BT01 is the first Taiya chassis which allows you to configure the car as either RWD or FWD – you can come up with 3 different setups (with varying motor position and drive train). This book has been developed from the ground up for beginners who are new to Tamiya BT01. It gives an introduction to this special 2WD system onroad architecture. The primary goal is to explain various RC technical concepts and essential DIY upgrade & maintenance techniques in very simple language. Modern features such as 2.4G radio, Lipo batteries and brushless systems are covered in addition to the more traditional RC terminologies, techniques and technologies. We believe that this book and its support materials have everything you need for an informative, interesting, challenging and entertaining RC experience with cars based on the BT01 chassis.
This book covers both the MR and FF configurations.
MR:
FF:
On the left: FF. On the right: MR.
My thoughts
When the BT-01 first popped up, it seemed promising. This chassis lets you switch between front-wheel drive (FF) and rear-wheel drive (RWD)—with either front-motor/front-drive (FR) or mid-motor/rear-drive (MR) layouts—all without removing your battery, motor, or radio gear. You just tweak the orientation of some final gears and steering linkages. On top of that, it offers two wheelbase lengths (257 mm and 251 mm), giving a little flexibility for different scale bodies or handling preferences.
Under the skin, you’ve got a monocoque tub with symmetrical double-wishbone suspension and friction dampers at all four corners. Maintenance is straightforward thanks to unitized components—motor mount, suspension sections, final gears—you can rebuild the chassis without disassembling the whole thing. And yes, plenty of TT-02 hop-up parts—like ball diffs and oil-filled shocks—are compatible, so tuning potential is there.
That’s the idea—but the reality? It’s a mixed bag. Some early fans were excited—especially the option to mimic scale-accurate drivetrains depending on the body shell chosen. And yes, unit construction does speed up builds and maintenance. But a growing number of voices have raised valid concerns. A Car Magazine review was blunt: “Jack of all trades and master of none,” with especially harsh criticism of the sloppy steering and vague, imprecise cornering—despite Tamiya’s innovation, the prototype just doesn’t perform like a decent touring-car chassis. Clearly, some owners feel the design sacrifices precision for flexibility, with poorly supported hubs and linkage geometry leading to vague steering and instability.
Overall impressions boil down to this: the BT-01 is conceptually cool, and it’s nice to have drivetrain layout options. But if precise control, sharp cornering, and solid handling are important—and they are for most touring car fans—there are better chassis out there (like good old TT-02, or even Tamiya’s M-08/M-07 line). So, for that laid-back, fun build—especially if you’re dropping on a Supra body or similar—it’s kind of neat. But for racing, sharp driving, or upgrading later, many recommend looking elsewhere or waiting for Tamiya to rework the design.