WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOS: THE LITTLE CAR COMPANY
UK-based firm The Little Car Company has officially revealed the production version of its long-awaited Tamiya Wild One MAX off-road electric buggy.
Wild One MAX is a full-size replica of the legendary Tamiya Wild One remote-controlled buggy, which debuted in 1985
The Bicester company is best known for its pint-sized all-electric versions of some of the world’s most desirable collector cars, such as the Aston Martin DB5 and Ferrari Testa Rossa.
In contrast to The Little Car Company’s previous offerings, the Wild One MAX is a full-size replica of the legendary Tamiya Wild One remote-controlled buggy, which debuted in 1985. It will be publicly displayed on July 13-16, 2023, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“We are on a mission to show that electric cars can be fun,” explained The Little Car Company CEO Ben Hedley. “I’m extremely proud of our talented engineering team, who have brought this iconic Tamiya remote-controlled car to life as a full-size car, capturing the nostalgia of the 1980s.”
The Wild One MAX project has the full backing of Tamiya, and is available to purchase worldwide, with deliveries slated to begin in 2024. Road-legal versions are available to UK and EU customers, and prices start from £35,000 ($44,600).
A special Launch Edition model is available to the first 100 customers, which comes with special features including a numbered titanium plaque, holographic decals plus a carbonfibre dashboard and key fob. Launch Edition customers will also receive a Tamiya kit of the original remote-controlled model to build while they await their order.
The flagship Launch Edition models feature Brembo disc brakes, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs, a waterproof instrument screen, Cobra bucket seats and Maxxis off-road tyres.
Powering the Wild One MAX are eight removable battery backs with a combined capacity of 14.4kWh, allowing the 500kg machine to reach a top speed of around 60mph. The maximum estimated (on-road) range is 124 miles – more than a first-gen Nissan Leaf.
For those planning to venture off-road, the Wild One MAX boasts a ground clearance of 270mm, an approach angle of 34.1º, a break-over angle of 28.4º and a departure angle of 50.8º.
The Little Car Company has clarified that the first orders will be delivered fully built, but Tamiya purists will soon be able to order the buggy in kit form, complete with a gigantic sheet of decals. Development is continuing for lower-spec versions and kits ahead of a future standalone launch.
For more information and to place an order, click here.
