The latest "Cyber Formula" toy] Voice actor Yasuyuki Tai reviews the latest "Vision Asrada," a machine designed by Shoji Kawamori to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Cyber Formula! One lucky winner will be chosen by lottery!

Yasuyuki's Toys & Games Vol. 31 Variable Action Variations "Neon Genesis GPX Cyber Formula" Vision Asrada

The first TV series, "Neon Genesis GPX Cyber Formula," was aired in 1991, followed by an OVA series and several games.

Set in the near future (and now in the past) in 2015, the anime depicts a series of extremely tough races in which racing machines with unique appearances, such as hydrogen-engine cars and electric cars, race not only on circuits but also through a variety of courses, including off-road, urban, and snowy terrain.

In addition to the racing scenes, the main attraction of the anime was the development of various characters, including the main character Hayato Kazami, who drove the main character's machine, the Asrada. Many famous episodes were depicted in the series, and it can be said that it is still a strong-rooted work loved by many fans.

On April 15, 2021, during the "Neon Genesis GPX Cyber Formula 30th Anniversary Project Presentation" broadcast on YouTube's Sunrise Channel, a surprise announcement was made! The long-awaited newest Athrada, created by mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori, was announced!

It has been 15 years since the "Nu Asrada II" appeared in the 2006 PlayStation2 game "Neon Genesis GPX Cyber Formula Road To The INFINITY 3"!

Two years and three months after its announcement, the new Asrada "Vision Asrada" will finally be released in July 2023 as part of the MegaHouse Variable Action (hereinafter referred to as "VA") Variations series!

Let's get started with the review!

The packaging is almost the same in area as the previous VA series packaging, but the design has the feel of a true concept car.

On the back are design drawings for each mode of the Vision Aslada; the design details have been revised, as the drafts presented at the time of delivery in 2021 were one step short of a final draft.

The inset shows an aeromode vision asrada on silver cardboard. Please forgive the silver color, which is too mirror-like and reflects surrounding objects.

The main body is housed in a two-tiered blister package. The main body is in the middle, the steel pipe parts for aero mode are in the lower left and upper right, the boost pod for boost activation is in the lower right, and the replacement parts for the ground effect fan are in the lower section.

Here is the body mounted on the included pedestal. The body can also be firmly fixed to the pedestal with the included screws.

The design of the pedestal is the same as the previous Cyber Formula VA series, but the color of the letters is the light green that runs on the body of the Vision Asrada. This time, the car number is a double-meaning of the Asrada's car number in the TV series, "30" and "30th Anniversary".

From here, we will show you the figure as it is removed from the pedestal.

First, let's start with the circuit mode.

The body color has been white, but the main color is a pearlescent silver, changing the image a little.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Asrada was almost completed with the "Super Asrada AKF-11" that appeared in the OVA "11 (Double One)," but it has further evolved over the past 15 years. It is a new machine packed with various elements, taking into account that the fuel situation has changed in the real world and the evolution of materials in the world of "Cyber Formula" as well. And yet, the silhouette, recognizable at first glance as an "Athrada," is impressive.

It was breathtakingly beautiful at the time of the initial design drawings, and I still can't believe that I was able to see it again in three dimensions.

The design itself is also wonderful, and I am deeply grateful to the sculptor, Mr. Norinori Kuwabara, who has made it into a three-dimensional form.

The silhouette seen from the rear is definitely an Athrada. However, the clear parts, the subtle changes in the main color, and the light green lines running throughout the body are also distinctive.

Next, let's take a closer look at each part.

From directly in front and from directly behind. This is an angle often seen in the anime. You can feel the sharpness and power of the car.

There are two exhausts in the center of the rear of the vehicle. The six exhausts on the "Super Asrada 01" had a great impact, but this one is also sleek and is probably good for air flow.

The white boost pods, which used to be red in color, are a fresh new look.

The silhouette from above is also the Asrada itself. The nose cone in front of the cockpit is longer, and the side pontoons next to the cockpit are directly connected to the cowl around the rear tire. The rear cowl has an inverted wing shape since the AKF-11, and this time the height of the wing has been further lowered.

The rear wing shape has been changed from pentagonal to hexagonal.

Front.

As mentioned above, the nose cone in which the headlights are embedded has been designed to protrude forward more than before. Clear yellow parts are used for the headlights.

The front wing is sculpted to have a multi-layered structure. The shape of the front sight is a further evolution of the "Nu Asrada II" design.

The light green color is also impressive.

The tires are also a design never seen before on a cyber machine. There is a light green line in the center of the tire contact surface. Mr. Kawamori said that the sides of the wheels are designed to have a mechanism that allows letters and logos to appear when the machine rotates at high speed, but as expected, it would be difficult to reproduce such a mechanism unless a video featuring this machine is produced.

Therefore, we are also hoping for a new video of "Cyber Formula!

Both the front and rear wheels are painted well, as is the brake area seen at the back of the frame.

The inside of the canopy is also painted.

If you look into the car, you can see that the machine head, speed indicator, steering wheel, boost levers, and consoles inside the car are also painted in detail. The basic design and layout of the interior appears to be similar to previous Asradas.

The seat belts and the terminal on the left side of the seat have also been properly reproduced and painted.

It is tempting to remove the canopy to see what is inside, but please note that it is a non-removable structure.

The unit located right above the driver, in the middle of the machine, is the newly proposed machine head installed outside the machine.

Aoi's machine, "Alzard NP-1," which appeared in the OVA "SAGA," had already adopted a similar system, and now the "Alzard NP-1" has also been decided to be commercialized in the VA series (we will wait for further information).

Back to the subject, this machine head can further collect information on the environment around the machine in real time. The intakes under the machine head and on the sides of the canopy have slit-like details. The details are not painted in solid black, which shows the attention to detail.

The side pontoons have a mesh-like design. One of the major design changes from the previous model is the L-shaped cross section instead of the conventional oval shape.

On the top surface of the rear center of the vehicle, there are clear parts filled with mechanisms. This appearance was seen on superconducting motor vehicles like the "Silent Screamer Beta" that appeared in the TV series, but does this mean that the "Vision Asrada" is a hybrid machine?

Another highlight is the hollowed-out rear cowl that avoids the rear suspension arms.

As mentioned above, this rear cowl has an inverted wing shape and is the key to downforce. I assume that the reason why they insisted on lowering the height of the high wing, which has been continued in the "AKF-11" and "nu Athrada", is to lower the center of gravity while changing the impression of the design this time. ......

Cowl around the rear tire. The boost pod and rear wing are placed above the rear tire as on the "nu Açrada," but this time the boost pod appears to be very compact.

The intake here also has a mesh-like design.

There are no bumps in the boost pods either, indicating that the air flow is improved. The rear wing is also slightly set back.

From the side pontoons to the units around the rear tires. Although this area has been integrated in the aero mode, this is the first time that all units are connected in all modes.

The boost pod has a nozzle in the center that is covered by four separate parts. The center of the pod is also well sculpted. The paint also seems to have been applied to express the burnt look.

Tail lights and exhaust.

Oh, yes. You can enjoy it by taking it down from the pedestal, but if you do not put it on the pedestal, the weight of the body will be realistically supported by 6 wheels, so if you apply force to push it from above in this state, it may lead to the damage of the body.

Basically, we recommend using a pedestal for display.

The bottom of the body has an extremely smooth surface configuration to allow air to flow smoothly.

If you squint your eyes, it looks like a fighter plane from a science fiction movie.

I compared it with the successive Asradas in my possession.

The powerful SA-01 on the left in the photo was impressive when it first appeared, but with the AKF-11, the rear wing shape reverted to a form similar to the original G.S.X. The design transition of machines is one of the pleasures of "Cyber Formula. As a result, the rear wing shape of the "SA-01" is the only unique one among the successive Asrada models.

Perhaps the implementation of the transformation system was revolutionary in terms of the world view, but it was still in the trial-and-error stage of evolution.

In terms of product modeling, given that many years have passed since the release of the "nu Asrada," we feel that the "Vision Asrada" has evolved in a reasonable way.

Here is another one from one of my favorite angles that could be depicted in the anime. The angle is extremely speedy and sharp. It is fun to take pictures from other angles, such as the one directly in front of it, just above the ground, to imagine what it would look like in the movie!

This is not a gimmick, but a gimmick I'm about to show you!

First, let's take a look at the transformation to the boost pod activated state in circuit mode.

Lift up the boost pod connected to the rear cowl. Move the rear cowl as if sliding it backward.

Replace the tip of the boost pod with the one in the deployed state.

This is how the Asrada will look when using the boost in circuit mode.

Compared to the previous "Asrada" models, this model looks relatively sleek when in boost mode. We can only imagine how it will look when it is made into a video work. It is hard to imagine.

The tip of the boost pod has been deformed to give it a slightly more powerful appearance, despite its smart appearance.

I would love to hear Kawamori-san's explanation of the function of this shape change. The paint job is also beautiful.

Next is the transformation from circuit mode to aero mode.

The nose cone and front wing are in one block, so they are removed by pulling them forward.

Insert the front part for aero mode into the removed part. Clear parts are used for the headlight part as in the circuit mode.

In the world of the play, the use of rare metal seems to have become common.

The side pontoon area is also partially deformed with rare metal, so it can be replaced and reproduced.

Remove the boost exterior above the rear tires, the entire rear wing, and the boost tip.

Next, replace the boost exterior part with the rear wing folded down. The boost tip is put back and the forward part of the rear tire is folded forward into a shape that reduces aerodynamic drag, completing the deformation.

The rare metal deformation of the rear wing is completely familiar.

This completes the Vision Aslada Aero mode. This form increases straight line stability and maximum speed while covering the tires to regulate air flow. Smoothness that looks like a smooth marine creature.

The impression from the rear has also changed dramatically with the rear wing folded down.

The silhouette from above has also changed significantly from the circuit mode.

The overall height should be the same as in the circuit mode, but it gives the illusion of being thinner.

The design of the folded rear wing letters coming to the positive position is also very artistic.

When the Asrada accelerates after clearing a problem, there is often a shot of the Asrada approaching from this angle, and isn't it really cool to see it in 3D?

In the product PV, an intermediate form with only the front part in aero mode was also shown. I don't know if Mr. Kawamori had this in mind, but it seems that "Kawamori mechas are known for their intermediate forms.

In aero mode, the boost tip interferes with the rear wing and cannot be deployed, so only the rear portion must be in circuit mode when using boost. This was also shown in the PV, so it seems to be set up that way, not for convenience as a toy.

Here is a side-by-side comparison with previous AeroBoost modes. The rear wing of the "Vision Athrada" is not folded down, so that the three cars look like three different cars.

The last gimmick by replacing parts is the ground effect fan. With the side pontoon parts in aero mode removed, the fan is reproduced by replacing the closed hatch with the fan.

The arrangement is two small fans. Although small, the shape of the fans is elaborate and the paint job is detailed.

The above is all about gimmicks such as transformation, but the "use of light-storing paint" was announced at the "MegaFest Hong Kong" held in June!

Please take a look at which part is used!

The light green lines running along the entire body of the car were actually light-storing paint!　It's also fitting for the impression of the word "cyber."　And a beautiful surprise!

Now, if the TV series "German GPX" were to be remade, this kind of presentation could be incorporated!

If the lights in the room were completely turned off, the body of the car would indeed not be captured, so I did my best to keep the lights as low as possible for the photo shoot.

By the way, at the time of the design presentation, Mr. Kawamori mentioned "luminous tires. A luminous body is likely to improve visibility in bad weather.

The inside of the clear parts at the rear of the body also appear to be luminous, but is this due to the reflection of ambient light?

I was surprised by this gimmick of "luminescence," which has never been seen on previous Asrada models. I feel that this is also connected to the high-end machine-like appearance of the Asrada.

Of course, light-storing paint is also used on the aero-mode parts. The glamour around the deployed front area is particularly striking.

It would be beautiful to see it running through a dimly lit tunnel, leaving a tail of light behind!

Of course, the center line of the rear tire also shines.

This is not CG!　You can see it in this state in the product, so please enjoy the light effects in each form at hand.

We have introduced the long-awaited and long-awaited new Asrada, as well as the new "Cyber Formula" product from MegaHouse titled "Variable Action Variation".

To be honest, I thought we had already commercialized all the main machines, so I am really happy about the announcement of the new machine two years ago and the release of the "Vision Asrada" this time.

In addition, the announcement of the commercialization of the "Alzard NP-1" was unexpected! (I couldn't help but report this to Mr. Jun Iichi, who plays the role of the driver, Phil Fritz.)

Following the release of the "Nu Asrada" and "Phoenix" Livery Edition, the "Garland" Livery Edition will be released in November 2023. In January 2024, the "Super Aslada 01 Ver.2" will be released as part of the "Variable Action 2nd LAP," and the "Cyber Formula" series from MegaHouse will continue to run.

Oops, Asrada wants to say something here. ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

Aslada "Congo no tenkainimo, kitai shiteiru."

Thank you very much!

[Product information

Variable Action Variations - Neon Genesis GPX Cyber Formula - Vision Asrada

Release date: Late July 2023

Price: 27,280 yen (tax included)

Manufacturer: MegaHouse

Material: ABS, POM, die-cast

Ages: 15 and up

Product size: approx. 190mm in length

Sculptor: Norinori Kuwabara [KuWa

Color: Takashi Mukai Yamaguchi

＜Set Contents

Complete painted model ... 1

Exclusive pedestal ... 1

Campaign Outline

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