XRAY Announces 2016 XB8

XRAY Announces 2016 XB8

XRAY 2016 XB8 1_8 4wd Nitro Buggy (6)

XRAY 2016 XB8 1_8 4wd Nitro Buggy (5)

XRAY 2016 XB8 1_8 4wd Nitro Buggy (3)

From XRAY:

Based on the ultra-successful XB8 platform, XRAY proudly presents the 2016-spec XB8 which incorporates the latest improvements and refinements gathered by the team, race-proven in the highest competition races around the world.

Development.

With my long-time experiences with 1/8 off-road racing, combined with the expertise I have gained from the R&D process at my previous projects at XRAY with XB2 and XB4 platforms, I have incorporated all the improvements & refinements to the XB8 platform to make it better, easier to work on, and more reliable.
Martin Bayer
XRAY XB8 Designer

Team Development.

All the work and refinements on the XB8 were incorporated based on our own experiences, and also by vast majority based on feedback from drivers all around the world. New ideas and prototypes were long-term tested by the factory team worldwide to ensure the improvements would work well in all track conditions and tracks in Europe, America, and Asia.
Martin Bayer
XRAY XB8 Designer

Heritage.

“I designed and hand-made my first off-road cars back in 1986, and they were dominating the races thanks to unbeatable reliability and best performance. Years later in 2004 we have started our first mass production XRAY XB8 platform based on our long-term experiences, knowledge, and R&D expertise gained over decades, taking over the heritage I brought with me. Since the release of the XB8 platform, we have continued our dedicated work to refine the platform annually to bring the latest improvements & innovations to make the XB8 stand out in crowd and take you to the Winners Circle.”
Dipl. Eng. Juraj Hudy
XRAY Chief Designer

XB8 Concept.

The XB8 is typical XRAY: premium, professional, high-competition for the most demanding racers, developed with attention to the smallest details, and backed by premium service & support…a luxury masterpiece.

Made in Europe.

Designed, developed, and fully manufactured in-house at the XRAY factory in Slovakia, Europe, using the most high-tech German & Swiss machines and premium European materials, crafted with XRAY’s legendary attention to detail by our artistic production specialists. The XB8 is truly a masterpiece.

All-new 2016.

  • All-new chassis
  • All-new chassis side guards
  • All-new front & rear braces
  • All-new suspension concept
  • All-new steering blocks
  • All-new front upper arms
  • All-new rear uprights
  • All-new reinforced rear suspension arms
  • All-new front upper pivot balls
  • All-new rear mud guards
  • All-new front & rear bulkheads
  • All-new rear turnbuckles
  • All-new Ackermann
  • All-new front upper deck
  • All-new front & rear universal driveshafts
  • All-new central drive shafts
  • All-new engine mounts
  • All-new radio box composite material
  • All-new throttle servo brace
  • All-new servo saver alu stand
  • All-new rear shock body
  • All-new front & rear springs
  • All-new ball-bearings
  • All-new body

Chassis.

The XB8 chassis is an all-new design with completely redesigned weight balance to improve the car’s handling. The rear of the chassis is wider to increase stability, and the front is narrower to improve steering. The chassis is also 4mm shorter with weight balance moved forward (including engine, radio box, fuel tank, and center diff).

The chassis is CNC-machined from 3mm high-quality Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum, strategically machined in low-stress areas, and then anodized to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity. Non-essential material below the engine, fuel tank, and differential was removed to allow for the lowest possible center of gravity and appropriate chassis flex.

Side Guards.

The all-new design of the side guards incorporates a larger bottom radius to make the car more stable on rough tracks. The radius on the side guards increases the car’s longitudinal flex. The side guards are moulded from all-new composite mixture for increased flex that helps generate more traction.

The tough composite side guards protect the car, muffler, and fuel tank from side impacts. The side guards perfectly fit the chassis and seal against dirt.

Chassis Braces.

Front and rear chassis braces have significant influence on chassis stiffness and flex, and as such have great impact on handling under different grip conditions. The chassis braces are all-new and completely redesigned.

The front chassis brace is shorter for increased flex, thus generating more traction.

The rear brace has a completely new design with a direct mounting to the rear bulkhead instead to the rear shock tower. The mounting to the bulkhead eliminates transfer of vibrations and energy from the suspension via shock towers. This helps to improve the landing and generates more off-power traction.

The rear brace is moulded from a medium-stiff composite mixture for proper flex & rigidity, and allows the mounting of optional graphite inserts to reinforce the chassis brace to make it even stiffer (suitable for high-traction conditions).

Suspension Concept.

Suspension geometry is one of the most important features of any RC model car, yet at the same time is also one of the most difficult and challenging features for a designer to create and perfect. Suspension is always a mixture of the following:

From arms & suspension blocks to light-yet-robust steering blocks, every suspension part has been specially designed for 1/8 off-road racing to provide responsive handling and performance characteristics under all racing conditions.

Over the years, XRAY has successfully gained and applied extensive knowledge of suspension geometry & stiffness, all of which has been carefully considered while designing suspension parts. The ultra-lightweight suspension parts are molded from special composite materials that make the parts very light, yet very durable to withstand the rigors of high-performance racing.

  • Design & shape of individual suspension parts
  • Flex & hardness
  • Material characteristics
  • Mounting method
  • Ability to retain freedom of movement
  • Geometry & position of connecting point mounting points

Steering Blocks.

The front steering block is a vital part of the pivot ball suspension, and the new design changes from 1 pivot ball to a conventional steering system with 2 pivot balls that ensures no binding in dusty conditions while ensuring a stable ride height in all different track conditions.

The smart design of the steering block allows one steering block to be used either on left or right side for easy servicing.

The steering blocks feature the following integrated geometry adjustments:

Front Upper Arms.

The front upper suspension arm has a new design to accommodate the new pivot ball suspension. Moulded from a softer composite mixture, the arm has increased flex in all directions to generate more traction. This also improves handling on rough, destroyed tracks.

Caster is easily adjusted using caster clips that are inserted either in front or behind the front upper arms.
Rear Uprights.

The all-new 1-piece rear upright has a new geometry, generating more traction and helping the car to absorb bumps on rough parts of the track. The smart design allows the same upright to be used on both left & right sides.

The upright allows adjustment of the upper roll center by 3 different positions, and lower roll center by 2 different positions. The lower suspension pin on which the rear upright sits features 2 shims for wheelbase adjustment.

The uprights feature integrated geometry adjustments including:

  • camber
  • upper roll center
  • lower roll center
  • wheelbase
  • suspension Arms.

The rear lower arm design was updated with extra inner shock positions suitable for very smooth track surfaces to generate more traction, as well as an updated design to accommodate the new universal driveshafts.

Suspension arms are some of the most important parts of any RC model car, as they directly influence handling & responsiveness. XB8 suspension arms are the result of long-term testing of different designs and layouts. Length, thickness, flexibility, geometry, and materials … all these aspects & details have been thoroughly reviewed to create optimal suspension arms. The suspension arm is rigid enough to provide a responsive feel, yet soft enough to survive extra-long race events.

Pivot Balls.

To reduce weight and lower the CG, all-new front upper pivot balls are combined with steel threaded part for maximum strength. The aluminum ball is machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 and additionally hardcoated for extended lifespan.

Mud Guards.

The rear suspension arms feature pre-drilled holes where included mud guards can easily be installed. The lightweight mud guards protect the rear drivetrain in wet & dirty track conditions.

Bulkheads.

The all-new diff bulkheads were reinforced, updated, and redesigned to accommodate the repositioned Ackermann and to fit the rear brace mounting holder.

Diff bulkheads are an important chassis component, housing both the front and rear differentials and providing mounting points for the suspension mounts and shock towers.

Turnbuckles.

The rear turnbuckles were shortened and the composite ball joints were extended to improve the side landing after jumps.

To guarantee maximum reliability, all turnbuckles are manufactured from a special blend of HUDY Spring Steel™ which is specifically formulated for turnbuckles. The turnbuckles have a tougher core, and are well suited for the steering system and rear upright linkages.

Ackermann.

The Ackermann was completely redesigned and updated for improved steering characteristics, making the car more predictable both in & out of corners.

Upper Deck.

The front upper deck was redesigned to accommodate the all-new 2016 design updates, including new front upper brace and connecting to the new bulkheads and front suspension. The upper deck is machined from premium-grade graphite material.

Drive Shafts.

All-new front & rear universal drive shafts are used on the XB8 to generate more traction and have less resistance in the front when maximum steering angle is applied.

Both front & rear central drive shafts have new sizing to accommodate the new weight balance distribution.

All drive shafts are manufactured from world-renowned HUDY Spring Steel™, resulting in some of the world‘s thinnest yet most durable drive shafts used in off-road cars. All drive shafts & outdrives are hardened with a proprietary hardening process to provide unsurpassed lifespan & reliability.

The central larger & stronger outdrives feature protective rubber boots, thick 3mm pins, and protective locking rings.

Engine Mounts.

The mounting positions on the engine mounts were redesigned to improve chassis flex. The engine mounts extend up to the front engine bearing to provide higher reinforcement of the chassis in the longitudinal direction, and in jumps will minimize the bending of the chassis between the clutchbell and spur gear.

The CNC-machined aluminum engine mounts are made from superior-grade, lightweight alloy and help dissipate engine heat. The engine mounts are easily adjustable to obtain proper gear mesh.

Radio Box.

To improve chassis flex & handling characteristics (especially in the low- to medium-traction conditions), the radio box is moulded from an all-new composite mixture which makes the radio box more flexible.

The 1-piece electronics assembly is very compact and can be quickly & easily removed for servicing and cleaning. You need only remove a few screws from the bottom of the chassis to remove the entire electronics assembly from the car.

The large molded radio box features a very clean design and layout that places the weight in key areas for proper balance. The batteries are placed along the centerline of the chassis in the front, and the lightweight receiver is placed on its side at the rear. The easy- access radio box is mounted on the side of the car and is secured by the fewest possible screws.

Servo Brace.

A new connecting link was introduced between the throttle servo and the radio box to compensate for the softer, more flexible radio box as well as to eliminate throttle servo vibrations to the chassis. This will help to ensure more precise throttle and brake control.

Servo Saver.

The dual-arm steering system was updated and redesigned to fit the new weight balance position that moved the Ackermann forward as well. The dual-arm steering system is simple yet effective, and features an integrated easily-adjustable servo saver and Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum steering plate.

Ackermann is easily adjusted by quickly & easily changing steering link mounting positions on the steering plate.

Bump steer is easily adjusted by inserting shims between the steering plate and steering linkage.

Shocks.

The 2016 rear shock body is 2mm longer to improve efficiency in rough, bumpy conditions.

The oversized big-bore shocks feature 18.5mm O.D. shock bodies, externally threaded with an adjustable collar for quick & easy spring preload adjustment. The shock bodies are hardcoated in a titanium color, and feature a 1-piece alu shock cap.

The specially-formulated rubber material of the shock membrane ensures equal damping characteristics from the beginning of the race to the end, even after extreme operation.

The lower shock assembly ensures that the shock rod will move very freely inside the shock body, while at the same time minimizing oil leakage and keeping dirt out. Two shock O-rings – manufactured from a superior silicone compound to allow ultra-free movement of the shock rod while still maintaining a tight seal – are installed in the lower part of the shock body and are secured with composite shims. The entire lower shock assembly is secured with the lower aluminum shock cap which makes assembly/disassembly very quick & easy.

Thick, robust shock shafts will handle all abusive racing conditions and big jumps. The 3.5mm thick shock shafts are precisely machined from special high-tensile steel, and afterwards are ground to a super-smooth finish to ensure smooth movement.

Shock Springs.

The all-new front & rear springs have new characteristics: a mix of progressive & linear. The new springs are slightly progressive, but under larger compression they change characteristics to become more linear. This gives an excellent feeling & feedback of the car in all different track conditions.

These XRAY shock springs, like all other XRAY springs, are manually measured, selected and matched into pairs to guarantee precisely equal length and damping characteristics.

There are two types of springs offered optionally:

  • Linear: Spring rate is constant during the entire spring compression. Springs with different spring rates are available as optional tuning parts.
  • Progressive: Spring rate is not constant, but rather the spring rate get progressively heavier the more the spring is compressed. As the car initially enters the corner, the spring works like a softer spring to provide maximum traction. As the chassis begins to roll in the middle of the corner, the spring rate progressively increases until it works like a stiffer spring which allows the car to maintain maximum cornering speed.

Ball-Bearings.

The drivetrain ball-bearings now include grease instead of light oil to maximize the lifespan of the ball-bearings, especially in dusty conditions. A full set of 24 high-speed, blue-sealed ball-bearings are used throughout the drivetrain to ensure maximum efficiency.

Body.

The all-new XB8 body was completely redesigned & improved in all aspects. Improved aerodynamics, increased downforce, increased side stability, improved landing of the car, and significantly increased rear downforce make the XB8’16 racing body unbeatable in performance design. Produced from high-quality, premium Lexan™ material.

Chassis Weight Balance.

An all-new, improved weight balance was created by moving forward all the electronics, center diff, and engine, shortening the chassis, repositioning the steering, and redesigning the Ackermann.

This new weight balance makes the car easier to drive, increases predictability, makes the car extremely resistant in rough parts of the tracks, and gives great handling in jumps and fast parts of the tracks.

I.S.S.™ Suspension Holders.

The aluminum suspension holders feature Integrated Suspension Settings™ (I.S.S.) which allows for quick & easy suspension geometry setting.

Using eccentric suspension bushings inserted into aluminum suspension holders – as well as additional suspension shims – the XB8 suspension geometry can be completely adjusted in mere seconds.

Alu Hex Hubs.

Ultra-lightweight 17mm wheel hex drive hubs are CNC-machined from Swiss 7075 T6 black-coated aluminum.

The alu hex hubs are specially machined to reduce rotating weight while guaranteeing wobble-free wheel mounting.

Drivetrain.

The XB8 is a conventional shaft-driven 4WD off-road car featuring:

  • Front & rear gear differentials with adjustable oil viscosity, featuring 46T crown gears and 14T pinion gears
  • Central differential with adjustable oil viscosity, featuring 46T spur gear with standard 13T engine clutchbell
  • Front & rear universal drive shafts, and central CVD drive shafts

Gear Differential.

Rubber-sealed composite differential housings feature steel inserts that are manually precision ground after the molding process to guarantee a perfect fit with no vibration. Differential internal gears are made from pressed steel, heat treated, and machined for ultra-high precision and smooth operation.

Diff Outdrive Adapters.

The longer diff outdrive adapters ensure that the drive shafts will not fall out in extreme crashes at full steering lock.

To reduce rotating weight, the super-lightweight diff outdrives are machined from HUDY Spring Steel™ which allows unnecessary material to be removed from the outer part of the outdrives to further reduce weight without affecting durability. The inner portions of the outdrives are additionally hand-ground for maximum precision and fitment into the diff case.

The outdrives are hardened using HUDY’s own special hardening process to provide extended life time and reliability.

Diff Gears & Drivetrain Ratio.

Differential main gears are manufactured from HUDY Gear Steel on a precision manual gear machine. This material was specially formulated and developed for use in gears. All gears are hardened to provide the longest possible lifespan.

A wide range of different gears — spur gear, clutchbell, crown gear — is available for perfect set-up and tailoring to particular racing conditions:

  • Clutchbells are available in sizes of 12T, 13T, 14T and 15T.
  • Spur gears are available in a range of 44T, 45T, 46T, 47T and 48T
  • High-Torque Clutch.

The high-torque clutch provides smooth and continuous transfer of power from the engine at high RPM. The clutch engages higher in the RPM range, resulting in more controllable power during acceleration, while still maintaining good handling and performance on jumps.

The Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum flywheel has a smaller diameter but heavier weight. The smaller diameter allows the flywheel to be more protected after landing large jumps, so there is a reduced chance for engine stoppages due to the flywheel contacting a rock or other obstacle. The flywheel’s heavier weight results in smoother and more balanced engine operation.

The Swiss 7075 T6 clutch shoes are small, lightweight, and designed for engagement during the entire travel of the shoe. The shoes are less sensitive to wear and as such their lifespan is increased.

The extra-tough flywheel nut is machined from Hudy Spring Steel™.

The clutch is equipped with soft clutch springs; optional medium and hard springs are also available.

Center Differential Access.

Access to the center differential is super easy by releasing the upper deck with only 4 screws. The low center diff housing is sized to accommodate optional spur gears, and the stands are lowered to keep the weight as low as possible and to allow smaller central diff gears to be used. The center diff housing stands hold the effective and race-proven brake system.

Shock Towers.

Aluminum towers are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 and then additionally coated. The stiffer alu shock towers along with improved shock positions give better performance at high-traction tracks.

Optional graphite shock towers offer more flex and generate more traction, and are recommended for low-traction tracks.

Shock Pistons.

Ultra-precise shock pistons feature 6-, 8- and 10-hole options. The big-bore pistons are molded from tough, well-proven Delrin® material to provide smooth action and durability. The precision molding production process ensures perfect piston roundness after production, so that the pistons move super-smoothly inside the shock bodies for identical perfect action in all four shocks

Brake System.

The XB8 features a well-proven, high-performance braking system that is strong, precise, and dependable to make slowing and stopping almost effortless. Coupled with the car’s balanced load distribution, the extraordinary control imparted by the braking system gives you complete confidence as you pitch the car into corners.

XRAY focused on the smallest details when designing the brake system. The laser-cut, precision flat-ground steel brake disk allows for fade-free braking in conjunction with the special high-grip brake pads installed on the laser-cut brake plates. The brake disk is small, slim, and very light. The precision hand-grinding allows true, wobble-free rotation. Brake inputs are transferred precisely to the brakes thanks to the rigid, high-precision machined brake cams. Both brake disk and brake pads are specially heat-treated for maximum lifespan.

Fuel Tank.

The extra-strong fuel tank features an integrated floating stone filter that ensures that the fuel pickup will always be in the correct orientation, even if your car isn’t. This fuel pickup system will allow fuel to continue to flow to your engine, even while waiting for a marshal to reach your inverted car and put it back on its wheels.

Internal baffles were added inside the fuel tank to ensure that the fuel will always be in the area around the fuel line intake so even in large jumps the fuel will be constantly supplied to the engine.

The fuel tank cap features a very strong spring which ensures the cap will always close after refueling, and the specially-designed rubber seal perfectly seals the fuel tank and ensures no fuel will leak outside.

The fuel tank is molded from a special composite mixture that ensures very high reliability and rigidity. The molded-in splashguard protects the brakes from fuel spillage. The tank is mounted with rubber grommets to absorb vibration, and small composite holders secure thick 5.5mm silicone fuel tubing. Gluing of the tank pieces is performed by a special self-developed robotic system that ensures maximum accuracy and precision in pre-heating and gluing.

Anti-Roll Bars.

Anti-roll bars used to stabilize the car are manufactured from spring steel material. The front & rear roll bars are easily mounted to the diff cases, and can be adjusted through adjustable linkages.

Anti-roll bar wires of different thickness are optionally available for fine-tuning your set-up.

Silicone Oils.

HUDY Exclusive Silicone Oils are manufactured in Europe and each batch is laboratory tested and calibrated to ensure the highest possible consistency and quality from batch to batch. Based on the industry-standard cSt rating, the new line of oils will be easy to identify, adjust, and feel.

When following any set-up sheets by XRAY or XRAY team drivers, you can be sure that the oils you will get for your car are exactly same as those used by the factory racing team, thus ensuring very exacting set-ups and handling.

Graphite Grease.

The XB8 includes premium HUDY Graphite Grease – a high-performance, advanced-technology semi-fluid lubricant which incorporates both extreme pressure additives and finely-dispersed graphite for load carrying. HUDY Graphite Grease is intended primarily for the lubrication of rotating parts and loaded gears. In addition to providing outstanding load carrying, it is formulated to have excellent adhesion and resistance from “flinging off” under extreme conditions. HUDY Graphite Grease reduces wear and increases parts life.

Air Filter.

To minimize the dust getting into the air filter, the air filter cover mounting positions were modified and improved.

The smooth-flowing, efficient air filter is made from two parts. Air filter oil is included as standard. The universal rubber elbow allows fitment to most standard 1/8 buggy engines.

Wing.

The stylish and effective rear wing was designed to provide the appropriate amount of downforce and generate required stability for the car. Made from a strong special composite mixture, the wing was designed to survive severe abusive and extreme crashes while keeping its shape.

Rear wing holders are made from a special composite mixture to withstand abuse and crashes, and feature several different wing mounting positions.

Adjustment Possibilities.

The XB8 features fully-adjustable front and rear suspension geometry. For quick & easy adjustment, we recommend using set-up tools and accessories from HUDY, the world leader of RC tools.

Chassis Balance.

The chassis design focuses on balanced weight distribution and weight transfer. Centerline holes are pre-drilled for easy balancing with the HUDY Chassis Balancing Tool #107880.

HUDY Set-Up Book.

The XB8 is one of the most adjustable off-road cars in the world. Whether you are a hardcore racing enthusiast or a club-level sportsman, you can very easily adjust the XB8 to suit your driving style, track type, and track conditions.

To fully comprehend the set-up possibilities of the XB8, we highly recommend the HUDY Set-up Book which is loaded with over 50 pages of high-quality pictures and easy-to-understand RC car set-up explanations. The HUDY Set-up book will teach you many set-up tips & tricks to help improve your set-up skills, ultimately translating into improved racing performance with your XB8. The HUDY Set-up Book is available for download exclusively at www.hudy.net

Instruction Manual.

XRAY Instruction Manuals have become the industry standard, and are simply the best manuals you will ever get with an RC model car. Whether you are a first-time builder or an experienced racer, all instructions are straight-forward and easy to understand. The full-color Instruction Manual contains large 3D illustrations that show all assembly details in the easiest and most comprehensive manner.

VIP Customer Treatment.

Owning an XRAY model racing car is an experience unto itself. Not only will you own the most premium luxury model racing car in the world, but you will also become a member of the prestigious family of XRAY owners with direct support and service from the XRAY factory. XRAY brings you the most up-to-date RC website on the Internet, with daily racing news, and the latest product developments. If you have any questions, problems or comments, you can ask the XRAY Support Team or any XRAY Factory Team Driver on the XRAY Support Forum. You can even upload your own set-up sheets or download from the thousands of different set-up sheets available from around the world at the exclusive XRAY Virtual Set-up Sheet Database. And that is only the start of the VIP treatment you get by joining Team XRAY.

Visit TeamXRAY.com
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Updated: June 12, 2016 — 8:27 AM
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