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Want to drive a supersized Tamiya remote-controlled car?

The Wild One is returning as a legitimately drivable vehicle

Wouldn’t it be nice to open up your garage and find a large toy car in there? PHOTO FROM THE LITTLE CAR COMPANY

For those of us who played with remote-controlled cars as kids, we probably wished at least once that our toys would turn into vehicles that we could actually drive. Well, it turns out that some firm making small cars is doing just that.

UK-based The Little Car Company is known for making scaled-down versions of iconic vehicles. But this time, it’s taking on a project that requires it to enlarge something. The car in question is called the Wild One, a 1/10th-scale radio-controlled toy first introduced by Tamiya in 1985.

See the difference between the Tamiya original and its supersized version. PHOTOS FROM TAMIYA AND THE LITTLE CAR COMPANY

The drivable car being built is aptly called the Wild One Max. Measuring 3.5m long and 1.8m wide, it is almost as long as a Kia Picanto and eight times bigger than the toy it is based on—definitely large enough to be driven by an adult. Underneath the bodywork is a tubular chassis with coil-over suspension and 15-inch off-road tires.

Powering the Wild One Max is a 5.5hp electric motor hooked up to a 2kWh battery. This combo is good for a top speed of 48km/h and a range of 40km. Bigger batteries or more potent powertrains can be had as optional extras. The regenerative braking system is made by Brembo, and the driver can choose from three driving modes just like in a supercar.

We really wish that the Wild One Max would be delivered like this. PHOTO FROM THE LITTLE CAR COMPANY

If you wish to bring the Wild One Max out on public roads, its maker can even provide modifications that will allow the vehicle to be legally driven as a quadricycle (in Europe) or as a golf cart (in the US). The add-ons include brake lights, turn indicators, and rearview mirrors.

The Wild One Max is officially licensed by Tamiya. Prices start at $8,250 (P399,000) with the global release scheduled in 2022. If you want to get your supersized R/C car in a hurry, The Little Car Company is encouraging buyers to reserve a build slot as soon as possible.



Miggi Solidum

Miggi is an editor-at-large at VISOR. Professionally speaking, he is a software engineering dude who happens to like cars a lot. And as an automotive enthusiast, he wants a platform from which he can share his motoring thoughts with fellow petrolheads. He writes the 'G-Force' column.



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