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[]
There are a few possibilities that the car maybe based off from the commercial:
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.