will continue developing lower-spec versions and kits for future launches.
The Tamiya Wild One MAX will be proudly unveiled at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, taking place from Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th July. Visitors to the show can witness this remarkable vehicle up close at the Eibach stand No. 75, immersing themselves in its awe-inspiring presence.
