by sunny on February 17, 2012
I have to admit -- I prefer my RCs big, rather than small. There's just something more exciting about controlling a 1/6-scale nitro-boosted monster hurling down the tracks, compared to smaller racers. Still, there's something fun about driving a smaller vehicle, especially when it involves jumps, short drifts and a bit of fancy riding. And those are exactly what the HPI Coyote Desert Buggy aims to deliver.
Measuring a minuscule 1/12th in scale dimensions, the vehicle features a narrow 314mm wheelbase. Don't let the size fool you, though, as HPI claims this bad boy packs huge performance potential.
The HPI Coyote DB borrows its looks from Baja 1000 racers, making for a realistic desert buggy design that's both rugged and sporty. Because of the size, it ditches performance aero parts like wings and spoilers, allowing you to drive the thing sideways with a good amount of power. With its Shaft 4WD system, double-wishbone front suspension, trailing arm and angled upper wishbone suspension, threaded shocks, and Yokohama Geolandar tires, HPI claims it can drive through bumpy terrain at top speeds.
For more realistic appearance, the buggy comes with a pair of scale drivers in the cabin, matte chrome beadlock-style wheels and replica spare tires mounted on the back. There's no motor included, but the aluminum mount is ready to take a brushless machine as soon as you're up to hitting the ground.
No pricing or release details yet.
[HPI]
by sunny on February 2, 2012
Kyosho recently announced a race spec upgrade to one of their most exciting on-road cars. The new Kyosho Inferno GT2 Race Spec boasts a laundry list of improvements that should make it an attractive option for 1/8-scale racing fans.
Sporting a hardened main chassis coupled with a detailed slick body (choice of either a Corvette 2007 C6-R or an Audi R8 LMS), it makes for a strong and stylish racer that performs as beautifully as it looks. Also new to this version are composite chassis stiffeners, a better big block engine with polished tuned pipe and header, Metal Gear KS-200 servos, and a 3-piece racing clutch.
The Kyosho Inferno GT2 Race Spec uses the high-power K25, which delivers more torque and higher maximum speeds than the engine on previous GT2 vehicles. Out of the box, it can do 55 mph; with optional components, it can be tuned to hit maximum speeds of 70+ mph. For smoother gear changes and minimal shift shock, the car comes fitted with the previously optional shoe-type two-speed transmission. Kyosho’s latest KT-201 computerized 2.4GHz radio system, which features a blue LCD for quick access to control settings, is included.
Other details of the vehicle include a failsafe function (stops the car safely in the event of radio signal trouble), double-disc ABS braking, a 150cc fuel tank and a shaft drive system. The entire chassis is boxed pre-assembled, with the bodies fully painted and decaled. Just add batteries and fuel to start racing.
Slated for availability in March, the Kyosho Inferno GT2 Race Spec will retail for $949.99.
[Kyosho]
SPECS:
- Scale: 1/8th
- Length: 515mm
- Width: 310mm
- Height: 135mm
- Wheelbase: 360mm
- Gear Ration: 1st 10.14:1 2nd 7.90:1
- Weight: 3,650
- Engine: KE25 SG
- Radio: KT-201 2.4GHz
by sunny on February 1, 2012
Looking for an off-road truck with aggressive styling and equally capable performance? You might want to throw some looks over at the RC4WD Trail Finder 2, a truck kit designed for kicking mud on your favorite off-road trails.
Described as "part scale truck, part adventurer," the 1/10 scale 4WD can take on sand, dirt, snow, mud and rocks, allowing you to rugged it up whether in the backyard or at a local trail. Sporting a billet aluminum ladder-frame chassis, 1.55 stamped steel beadlock wheels, super grip Mud Thrasher tires, rock rails, wide gears, skid plate and tube rock guard bumpers, RC4WD claims the vehicle should deliver a smooth and reliable performance over rugged terrain.
The Trail Finder 2 comes with a Mojave body set, complete with accurate proportions and precise details. An industry first, it features a dropped bed molded directly into the body, allowing you to remove the bolt-on cab for equipping the vehicle truggy-style. Windshield wipers, mirrors, marker light details, and door handles are also thrown in as add-on parts.
Sold as a kit, you'll need to use your own motor, radio and electronics, with building time estimated at approximately 3 hours. The RC4WD Trail Finder 2 will be available mid-February, priced at $399.99.
[RC4WD]
by sunny on January 3, 2012
Ford has been a staple of the World Rally Championships since the early 70s, bringing the legendary Escort and two-time winner Focus to the epic adventure race. The new HPI WR8 3.0 borrows from the team's 2011 Ford Fiesta rally racer, boasting gorgeous scale realism and high-output nitro power.
As you can see from the picture, it's a highly-detailed 1/8-scale replica of the road car used by the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. All elements of the body, from the shape to the decals, are built on point, making for one true-to-form recreation.
Based on the Bullet 3.0, the HPI WR8 3.0 uses an extended version of the truck's 3mm aluminum chassis, complete with a modified suspension and wheelbase. It retains the nitro truck's full-time 4WD shaft drivetrain, tough bevel gear differentials and twin disk brakes. The newly-upgraded Nitro Star G3.0 HO engine delivers the road-burning power.
Designed to perform like a real rally car, the vehicle features adjustable ground clearance, so you can tune regardless of what types of road conditions you're racing on. Other features include Gravel Spec rally tires similar to those used in WRC competition, extra-durable SF-10W servos, a raised skid plate on the front jumper, a 75cc fuel tank, front and rear sway bars, and rear shock mud guards.
The HPI WR8 3.0 Ford Fiesta Abu Dhabi Castrol WRC Nitro Rally Car is sold ready to run, packaged with a 2.4GHz radio control. No pricing yet, but it probably shouldn't go too much higher than the Bullet (under $500).
SPECIFICATIONS
- Length: 485mm
- Width: 227mm
- Height: 172mm
- Wheelbase: 300mm
- Drive System: full-time shaft 4WD
[HPI]
by sunny on December 5, 2011
The selling point for the Traxxas XO-1 is dead simple: "100+ MPH out of the box." Seriously, do you need anything else to make RC fans drool?
Measuring 27 inches long, this isn't a compact racer for leisurely racing around your local tracks. Heck, no. Designed strictly for expert RC drivers, this is a serious piece of equipment that performs like a real car. Only smaller.
The Traxxas XO-1 can hit 100 mph in as little as five seconds, going from 0 to 60 in just 2.3 ticks. You don't need to tweak any part of the vehicle to reach those speeds, although Traxxas requires you to tune it using a downloadable iPhone app (called Traxxas Link) that can dock into the all-new Traxxas TQI radio system. With the app, you get a full-color graphical UI that lets you optimize the radio to achieve the downright ridiculous numbers.
Specs include a 1650 Kv Big Block brushless motor, Castle Mamba ESC, shaft-driven 4WD, bellcrank steering and sealed hardened steel bevel differential. Notable features include numerous machined aluminum parts, SS dual-CV driveshafts, onboard air-management system and the patent-pending Cush Drive for absorbing drivetrain shocks.
Billed as the world's fastest "ready-to-race" supercar, the Traxxas XO-1 will retail for $1099.99.
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 27 inches (686mm)
Front Track: 11.61 inches (295mm)
Rear Track: 11.81 inches (300mm)
Center Ground Clearance: 0.59 inches (15mm)
Weight: 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) (w/o batteries)
10.3 lbs (4.67 kg) (with batteries)
Height (overall): 5 inches (127.5mm)
Wheelbase: 15.91 inches (404mm)
Front Shock Length: 3.27 inches (83mm)
Rear Shock Length: 3.39 inches (86mm)
Front Tires (pre-glued): Belted Slick Front (4.29" x 1.7")
Rear Tires (pre-glued): Belted Slick Rear (4.29" x 2")
Front Wheels: 3.3" Split-Spoke™ (black-chrome)
with 17mm splined hex
Rear Wheels: 3.3" Split-Spoke™ (black-chrome)
with 17mm splined hex
[Traxxas]
by sunny on November 17, 2011
Looking for a competition buggy with as much good looks as performance power? You might be interested in the HPI Apache C1 Flux, a 1/8-scale desert buggy designed for competitive all-terrain action.
Modeled after the Class 1 desert racing buggies from the Baja 1000 races, this scaled-down RC looks every bit as fierce as those long distance competitors. And it can perform the same way, too. Put this in a wide open sandy track with tons of jumps and lose yourself in the moment.
The HPI Apache C1 Flux Buggy borrows most of its design elements from the World Champion HB D8 buggy and the highly-acclaimed HPI Vorza. A bash-proof 4WD off-roader, it features a 4mm aluminum chassis, big bore threaded aluminum shocks, scale replica Yokohama Geolandar off-road tires, and the unique monocoque suspensions arms from the HB.
Body is a gorgeously detailed and pre-painted cage-style design, complete with a spare tire and a pair of people inside the cabin. All electronics are waterproof, of course, with quick access to all critical maintenance points multiple shock mounting positions for adjustable performance. It ships with a Q-Base ESC and an Alphastar 2350Kb brushless motor.
If you want realistic desert endurance racing in your RC, you can't go wrong with the HPI Apache C1 Flux Buggy. MSRP is $609.99.
[HPI]
SPECIFICATIONS
WIDTH: 300mm
OVERALL LENGTH 580mm
TIRES 114mm
WHEELBASE: 375mm
by sunny on November 14, 2011
In the market for a fast-driving buggy with all the durability to withstand the harshest off-road tracks? Then you might take a liking to the Kyosho DBX VE 2.0, a compact and stylish racer for all levels of users.
While built on a 1/8-scale buggy design, the vehicle's cab forward design actually manages to look and feel smaller, giving it faster lap times compared to similarly-decked cars. It has the same wheelbase and track width as conventional 1/8-scale buggies, too, allowing for plenty of options in upgrades for competition races.
The Kyosho DBX VE 2.0 features the Team Orion Vortex 10 EVO brushless motor (Type 540), which boasts "jaw-dropping power and acceleration," and a cooling fan-equipped R10 ESC. It's built on a full-time 4WD chassis for clearing rough terrain, paired with the same wheels and tires as the much bigger Nitro Inferno Neo Race Spec buggy.
Details include large bore shocks with threaded bodies, wide-span suspension arms, multi-point adjustable parts, a brand new steering layout and aluminum motor mounts. It comes ready to race and fully assembled, too -- just add the consumables (batteries, stick pack, etc.) and drop it on the ground to start putting your local tracks to work.
Availability for the Kyosho DBX VE 2.0 is slated for December at a suggested retail price of $512.99.
Specifications:
Length: 475mm
Width: 300mm
Height: 154mm
Wheelbase: 320mm
Tread (F/R): 246mm
Tire(F/R): Φ115×45mm
Gear Ratio: 9.46：1
Weight: 2,370g（with body）
Motor: Orion Vortex 10 Evo brushless
[Kyosho]
by sunny on November 1, 2011
Billed as the "perfect 1/18th scale fun package," the HPI Mini Recon is a tiny bundle of monster truck awesomeness that will have you mini-bashing the afternoon away. Small but durable, you can smash it into everything in sight and the damn nugget will just keep running.
Sold as an RTR, this miniature RC model comes painted, trimmed and decaled, ready to have its shiny finish muddied and put through a real backyard workout. It's decked in an "extremely tough composite material" on the body, tub chassis, shock towers and suspensions parts, though, so you don't have to worry about breaking it in a day. Maybe a week. Just kidding. HPI claims this thing is "nearly indestructible."
The HPI Mini Recon features a heavy-duty 4WD shaft system that capably handles the travails of your favorite outdoor tracks. A high-torque RM-18 motor (370-size) pumps the power, allowing it to push at an impressive pace both on pavements and trails. Other details include "super smooth" ball differentials, factory-fitted long-stoke shocks, twin point steering, fully covered electrics, six-spoke rims and high-grip Micro Block tires.
Designed for novice hobbyists, it comes with everything you need to get cracking, including an HPI TF-40 radio set, 7.2V NiMh battery, charger and AA batteries for the transmitter. All you have to do is take it out of the box and drive.
Seriously, this thing sound gnarly for a 1/18th scale ride. The HPI Mini Recon is available now, priced at $179.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CHASSIS LENGTH: 232mm
WIDTH: 174mm
HEIGHT: 108mm
TRACK: 145mm
WHEELBASE: 160mm
DRIVE SYSTEM: Shaft 4WD
TIRES: Micro Block
[HPIRacing]
