The Little Car Company, better known for its scaled-down handbuilt electric cars that are replicas of elite models, will unveil the Tamiya Wild One MAX at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England this week.
Based on 1985 R/C model
Unlike its other cars which are reduced versions of the real cars, the Wild One MAX is a full-sized version of a radio-controlled model. It is based on the original Tamiya Wild One (58050) radio-controlled car which was first released in 1985.
Ex-factory prices start from 41,000 euros (around RM210,000), and production of the Launch Edition will commence in early 2024 with other versions following thereafter.
Bilstein/Eibach components
It comes equipped with Cobra bucket seats with 4-point harnesses, a 5-inch IP-rated digital screen with marine-grade switches, Brembo disc brakes all round, and adjustable Bilstein dampers paired with Eibach springs. 14-inch Maxxis Bighorn off-road tyres are used front and rear.
To enhance safety and comfort, The Little Car Company has made some modifications to the original R/C car design. The cockpit has been widened to comfortably accommodate two adult passengers, addressing a consistent request from existing deposit holders.
Meanwhile, the front suspension turrets have been smoothed, improving visibility and pedestrian safety, while the front suspension itself has been upgraded from a ‘trailing arm’ design to double wishbones.
Ongoing development has seen the car increase in size, now measuring 3.6 metres in length and 1.9 metres in width. The Little Car Company has also developed a windscreen and wiper mechanism to enhance the car’s practicality.
For those who take it over rough terrain, there’s ground clearance of 270 mm. The approach angle is also a sharp 34.1 degrees, with a breakover angle of 28.4 degrees, and a departure angle of 50.8 degrees.
Top speed of 100 km/h
The 500-kg Wild One MAX is powered by 8 swappable battery packs, providing a total capacity of 14.4 kWh, and a maximum estimated range of 200 kms on-road (110 kms off-road).
The motor generates 28 kW peak/15 kW continuous (equivalent to 38 bhp/20 bhp) to give a top speed capability of up to 100 km/h.
When existing deposit holders were surveyed about their interest in a road-legal version, an overwhelming 95% expressed their desire for it. Consequently, each Wild One MAX has been developed to include a road-legal pack in 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.
