Team Associated launch RC8 – First Pictures

The long awaited new 1/8th scale buggy from Team Associated, the RC8 is finally here. Here is the very first picture (click image to view larger version) to be released showing the new car from the Thunder Tiger owned company. As we can see from the car, it features carbon fibre shock towers and c-hub front suspension but without seeing under the hood, its hard to tell more apart from what we already know.

UPDATE: View under the shell images and press release here…

The 1/8th buggy racing world will wonder how they lived without it, the Factory Team RC8!
The highly anticipated Associated Factory Team RC8 will raise the performance bar for 1/8th off-road nitro buggies. The RC8 design utilizes proven engineering yet incorporates design ingenuity and industry leading concepts that will confirm Team Associated’s number one status which it has held for over 40 years. Strength, durability, nimble handling and maximum corner speeds were the key design elements Area 51 targeted. Drivers will experience unparalleled and effortless “pop” as they launch from the jumps. Landings will be plush beyond belief due to the enhanced suspension that other buggies only dream of. From the correctly balanced and optimized weight distribution, silky smooth and reliable shocks featuring 4MM gold shafts, innovative clutch design, to the machined chassis, every inch of the RC8 screams performance and durability. From the proven drive train to the ultimately adjustable wing, you will see why the Factory Team RC8 will be the buggy chosen to dominate the competition. The RC8 drives the commonplace out of contention and puts winning back into your vocabulary. You’ve heard from the rest, now take it from the best:

“In testing, it felt unbelievable. It does everything better than my National Champ S3. The RC8 is the best handling 8th scale buggy I’ve driven so far.”
–2006 ROAR National Champion Ryan Maifield

“You can push it hard and it stays balanced. The harder I drive it, the faster I can go.” –The KING Richard Saxton

The Factory Team RC8 features:
– Weighing in at 7.4 lbs.* makes the RC8 one of the lightest buggies in the class (*weight may vary depending on muffler, motor and electronics)
– More suspention travel than any other buggy
– The 4.30:1 ratio gear boxes produce maximum punch allowing the RC8 to accelerate harder out of the corners and up the biggest jumps
– 4mm woven carbon fiber shock towers for maximum rigidity, strength and light weight
– Unique low-profile elliptical high-flow, two-stage air filter
– FFC Free Float Caliper brake-system eliminates the possibility of unwanted brake drag while on throttle
– Factory Team threaded, hard-coated shocks feature extra large bladders for full volume compensation and 4mm gold shock shafts for durability
– Two-piece split-center diff mount allows quick and easy access to the center diff
– Blue aluminum hexes and wheel nuts featuring nyloc providing the ultimate in security
– Wing angle and position is fully adjustable and secure
– Newly designed high-torque capacity three-shoe aluminum clutch
– Lightened 43-tooth diff rings make for the absolute minimum rotating-mass
– Captured outer CVD pins
– Metric hardware throughout
– Milled 3mm black hard-coated 7075 aluminum chassis
– Factory Team blue titanium turnbuckles

Available: May 2007

Source: RC Tech [rctech.net] Images: Greg Rojna [gregrojna.com]