Hexagonite 18653: Award-Winning Design and MA Kit
Hexagonite, Tamiya item 18653, is a Mini 4WD PRO kit with an unusual origin: its design won Tamiya's award in the 2018 Mini 4WD Design Contest in Japan. The yellow-green body borrows an SUV-like stance and repeats hexagonal motifs across the shell, while a conventional MA drivetrain makes it a running Mini 4WD assembly kit. It is a choice for someone who wants a design story as well as a car to build. The official page provides concrete stock specifications, including super-hard tyres and 3.5:1 gears.
A contest design, not an off-road class
Tamiya describes the body as SUV-inspired and moulded in yellow-green ABS. Hexagonal forms appear in several areas, giving the model its name. Dedicated stickers supply white stripes and other markings. The product page links the original design drawing associated with its 2018 award, so the contest connection has a manufacturer source. The award was for design, not a documented race victory. The SUV styling also does not turn this Mini 4WD kit into an off-road vehicle: use it in a suitable Mini 4WD course and evaluate it by the actual chassis and tyres in the box.
That shape sets Hexagonite apart from the low racing-car bodies on DCR-01 and DCR-02. The difference is visual and physical; it cannot by itself tell you which machine is quicker around a particular track. If you are planning body-clearance changes, examine the finished shell and any new stay together. Our MA kit overview places Hexagonite among the platform's different body styles without replacing the exact item page.
What the MA kit supplies
Item 18653 uses a light-grey ABS MA chassis with light-green low-friction A parts. Its silver five-spoke wheels carry super-hard, low-profile tyres. Tamiya lists six low-friction rollers, a rear skid bar, a central double-shaft motor and a 3.5:1 gear ratio. The published dimensions are 156 mm long, 97 mm wide and 44 mm high. These describe the standard assembled kit shown by Tamiya; a changed wheel, body or added tuning part can alter the final measurements and must be checked separately.
The MA frame is one piece, so the motor and drivetrain are assembled into that monocoque rather than into three detachable MS units. The included motor is the Mini 4WD PRO double-shaft type. Do not buy a replacement single-shaft motor merely because another Tamiya car looks similarly sized. If you want to understand how tyre compound and size affect a setup, use our Mini 4WD tyre guide after identifying the actual super-hard tyres supplied here.
From box to first run
Hexagonite is a snap-together assembly kit and requires two R6/AA/UM3 batteries separately. Before starting, sort the grey frame, light-green A parts, five-spoke wheels, super-hard tyres and yellow-green shell. Follow the instructions for motor and gear placement and check that both axles rotate smoothly by hand. Make sure each low-profile tyre is seated evenly on its wheel. Then fit the body and inspect the gaps around the tyres. A high or uneven tyre can rub even if the body is installed correctly.
Apply the white-stripe and marking stickers after you are satisfied with the fit, handling the many edges of the hexagonal shell carefully. For a useful performance baseline, make the first run in the standard configuration and note how it behaves on your actual course. If the car derails or rubs, fix the observable cause before replacing the motor. For an organised event, check the current class and body rules with the organiser; a manufacturer's product description is not a substitute for technical inspection.
Who should choose Hexagonite?
Choose 18653 if its award-linked, SUV-inspired design is the feature you want to build and display, and the documented 3.5:1 MA setup suits your starting point. It is also an easy kit to tell apart by colour: grey frame, light-green detail parts and yellow-green shell. If you want a lower modular body for exchanging cowl colours, a DCR kit is a different kind of project. Neither preference requires an unsupported claim about which car wins a race. The stock parts, appearance and assembly experience are enough to make an informed first choice.
See Hexagonite 18653 at Monkee Mods for the current product listing.
Frequently asked questions
What did Hexagonite win?
Tamiya says its body design won the Tamiya Award in the 2018 Mini 4WD Design Contest. That is a design award, not a race result.
Can its SUV-like body run off-road?
The styling resembles an SUV, but the product is a Mini 4WD MA kit intended for suitable Mini 4WD courses. The official page makes no off-road capability claim.
Source checked 26 September 2026: Tamiya's official item 18653 page, including its linked contest information. Product specifications are not independent test results.