Serpent Viper 977-EVO: The Newest 1/8-Scale Nitro Asphalt Killer

Serpent has been a respected manufacturer in the racing scene for a long time and when they announce a new car, people take notice. Long considered the F1 of racing, 1/8-scale on-road nitro cars require a level of commitment few have the experience or dedication to do, but when participants demand the best and fractions of seconds are on the line, they often turn to new vehicles like this Serpent Viper 977-EVO. Hitting shelves now, this car has all the features you’d expect and some you may not have in a chassis that is the newest version of Serpent’s successful line of cars. Check it out.

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Latest from Serpent:

Viper 977 EVO 1/8 GP 4wd 2013-2014 IFMAR TQ and World Champion, Japan Tadahiko Sahashi with Viper 977 Gas powered top level racecar with 4wd, belt-drive, Centax true motion clutch, XLi8 gearbox, flex-system front and rear, brake on rear axle, front one-ways, rear solid axle, ballraced anti-rollbars. A fully adjustable race chassis to the latest spec and technology. Lighter, stronger, new geometry, more tuning features. Design by Michael Salven.

Serpent has been developing  1/8 scale onroad rc cars since 1977, officially as company since roughly 1980.  That is over 35 years of  of race and development experience combined !
The Serpent  Viper-EVO is the next step in the continuous development of this very demanding 1/8 scale racing class, the pinnacle of rc car racing.  The Viper 977-EVO is all about refinement, to make a superb car even better.  Ready to defend the 2013-2014  World Championship TQ and title by Tadahiko Sahashi from Japan.

 

Bodymount rear
Rear floating bodymount 
Extra ribs and more material is added  to increase the stiffness of the rear bodymount and a 4th hole is added both sides for more tuning options

 

Bumper
Front bumper with inserts
The newly developed front aero type bumper  is a very durable unit, which as extra feature offers removable inserts.  Its very easy and quick to test with or without inserts in a matter of seconds.

 

Central flex
Aluminium central flex system with bearings
The system consist of a lower and upper anodised aluminium section, connected with screws for zero flex, or with bearings inside for some controlled  flex.  It needs removal of only 2 screws to go from fixed to controlled flex.

 

Radioplate
Carbon fibre 2.5mm radioplate  with aluminium mid-flex system
The stiff carbon fibre radioplate is one piece again with the flex system moving to the center of the car, just behind the tank.

 

Chassis
Aluminium chassisplate  in 7075 T6 with optimised flex and weights slide
The chassisplate is a very important part as central unit in the car.   The flex-characteristic is a major point, as well as weight balance with the sliders we apply and the dissipation of heat from the engine. The chassis is narrower in the front to allow a slightly different geometry. 2 sets of front lower pivotpins holders are included to change the geometry, run it narrow or wide. Machining of the chassis allows flex in a different area as before, and can be influenced by using the carbon brace.

 

Centax
Centax hardcoated alu clutch gears with 0.9 pitch
To go with the 0.9 pitch gears, the Centax gearpinions also needed to go to the 0.9 pitch. The precision machined and hardcoated gears are durable and smooth.  The Centax clutch is a Serpent innovation from the  early nineties, and is in use by almost all brands now.

Key new features
–   2-speed gearbox  SL8 XLi with superlow inertia
–   Composite 2-speed gears with 0.9 pitch
–   Centax hardcoated alu clutch gears with 0.9 pitch
–   Aluminium chassisplate  in 7075 T6 with optimised flex and weights slide
–   carbon fibre 2.5mm radioplate  with aluminium mid-flex system
–   aluminium central flex system with bearings
–   front bumper with inserts
–   new geometry  with narrower front end
–   improved rear bodymount

Specifications
–   4wd belt-driven race car
–   2-speed gearbox and Centax race clutch
–   Independent suspension with hydraulic shocks
–   Front shaft with oneways and rear solid axle
–   5mm aluminium chassis with weight slider system
–   2.5mm carbon radioplate with flex system
–   Aluminium bearingblocks front and rear
–   Central rear axle brake
–   Front cvd , rear dogbone drive, both with quick change wheel system/axles
–   Ball raced front and rear anti-roll bars

More images:
http://serpent.com/product/903015/images/