The Maibatsu Thunder is a vehicle mentioned on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's radio stations.

Description

Unlike other Maibatsu counterparts, very little is known about the Thunder, as its sole advertisement simply consists of empty sloganeering (accompanied by a woman whispering occasional innuendo) with only a brief mention of the car's features and technical details, vaguely implying a questionably powerful engine ("the power of a compact").

Typical to Maibatsu vehicles prior to Grand Theft Auto IV, the Thunder is only featured in advertising, mainly on radio stations, but not on the road.

Radio Ad

Transcript

The car engine starts up. Male announcer: Knights of the road, here's your stallion! A horse neighs. Male announcer: The car for freedom. Female announcer: Freedom! Male announcer: The car for hot excitement! Female announcer: Excitement! Male announcer: The car for a man who is alone against the elements. Female announcer: The Maibatsu Thunder. Male announcer: The pride is back. It's the power of a compact. Female announcer: Looks small, but it's so big! Male announcer: Fuel injected. Female announcer: Inject me! Male announcer: Maibatsu Thunder - on the toll road of life, you have to pay to prove you can. Live the emotion of an individual. Female announcer: Thunder! Male announcer: The awesome power of nature distilled into one vehicle! Female announcer: Wow! Male announcer: Because after you get struck by lightning... A thunder is heard. Male announcer: ...there's thunder. Female announcer: The Maibatsu Thunder!

Trivia

• It can be assumed what the inspiration for the car may be according to certain hints from the commercial:
  • Because of its references to compact cars with fuel injection, it is possible that it is based on the 1983-1987 Mitsubishi Colt or the 1971-1980 Ford Pinto.
  • It may also refer to Japanese compact sports cars of the 1980s, mainly the Mitsubishi Starion or Mazda RX-7, as both cars appear during the era and starts gaining popularity over its American rivals during the era.
  • Its name could possibly refer to the Toyota AE86 Trueno, as "Trueno" is Thunder in Spanish.
• The radio ad is featured on the Wildstyle CD included in the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set.

See Also

• Monstrosity
• Womb
• Insurrection