XRAY just announced a new electric off-road buggy that sounds like an enthusiast's wet dream. Called the XRAY XB808E, the 1/8-scale racer is the battery-powered version of the company's much-lauded nitro buggy, the XB808.

First, the biggest selling point: it's an XB808 ported to run on an electric motor. If you're familiar with the platform, you'll know just how much acclaim and awards it's received since the first model dropped back in 2004, practically affirming the new vehicle's racing credentials.

Chassis has been redesigned for the XB808E, taking into account the different load requirements of the all-electric model. Built with 7075 T6 hard-anodized aluminum, it has been strategically machined in low-stress areas to provide lightness, without affecting strength. It's robotically hardcoated too, with countersunk screw holes on the bottom.

It uses the proven Zero Kingpin suspension found on the nitro versions, with the suspension geometry fine-tuned for even better handling. Drivetrain is similarly carried over from the XB808, with direct central shaft connection to pinion gears, optimal ratios and 22 high-speed, rubber-sealed bearings for maximum performance. Notable details include chassis-centralized parts for a low center of gravity, optimized weight balance for easy jumps, HUDY pinions, spurs and crown gears, front and rear anti-roll bars, graphite shock towers and adjustable HUDY turnbuckles.

The XRAY XB808E is only available as a kit, with a badass-looking ultra-low body. You'll need to supply the batteries and motors, apart from having to build the whole thing, so this should be better suited for intermediate and advanced racers. No exact release date yet, but it's being priced at around $510.

[Team XRAY]

Venom recently introduced a new entry to the increasingly popular short course racing class of RC trucks. Called the Venom Gambler, the 2WD vehicle brings the sporty LOORRS (Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series) racing trucks into the hands of short course RC fans.

According to the company, the vehicle was devised from the ground up, incorporating all the latest innovations in truck design into its 1/10-scale frame. Most notable of the features is the MORdrive system, which lets you adjust the truck's center of gravity by changing the rear transmission's position from mid-motor to rear-motor on the fly. Yep, just like having two chassis in a single ride.

The Venom Gambler is powered by a high-performance 3300 Kv brushless motor, with a fully-programmable 80amp waterproof ESC and a VR3S 3-channel 2.4ghz radio. Chassis accommodates a variety of battery packs (6, 7, and 8 cell NiMH and 2 to 3 cell LiPO), boasts a water-resistant radio compartment and conceals all sensitive wires to keep them protected.

Aggressive body is reinforced with rugged bumpers, mud flaps and side nerf bars for short course racing durability. The Beadlox wheels and tires use a three-piece system that feature elliptical tire beads for improved performance.

Available in late September, the Venom Gambler comes in four colors (black, white, red or blue), priced at $289.99.

Specifications
Length: 21.73" (552mm)
Roof Height: 7.89" (200.5mm)
Width: 11.65" (298mm)
Wheelbase: 13.01" (330.5mm)
Ground Clearance: 1.51" (38.5mm)
Motor: V540 3300kv Brushless Motor
ESC: 80amp Waterproof Brushless ESC
Radio: VR3S 2.4Ghz 3-Channel Radio

[Venom]

Cheap stadium trucks may not offer the best performance (nor availability of parts), but find the right one and it can make for plenty of weekend fun. While we doubt the Electrix RC Circuit will be the "right one" for most people, the sales page does offer enough enticements to probably make some folks take a closer look.

A ready-to-run off-road stadium truck, it comes painted and decaled right out of the box, leaving you with nothing to do but to get on a track and drive it. It uses standard components and mounts too, allowing for a decent range of hop-up possibilities, in case the default rig (hey, it's cheap) doesn't sit well enough for your standards.

The Electrix RC Circuit is a 1/10th-scale, 2WD vehicle that boasts "hard to abuse" qualities, being built from durable nylon composite material and, hopefully, halfway decent parts. It comes with a Dynamite 20-turn motor and a novice-friendly snap-lock battery system (clipless) for even simpler set-up.

Let's be honest. If you're anywhere past a beginner, you're probably better off looking past this. With those seeking out a stadium truck starter or an upgradeable machine to play with, however, this could actually work out well. Provided you cross your fingers and pray the "durable" part is at least a minute over half-baked, of course.

You can get the Electrix RC Circuit in either red or gray colors for $119.99 starting in August.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: 16.9 in (430mm)

Width: 12.9 in (328mm)

Wheelbase: 11.6 in (295mm)

Weight: 3.44 lb (1560 g)

Chassis: Molded composite

Suspension: 4-wheel independent long-travel

Drivetrain: 2WD with gear differential and slipper clutch

Tire Type: Front: Directional Rib Rear: Spike

Motor or Engine: Dynamite 20T

[Horizon Hobby]<

You may not be able to buy a hydrogen car to park in your garage just yet (there's a good possibility you never will), but you can build one to put on the stand right next to your Traxxas Slash and HPI Blitz. Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies just began shipments for their H-Cell 2.0, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell hybrid powertrain platform for radio-controlled machines.

Emulating the function of real-scale, zero-emission hydrogen powertrains, the system lets you shed the traditional all-electric power source from any RC kit, replacing it with a hydrogen-based hybrid system (such as the Tamiya TRF416 in the picture). We do mean any RC kit, as it can be set up to run on boats, planes and even robots too.

We're still not completely clear on the installation, but you basically get a fuel cell powertrain with two refillable HydroSTICK cartridges lining up with the two sides of the chassis. Each cartridge carries 10L of hydrogen, which translates to about 12Wh of energy to power the vehicle's movement. It works hand-in-hand with a lithium battery that provides peak power for acceleration and high-speed requests, while the hydrogen system handles cruise power, apart from replenishing the battery throughout its use. According to Horizon, this allows hobby-grade RC vehicles to run with 3 to 4 times more endurance than all-electric versions of the exact same model.

But how do you replenish the hydrogen cartridges? You do it using HydroFILL, a separately-sold, small-scale hydrogen refueling station that can recharge your canisters automatically using water and electricity. They also have a solar panel kit that you can use, in case you don't have a wall plug available (like if you find yourself in the middle of the park).

There's still no pricing for the Horizon H-Cell 2.0, but they'll be doing the trade show rounds beginning June. Expect an actual release very soon.

[Horizon Fuel Cell via Engadget]

Losi just announced the 1/10th-scale Bind-N-Drive Night Crawler, a transmitter-less version of a similar RTR from the company. It's pretty much the same vehicle as the original Night Crawler with the exception of the Spektrum DSM 2.4GHz Technology transmitter removed from the package.

What separates a regular rock crawler from a night crawler? I honestly didn't know. Turns out, they're specifically designed for scaling rocks in the dark, when you're not likely to see what's going on in the ground. To facilitate that, the Night Crawler BND sports a red-accented black body, red wheel rings and brilliant LED lights (both front and rear) to easily distinguish it on the course during after hours.

The Night Crawler BND comes with a 540-sized crawler-specific 55T motor and high-torque metal gear steering servo, a combination that should work well for scaling tricky obstacles in rocky terrain. Front and rear solid axle features a worm gear drive (for extra brakes when there's no power), with a smaller differential case for higher ground clearance. Other notable features include red anodized vertical chassis plates, 4-inch adjustable aluminum shocks, three-piece 2.2 beadlock chrome wheels, Losi Rock Claw tires, molded 4-link suspension setup and competition-legal Grappler Pro body.

Many crawlers in the market require a few modifications before being truly ready for the rocks. Losi claims that's as far from the case here. Armed with an electronics package with a LiPo-compatible, crawler-programmed ESC, all you need to do is bind it to a DSM-equipped transmitter and it's ready to run out of the box.

Pretty hot, right? The Losi 1/10 Bind-N-Drive Night Crawler is now available for $299.

[Losi]

Specifications:

Type:Rock Crawler
Scale:1/10 (2.2)
Length:17.5 in (444.5mm)
Width:9.875 in (250.8mm)
Wheelbase:12.3 in (312.4mm)
Weight:4.18 lb (1.9 kg)

Looking to take your RC down the tracks for the first time? No need to mince words, you'll probably lose. Just because your chances of winning are slim doesn't mean you shouldn't do your best, right? After all, giving it all is how you improve in this game.

1. Aim for consistency. Your first couple of times racing should be about trying to get consistent lap times. Forget about beating that obnoxious loud dude and his beefed-up truck. Instead, aim to run a consistent course lap to lap.

2. Let faster trucks have their way. Sure, you can be competitive and refuse to give way during tangles. Do realize it's the easiest way to slow everyone down, including yourself, apart from heightening the chances of accidents occurring. Unless you've got a good shot at winning, wrecking your truck isn't worth the ego boost. You can get them later - after putting in some practice time.

3. Make sure your car can handle the occasional nervous driving. Racing brings out everyone's nerves. That means a potentially disastrous trigger finger at the most inopportune times. As long as your vehicle can recover and keep itself from spinning out, you'll be fine.

4. Watch experienced racers run the course. If you get the chance, watch some of the more experienced drivers handle the course. What lines are they talking? Where do they go fast or slow? Which jumps are they going for and which ones are they passing on? Seeing that gives you a good idea of how you should handle the tracks come race time.

Schumacher just announced an update to one of the fastest cars in their roster. Boasting blistering speeds, the new Schumacher 2010 Nitro Fusion 28 Turbo is officially one of the most insanely neck-breaking RC models in the planet.

How fast can it go? A crazy top speed of over 80 mph, according to the company, which means it's going to leave me on my 50mph scooter in a head-to-head race. Powered by Picco's 4.5cc Schumacher X28 engine, it produces a hefty 3.25 horsepower and 40,000 rpm (compared to the 2.85 hp at 33,000 rpm of the previous Fusion 28), making for a fully race-tuned monster.

The Schumacher Fusion 28 Turbo is a four-wheel drive roadburner, with the street-savvy looks to match its awesome power. It comes with a pre-painted silver body with a either a blue or red trim, 12mm touring car wheel hex and high-grip ATS competition foam tires. Control is provided by a 2.4GHz digital radio system, with most everything you need ready to run out of the box.

Notable features of the 1/10th-scale model includes a 3-speed transmission, a CNC alloy tuned pipe, a 4mm thick anodized aluminum chassis, a fully-adjustable suspension based on the Fusion R12 and alloy shocks. Schumacher is also offering a full range of option parts compatible with the ride.

Available now, the Schumacher Fusion 28 Turbo is priced at £399.99.

Specifications:

Power Source: Nitro
Model Type: 4WD, ON-ROAD, LEISURE
Length: 420mm
Width: 200mm
Top Speed: 80+ mph
Build State: RTR

[Schumacher]

Kyosho just announced a new model in the Ultima line, which they are billing as "the car to beat for the 2010 season." Called the Kyosho Ultima RB5 SP2 Edition, the buggy features enhancements that the company describes as a "further development of the breed."

The 1/10th scale vehicle comes with the laundry list of standard features that fans will recognize from past Ultima models: carbon composite chassis, externally-adjustable three-gear transmission, low-profile rear shock tower (which improves both cornering ability and crash damage), silky smooth triple cap shocks, hard rod ends and all the usual goodies. It gets a ton of upgrades and new features too.

Noteworthy additions include revised rear suspension arms (2mm longer than the original buggy), updated rear suspension mounts and a medium-sized step wing for better overall control. It also boasts a new sword body, with chiseled lines, flowing sections and bold styling. Kyosho claims the body modifications provide greater downforce, increased traction and better stability at high speeds.

Filled with enhancements tested by Jared Tebo and other notable RC drivers, the Kyosho Ultima RB5 SP2 will be available as kit (radio, servo, motor, ESC, tires and battery not included). No pricing yet, but expect it in stores sometime in May.

Specifications:
Scale: 1:10
Width: 249mm
Length: 380mm
Height: 140mm
Wheelbase (max): 270mm
Weight: 1620g
Final Drive: 2.6:1

[Kyosho America]

A big block desert race truck, the Redcat Racing Aftershock is a heavyset performer that can handle itself well both in the backyard and on off-road tracks. It's far from the best the category has to offer, but it delivers enough excitement and fun to make it worth anyone's while.

Burly and stocky, it's a tough-looking truck with gorgeous factory-applied paint and decals. From a short distance, the 1/8th scale nitro basher actually looks like an actual truck, especially with the realistic headlights and tires. There's a funny quality to the design that I can't pinpoint, though - almost like it's based on a cartoon design.

The Redcat Racing Aftershock 3.5 claims to do up to 50mph out of the box with its nitro-fueled 3.5 cc .21 SH big block engine. While I could not confirm that threshold, I did come close, so it's quite a lot of power. It comes with a two-shoe aluminum clutch setup and a single stage filter for the carburetor - not ideal for heavy racing, but decent enough for most drivers.

Performance is a mixed bag. It handled tight corners like a seasoned pro and jumped easy enough, but the tires barely held on tougher terrain. For the most part, you'll have to seriously drive this. If you're inexperienced, you'll likely just crash it before the first five minutes. It does have a lot of plastic parts, so racing this stock against other SCTs is probably not a good idea. Make a tough landing and you're almost likely to find something break (or stressed enough to almost get there) - a far cry from the toughness its look suggests.

Available for $300, the Redcat Racing Aftershock 3.5 RTR is very competitively-priced for a 1/8th scale nitro truck. You'll likely need a lot of modifications to turn this into something race-worthy, but it should be good enough for most casual driving.

Specifications:

Length: 19.84"
Width: 12.01"
Wheelbase: 12.80"
Engine: Nitro 3.5cc. (.21SH)
Drive Train: Front and rear sealed differentials. Two speed transmission.

The gospel of short-course racing is spreading like the plague and it is quickly becoming a part of all the major RC races around the world. It's for good reason too, since the category is one of the most compelling in the industry, dotted with vehicles that easily count as among the most exciting.

1. Traxxas Slash

The most popular short course truck in the market, the Slash is available in both 2WD and 4WD versions. Able to clear 40-mph out of the box with intense durability, generous tuning options and sublime handling to boot, it's easy to see why it continues to win praise among fans, racers and award-giving bodies alike. Beginner-friendly, it's arguably one of the best bashing RC models ever made. While it can race on stock electronics and motor (my first one hung in there with nitro buggies on an impromptu dare with nothing but a 2s LiPo extra), a few hop-ups should be necessary if you want to absolutely destroy competition - and you will.

2. Associated RC10

Maintenance can be a pain in the ass, but you can't fault the RC10 for its durability and performance. It may be a step down in ruggedness compared to either the Slash or the Blitz (sadly, it's true), but add the right upgrades and it can offer noticeably better performance. Very, very noticeably heightened performance. The construction is topnotch too, although some stock parts are quite flimsy to begin with. One thing to note is that it's geared for racing as much as it for bashing - a quality that you'll appreciate if you're getting a short course racer specifically for the purposes of competing.

3. Kyosho Ultima SC

Based on the RT5, the Ultima SC is one of the newer short course racers to hit the scene and it's doing so in all the right ways. Designed for race performance and strict compliance with ROAR regulations, it's literally ready to race the moment you hit the pavement. It doesn't mean you'll beat my Traxxas, of course, but the stock G20 Turn HP Electric Motor should do a good job all on its own. As a side bonus, you don't see many drivers take this to the races too, so you'll have something unique to let loose on the unsuspecting masses.

4. HPI Blitz

Widely recognized for its impressive strength and durability, the Blitz isn't too shabby a performer either. In fact, it strikes a good balance between those qualities. Arguably the toughest short course racer around, we've seen it take beatings that no RC deserves - yet still manage to keep running. It will likely require a bit more aftermarket parts to be truly competitive on tracks, but it's one vehicle that will literally last you for the long haul.

5. Losi Strike

While it doesn't come with the most flattering looks, the Losi Strike does offer good off-road performance with decent durability. It's far from the most popular short course truck around not because it's a poor model. Mostly, it's simply for the sheer fact that the top dogs of the category are too damn good and it has a lot of catching up to do. Regardless, it offers excellent toughness during races, with all-metal gears and that heavyset frame. Do note that the added size might make it ineligible for some of your local SCT races, so better make sure before buying.