The return of the Kyosho Optima Mid is a moment that resonates deeply within the RC community, a revival that does more than simply dust off an old mold and put it back on the shelf, as Kyosho has brought back the car that not only defined an era but also fundamentally changed the architecture of off-road racing, delivering a model that feels as relevant on a modern track as it did on the world stage in 1987. The story of the Optima Mid is the story of a revolution, because when Kyosho entered the prototype version of this midship-motored buggy into the 2nd IFMAR Electric Off-Road Car World Championships in England, it didn’t just compete but dominated, securing five out of the ten A-Main qualifying spots and finishing in a strong second place, and more importantly, it introduced a concept that would change the sport forever: the midship motor layout.
Before the Optima Mid, most 4WD buggies used a front-mounted motor, but by moving the motor to the center of the chassis, Kyosho created a car with a lower center of gravity and more balanced weight distribution, providing superior traction and handling that quickly became the standard for modern racing buggies, making the Optima Mid not just a winning car but the archetype for generations of off-road racers to come. The re-release, which arrived as the tenth model in Kyosho’s esteemed Vintage Series, honors this legacy with a remarkable fidelity to the original design, yet Kyosho has gone beyond simple nostalgia to create a buggy that is genuinely driveable in the modern era, featuring a 48-pitch gear system for improved efficiency and a reinforced slipper clutch capable of handling the torque of powerful modern brushless motors, along with a belt-type 4WD system, an adjustable belt tensioner, and gear diffs that deliver smooth and stable drive even on low-grip surfaces. The car is built on a rigid 6016T6 aluminum main chassis and features FRP shock stays, gold-anodized threaded oil shocks, and updated suspension arms optimized for strength and stability, while the battery holder accommodates modern 2S LiPo packs and the new wheels faithfully recreate the classic Optima Mid design, paired with tires from the Turbo Optima for excellent grip. Beyond the spec sheet, the magic of the Optima Mid is in its driving character, as the design philosophy of a midship motor layout with centrally located heavy components delivers a driving experience optimized for balance and predictability, with the gold-anodized shocks providing a modern calm over rough surfaces while the chassis’s fundamental design allows you to roll speed into corners with confidence, trusting the rear end to grip and power out, and builders have reported that the quality of the parts is excellent with everything fitting together perfectly. The Optima Mid re-release has been met with widespread acclaim and is seen as a standout among the wave of vintage re-releases, praised for its impeccable quality and enjoyable build experience and as a kit that is more than capable of being raced competitively in vintage classes, and while some have noted that the car is on the heavier side, the overwhelming sentiment is one of admiration, with owners appreciating that Kyosho updated the car to accommodate modern electronics and easily obtainable parts, a thoughtful approach that not all manufacturers have taken, making the car a must-have for collectors as a faithful recreation of a genuine world-beater.
Ultimately, the Kyosho Optima Mid re-release is a masterclass in how to revive a classic, capturing the spirit and engineering genius of the original 1987 world-beater while thoughtfully integrating modern technology to make it a joy to build and drive today, standing as a testament to Kyosho’s legendary design and engineering and serving as both a time capsule of a pivotal moment in RC history and a high-performance buggy ready for the present day, making it a must-have for any enthusiast who wants to own a piece of the sport’s foundation and experience the car that paved the way for modern off-road racing.
