Kyosho


Kyosho Corporation is a Japanese company based in Tokyo, which operates internationally under the name KYOSHO. The company's main office is located in Chiyoda, and the production headquarters are located in Atsugi, Kanagawa.
Established in October 1963, Kyosho created its first trademark radio-controlled model car in 1970, being one of the oldest RC makers in Japan, and producing a variety of products, including cars, airplanes, helicopters, and boats. Kyosho also produces die-cast model cars, which production started in 1992.
Its major competitor in the RC automobile market is Tamiya. Kyosho has avoided direct competition against Tamiya in the hobby grade RC cars market since the 80s and 90s, where Tamiya was most active, focusing instead on designing professional 1/8 scale racing buggies, Mini-Z series, and RC helicopters. The company is best known for the Inferno, its 1:8 scale competition buggies; Mini-Z series, and RC helicopters, but it also produces remote-controlled bipedal robots in the Manoi series.

R/C Products

Kyosho produces a wider range of RC products than any other RC manufacturer, including racing and ready-to-run cars, trucks, excavators, helicopters, scale, sport and warbird RC planes, and a range of RC boats. Having recently acquired Team Orion, Kyosho now has category-leading products in electric motors, Ni-MH and Li-PO batteries and battery chargers.
Notable Products
  • 1/8 scale engine cars
  • 1/10 scale engine cars
  • 1/10 scale electric cars
  • 1/50 scale electric earth moving equipment
  • 1/28 scale Mini-Z racers
  • 1/43 Dnano
Products that have won the IFMAR World Championship
  • 1/10 Electric Off Road 2WD
  • * 1987 - Ultima
  • * 2013 - Ultima RB6
  • 1/10 IC Track
  • * 2004 - PureTen V-One RRR
  • * 2008 - PureTen V-One RRR Evo 2
  • 1/8 IC Off Road
  • * 1992 - Inferno
  • * 1994 - Turbo Inferno
  • * 1996 - Inferno MP-5
  • * 1998 - Inferno MP-6
  • * 2000 - Inferno MP-7.5
  • * 2002 - Inferno MP-7.5
  • * 2006 - Inferno MP777 WC
  • * 2010 - Inferno MP9 TKI2
  • 1/8 IC Track
  • * 2003 - Evolva
  • * 2005 - Evolva 2005
  • * 2007 - Evolva M3
  • * 2009 - Evolva M3 Evo

    Engine cars

Notable current models
  • 1/8 off road
  • *Inferno neo 3.0 2019
  • 1/8 on-road
  • * Evolva series
  • * Inferno GT series
  • 1/7 off road
  • * Scorpion GP XXL
  • 1/8 off road
  • * ST series
  • 1/8 off-road
  • *Inferno
  • 1/10 on-road
  • * Pure-Ten series
  • 1/10 off-road
  • * Inferno TR15
  • * DBX/DST/DRT/DRX
  • 1/16 off-road
  • * GP Mini Inferno 09
Notable past models
  • 1/8 on-road
  • * Fantom series
  • *Esprit GP20 Supereight
  • 1/8 off-road
  • *LandJump
  • * Circuit 20
  • *USA-1
  • *Mad Force/FO-XX/Kruiser
  • *Burns
  • *Inferno
  • *Landmax
  • 1/10 off-road
  • * Circuit 10 series
  • 1/12 off-road
  • * PeanutBuggy series
  • 1/12 on-road
  • * PeanutRacer series

    Electric on-road cars

Notable current models
  • 1/10 touring scale
  • * TF-5
  • * TF-5 stallion
  • * TF-6
  • 1/28 scale Mini-Z racers
  • * MR-03
  • * MA-030
Notable past models
  • 1/12 scale
  • * SuperSport
  • * MachSport
  • * SonicSport
  • * LaserSport
  • * Super Alta
  • * Fantom EP-4WD
  • * Plazma EP 2WD MarkI, Mark II, and Mark III
  • * Fantom EXT EP-4WD
  • * Axis EX
  • * ImpressR961
  • 1/10 touring scale
  • * PureTen EP Spider
  • * PureTen EP Spider TF-2
  • * PureTen EP Spider TF-3
  • * PureTen EP Spider TF-4 Type-R
  • * KX-One
  • * PureTen
  • 1/28 scale Mini-Z racers
  • * MR-01
  • * MR-015
  • * MR-02
  • * MA-010
  • * MA-015
  • * MA-020

    Electric off-road cars

During the 1980s, the 1/10 scale electric off-road car was immensely popular, leading to the release of several different models. Many of these models have retained popularity, even after going out of production.

Notable models

  • 1978 Eleck Peanuts
  • 1979 Rally-sports Renault Alpine A310
  • 1982 Scorpion
  • 1983 Tomahawk
  • 1984 Progress 4WDS
  • 1985 Optima/Javelin
  • 1987 Ultima
  • 1988 Optima Mid
  • 1989 Turbo Optima Mid
  • 1989 Lazer ZX
  • 2005 Lazer ZX-5
  • 2010 Lazer ZX-5 FS2

    DASH 1

Kyosho started selling the DASH 1 in 1970, accepted widely in the industry as the first RC car made in Japan. There were three body styles to be chosen from; the most popular racing machines in the Japanese Grand Prix: the Porsche 917, Lola T70 and McLaren Elva. The bodies were vacuum molded, a totally new innovation in RC cars at the time. The DASH 1 was priced at 23,000 yen, not including the engine. Engines used were still the imported 19-class VECO and K&B marine engines with a Perry Carburettor and Kyosho's Fuel Stopper and a car muffler.

DASH 2

In 1971 the DASH 2 targeted at beginners was released. The DASH 1 used a two-piece chassis, but the DASH 2 had a one-piece chassis and the engine was only at a slight front angle. In addition, the SUPER DASH was released as a competition level machine.

DASH 3

The DASH 3 and the DUNE BUGGY were released in 1972, starting the buggy racing phenomenon.

Eleck Peanuts

This was the first electric off-road car sold by Kyosho. A motor was placed on the PeanutBuggy, which had previously been sold as an engine car. It was sold for 9,800 yen at the time.

Rally-sports

A 2WD off-road car with a RS540 motor in the rear. The frame was that of the Alpine A310. Uses a double wishbone for front suspension, and a semi-streaming arm for rear suspension. The cars aluminum frame and rear design were passed on to the Scorpion. Sold for 16,000 yen at the time.

Scorpion

Races with electric off-road cars increased in popularity after the release of Tamiya's Rough Rider. The 2WD "Scorpion" was released by Kyosho during this period. Kyosho had been promoting its 1/8 scale engine buggy "Circuit 20" in races at the time, and the Scorpion can be described as a miniaturized version of the Circuit 20. The double trailing arm front suspension, semi-streaming rear suspension, aluminum ladder frame, rear-mounted RS540S motor, oil damper and coil springs very much resemble the design for a 1/8 scale racing buggy of the time. The thin body was realized by placing the batteries pointing forward, and its light weight gave it a huge advantage over rival models. Its main rivals were Tamiya's Rough Rider and ayk's 556B.
The "Tomahawk" uses the same suspension as the Scorpion, but its layout was completely made over. The plastic mech box was changed to a double-deck mech plate, allowing its weight to decrease to 1,450g. It was sold for 19,800 yen at the time.
The "Turbo Scorpion" was also derived from the Scorpion. This model was sold for 19,800 yen at the time.
The same chassis was used for the engine driven models "Advance" and "Assault"
These were popular models at the time but not near as popular as the original Scorpion.
In 2012 Kyosho presented a new model using the Scorpion name: the Kyosho Scorpion XXL. It is a 1/7th scale rear wheel drive dune buggy available in both brushless and glow powered RTR options as well as a kit that can be built either way and swapped as the modeller desires. However, this car is completely unrelated to the original Scorpion in its parts.
In 2014 Kyosho announced a re released version of Scorpion, refined where needed so it can be outfitted with modern gear such as Lipo and brushless motor. Modern highlights include a slipper clutch, 48-pitch geartrain, compatibility with the Ultima RB's ball diff, and wide-track front suspension. The shocks are also improved, with the smooth action expected of modern oil-filled units.

Progress series

The "Progress 4WDS" was Kyosho's first electric 4WD off-road racer. The motor was mounted on the rear overhang, and the forward wheel moves with a chain extending from the rear gearbox. This chain system was also tried on the on-road racer, "Fantom EP." The rear suspension was an orthodox double trailing arm and oil damper with coil springs, but the front suspension featured a double wishbone and mono damper, and substituted a torsion bar for a spring. This unique front suspension was rather difficult to set up, and had a short arm, which prevented it from taking powerful strokes.
The front wheel on the 4WS series could only move in the opposite direction as the rear wheel, and turning wide curves was also difficult with this series.
Adjustments were made with each successive model, but the Progress series became infamous as a slow car unable to live up to its full potential. Kyosho's first series of 4WDs was too heavy and clumsy to compete in serious RC racing.
  • Progress 4WDS
  • Gallop 4WDS
  • Gallop MKII

    Optima series

This was Kyosho's highly successful series of 4WD off-road racers. Many of the models gained widespread popularity in off-road RC racing.
Notable models
  • Optima
  • Javelin
  • Gold Optima used on many of its parts.
  • Turbo Optima
  • Salute
  • Optima Pro 4WD
  • Optima Mid
  • Turbo Optima Mid
  • Turbo Optima Mid SE
  • Turbo Optima Mid Special
  • Optima Mid Custom
  • '''Optima Mid Custom Special'''

    Ultima series

The 2WD racing buggy created following the Tomahawk. The double wishbone suspension and aluminum monocoque frame gave the buggy far more speed than previous models. The car won 1st place in the 2nd electric off-road 2WD world tournament held in England in 1987.
  • Ultima
  • Turbo Ultima
  • Ultima Pro
  • Ultima Pro XL
  • Ultima II and Turbo Ultima II
  • Outlaw Ultima ST
  • Triumph
  • Pro X
  • Ultima RB
  • Ultima RB Type-R Evolution
  • Ultima RB5
  • Ultima RB5 SP
  • Ultima RB5 SP2
  • Ulitma RT5
  • Ultima SC
  • Ultima SCR
  • Ultima RB6
  • Ultima RB6.6
  • Ultima RB7
  • '''Ultima RB7SS'''