Breaking News – Kyosho Optima Returns!!!

Although no formal announcement has been made as of yet, Kyosho Japan updated their Facebook page with a teaser image of what is clearly a Kyosho Optima. This buggy wasn’t Kyosho’s first attempt at 1/10 electric 4WD buggies but it was certainly its most groundbreaking making its debut in 1985 at the very first IFMAR 1/10 Electric Offroad Worlds that year at The Ranch Pit Shop in Pomona, CA.

 The Optima has a chain driven 4WD system  which for its day was very efficient. Replacing the Progress (Kyosho’s first 4WD buggy), it dropped the 4-wheel steering for the more traditional front wheel steering and featured an aluminum ladder frame. Based on the rerelease style of the Scorpion/Beetle/Tomahawk which was pretty accurate to the original with some under the hood improvements, we can expect the Optima to be the same. Perhaps improvements to the differentials or perhaps internally in the red oil-filled shocks but overall our expectation is a the same chain drive and ladder chassis as the original.

The even bigger question is if Kyosho follows suit as they did with the Scorpion, could there be a Javelin rerelease behind the Optima? While the Optima will always be near and dear to our hearts, there’s no denying the collectibility and popularity of the Javelin as well. While this would be at least another year away, one can only hope for more rere’s from the Optima’s bloodline. Here’s a look at the Kyosho’s vintage 4WD family tree.
Optima – Where it all began. The Optima replaced the 4WDS Progress buggy with a fresh look for 85. The car made its debut at the first ever IFMAR Worlds and quickly won the heart of fans around the world.
 Javelin – Based on the same buggy as the Optima, the Javelin’s main feature was a wild looking orange roll cage body that was more visually scale looking. Today, Javelins are highly sought after by collectors.

 

 

Gold Optima – The holy grail of Optimas, the Optima Gold Edition was a limited edition run that celebrated 100,000 Optimas sold worldwide. 10,000 cars were produced with gold anodized aluminum parts.

 

 

Turbo Optima – In the later stages of 1986, Kyosho modified the chassis bracing to help support a 7-cell battery pack. The Turbo Optima also came with a Lemans 240S motor making it the fastest Optima to date.

 

 

Salute – Think of the Salute as the budget version of the Turbo Optima. It received the 7-cell chassis but left out the motor to cut costs.

 

 

 

 

Optima Pro 4WD – The Pro marked the end of an era as it was the last Optima to feature a chain drive. A new body complete with under tray came with the Pro as well.

 

 

 

Optima Mid – The Optima Mid was Kyosho’s response to a newer generation of lightweight race cars and featured a combination aluminum and fiber reinforced plastic chassis that moved the motor midship. The drivetrain was also updates with belts replacing the chains.

 

Turbo Optima Mid – In the “Turbo” style of the past Optimas, the Turbo Mid was updated with some option parts and an aluminum upper deck to make the chassis stiffer.

 

 

 Turbo Optima Mid SE – By 1988 ball differentials were becoming less of an option part and racers insisted on them for maximum tuning. The Turbo Optima Mid SE responded in kind with the kits first stock ball diff.

 

 

Turbo Optima Mid Special – 1989 saw offroad racing advancing at lightspeed. To keep up, Kyosho lengthened the wheelbase and creates the Turbo Optima Mid Special and set the world record for longest RC car name in the process.

 

 

Optima Mid Custom – Kyosho’s Custom line featured the longer wheelbase from the Turbo but it’s chassis was aluminum to reduce cost and create an entry level racer.

 

 

 

 Optima Mid Custom Special – The Mid Custom Special was essentially the same as the Custom but featured an updated Bullet body for a fresh look at the turn of the 90s.