Monstrosity

Not to be confused with the MonstroCiti.

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Monstrosity

The Maibatsu Monstrosity is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that is mentioned in Grand Theft Auto III, Manhunt, and Grand Theft Auto IV.

Description[]

The Monstrosity is claimed to be a large SUV with an extremely spacious interior that can seat 12 passengers, and an amphibious mode that allows the SUV to cross rivers and arctic tundras, but has an extremely low MPG rating, with advertisements claiming it "only gets 3 miles to the gallon", and uses up fuel.

The advertisement for the Monstrosity differs in the American and European handbooks for Grand Theft Auto III - The American and Australian versions advertise a early development version of a red Landstalker, whereas the European advertisement depicts a Tamiya Juggernaut RC monster truck, based on a 1999 Ford F-350 regular cab with "Maibatsu Monstrosity" crudely painted on the side. The advertisement for the Monstrosity is a jab at the SUV craze of the early 2000s.

Though it is not seen in any of the games, it is referenced several times on talk radio shows. For instance, in Grand Theft Auto III, a caller on Chatterbox FM was stopped by the police while driving in her teal Monstrosity recklessly to get to the hospital. In Grand Theft Auto IV, a caller to The Richard Bastion Show on WKTT says that Americans drive incredibly large, polluting Maibatsu Monstrosities that destroy the environment, to which Bastion replies "I know! It's great!". During Public Liberty Radio's Intelligent Agenda, the Monstrosity is mentioned briefly. It is possible that the Monstrosity was a beta version of the Landstalker.

In Grand Theft Auto Online, the Maibastu MonstroCiti description states that it was based on a family-friendly SUV, most likely referring to the Monstrosity.

In Manhunt, a member of The Hoods mentions that he bought a new Maibatsu Monstrosity with a leather interior.^[1]

GameSpot Expert Reviews

Grand Theft Auto The Trilogy: Definitive Edition Review – Wasted

18 November 2021

Grand Theft Auto 5 PS4/Xbox One/PC Review

17 November 2014

Grand Theft Auto Online Updated Review

05 May 2014

Ads[]

The following are transcribed from radio ads from Grand Theft Auto III.

Ad 1 (Lips 106 and Chatterbox FM)[]

Transcript

Man:

I'm a marketing manager who lives in the suburbs and commutes to work on the highway. I live alone, so of course I needed a car that can seat 12 and is equipped to drive across arctic tundra... it just makes me feel good!

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Female announcer:

The new Maibatsu Monstrosity - mine is bigger!

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Ad 2 (Double Clef FM and Chatterbox FM)[]

Transcript

Woman:

Phil and I just had another kid, so of course we need a bigger SUV. Being a mom is hard, with soccer, football and lacrosse practice, so we bought the new Maibatsu Monstrosity. It's so big! We lost little Joey in the back and couldn't find him for an hour! When I'm rushing to the mall, or talking on my cell phone, I know me and my family are safe. The Maibatsu Monstrosity has 4-wheel drive, and in amphibious mode, it can cross rivers! So far I've only hit a few puddles, but it's good to know it's there. With the time I save taking shortcuts through the strip-mall parking lot I can focus on the important things, like gazing longingly at the pool boy or buying more exercise equipment off the TV. So what if it gets 3 miles to the gallon? I'm a mom, not a conservationist!

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Female announcer:

The new Maibatsu Monstrosity - mine is bigger!

edit