Fighter NXGEN kit
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Cars&Details
Tamiya presented a new 2WD fighter buggy kit at the Toy Fair 2025 in Nuremberg. The Fighter NXGEN on the newly developed DT-04 chassis. The Fighter buggy product range was developed for the popular Fighter Cup series and has been synonymous with robust 2WD entry-level and club racer buggies for almost 30 years. It's been 10 years since a new product was developed for this series, and the Japanese design team has come up with the next big thing for newcomers to the RC off-road hobby! So let's delve deep into this new people's buggy.
The new kit is originally inspired by the single-seater racing buggies of the American Baja. The Tamiya BBX buggy with a planked full cage already followed this trend two years ago. And the silhouette of the NXGEN Fighter also corresponds to this model.
Next Generation
The new DT-04 - a 2WD rear-wheel drive buggy chassis - naturally offers easy assembly and great performance, which is a feature of this buggy series. The product name "NXGEN" is based on the English word "Next Generation" and stands for improved off-road capability and a lot of adjustment options compared to its predecessors. In addition, the front and rear suspension arms, gears and gearboxes are carried over from the DT-02 and DT-03 chassis cars. This means that many spare and tuning parts from the DT-02 and DT-03 chassis can also be used for this new chassis variant.
The kit includes stickers for a red and a blue version
Body design
The body is certainly an eye-catcher, as it is made of white polycarbonate using the injection molding process. As with the BBX, the body components are modular parts that are screwed onto the main chassis. Unlike the BBX, the body components are injection molded white polycarbonate, as mentioned above, rather than thermoformed clear polycarbonate. The result is an easier assembly for beginners and veteran model builders alike, without the need to paint the body. Only decals need to be applied!
Front axle short wheelbase version with fixed upper wishbone and hex driver
Front axle long wheelbase version with adjustable upper wishbones
Front axle long wheelbase version with the upper wishbones in front of the dampers and thus further setup options
Assembly
The great fun with a Tamiya model always starts with the already proverbial good building instructions. The first thing these instructions say is: "Read the instructions carefully before you start building..." Now the NXGEN can be built in different versions and therefore the building sections are repeated with the corresponding technical options such as: Front axle in S, which stands for short wheelbase of 265 millimeters; front axle in L, which stands for long wheelbase of 280 millimeters and different upper wishbone options; rear axle with adjustable upper wishbones, ball-bearing drive, and we cover even more conversion options, with add-on parts not used in the kit. By the end of this report, you will certainly know where your personal journey with the NXGEN can take you. Let's continue.
Gearbox
The assembly begins with the familiar gearbox and rear axle from the DT-02 and DT-03. We have decided to use the optional Tamiya ball bearing set. A robust bevel differential works in the sealed gearbox. The supplied Tamiya Torque-Tuned electric motor with a 17-tooth motor pinion is mounted behind the gearbox. For more top speed, an optional motor pinion with 19 teeth can also be fitted.
Rear axle
The rear suspension is also familiar from the DT-02 and DT-03 chassis. We are talking here about a double wishbone suspension with very robust lower and upper wishbones. If you turn to the next 20 pages at this point of the assembly, you will see the variant with adjustable upper wishbones described. All the components required for this are included in the kit as standard.
Rear axle with fixed upper wishbone
Rear axle with adjustable upper wishbones and further options for different lower damper positions
The smooth-running 3-part steering system is fitted with two small ball bearings as standard
New steering
Here it is obvious that the DT-04 continues on a new technical level. In the style of the BBX, a 3-piece steering system is installed here. For the first time in a Fighter kit, we find two small ball bearings as standard, which ensure precise and smooth steering. Our optional ball bearing set contains four more ball bearings for the new steering system, which replace the nylon bushing supplied. This is the first time in the Fighter series that a 3-part steering system has been used.
The adjustable steering linkages with right/left-hand thread and ball heads continue. This allows the track of the front axle to be adjusted very precisely.
Two wheelbases
Two wheelbases can be selected: 265 mm for more agility or 280 mm for more stability. Those who will be driving their NXGEN buggy more on winding roads will probably opt for the short wheelbase. For uneven terrain and less grip, the longer wheelbase will probably be the better choice. This will certainly be determined while driving in order to reassemble the front section with the wishbone if necessary in order to switch between two different wheelbases.
It should be noted that the shorter wheelbase uses one-piece upper wishbones. The longer wheelbase uses adjustable wishbones with right/left threads and ball joints, which are also included. This provides significantly more options for adjusting the suspension later on.
New for the Fighter Buggy series is the use of steering knuckles with hexagonal hubs. This means that the NXGEN has hexagonal hubs at the front and rear to enable different wheels to be attached.
The new front axle unit of the DT-04 also incorporates the damper bridge and the CVA oil pressure shock absorbers. The front kick in the DT-04 chassis is 22.5 degrees and ensures a stable caster angle of the front axle.
Chassis tray
The newly developed DT-04 chassis with rear-wheel drive has a robust tub frame chassis. The chassis has an inline battery position that accommodates both the classic round cell battery and the square LiPo batteries. The speed controller/ESC is mounted on the left and the receiver on the right on the side pontoons. There is sufficient space in front of the drive battery for a standard steering servo, which is connected to the steering with a servo servo horn. At this point, we have opted for the optional version of the High-Tourqe servo saver.
Tubular frame body
The NXGEN comes with two decal color options, red and blue, and a driver figure. The striking body features multiple body panels connected with tubular frames; a design inspired by full-size racing buggies and the BBX buggy. The injection-molded, white body parts are firmly bolted to the sides of the chassis. The middle section can be folded up. You turn the central hood catch, remove the two side cotter pins and then fold the roof up to the rear. If you then push the cool driver figure forwards, you can access the drive battery.
The center section can be folded up. You turn the central hood catch, remove the two side cotter pins and then fold the roof up to the rear. If you then push the cool driver figure forwards, you can access the drive battery.
Driving
The ribbed tires at the front and the well-known grippy studded tires at the rear have yet to be fitted. What strikes us immediately is the play-free and smooth steering, which conveys a real steering feel. The caster angle of 22.5 degrees brings calm and balance to the front axle. The standard options for tuning the fighter buggy have never been as varied as they are here at NXGEN. We think the DT-04 drives like a typical fighter buggy, just a little better.
Part F-5 is used for the front body attachment
Rear check holder is part F-3 and F14 + F2 the wing holder
Between the lines
What is not described in the assembly instructions is the use of the position of the adjustable upper wishbone in front of the front axle. This allows further setup options with regard to the roll center.
In the F-Parts you will find parts 2, 3, 5 and 14, which are not used in the kit and can be used to fit a Lexan body like the Sand Viper instead of the Baja look. This is also not described in the building instructions.
Conclusion
The NXGEN-Fighter is a fantastic 2WD entry-level buggy. Due to its extensive equipment, however, it is also somewhat more expensive than its DT-02 and DT-03 brothers. It is the next generation of the DT family and it can simply do a bit more. What we like is that many parts are also compatible with the DT-02 and DT-03 models.
