Xray XB4’16 1/10th 4WD off-road buggy kit

Xray have announced the 2016 edition of their successful XB4 1/10th scale 4WD electric off-road buggy. Extensively tested and refined by Xray’s factory team the latest incarnation of the European Championship winning buggy will feature an all-new chassis with shorter overhangs and a refined, more forward motor position. At the same time the battery mount, for shorty LiPos only and with the possibility to run the pack forward or rearward, moved to the rear for a more balanced weight distribution. Also new are hard composite side guards with medium stiffness parts being available for very low-grip tracks.

Incorporated into the chassis design is Xray’s Multi-Flex technology that allows to adapt the chassis stiffness to various track conditions from low to high grip. With the separated upper decks being replaced by braces different flex settings are now even easier to achieve. Part of the package are also composite chassis braces that allow for several flex settings using different amounts of mounting screws, allowing setup adjustments “in the starting grid”. Part of the braces are also electric wire holders for neat and tidy wiring jobs.

Also new with the 2016 car are redesigned front and rear bulkheads that feature minimised bearings play for improved efficiency and durability while reinforced sections improve crash resistance even in very harsh racing conditions.

To go with the updated chassis comes a redesigned motor mount with Multi-Flex adjustments and the ability to run the motor in a forward or rearward position. Part of the mid-ship package is also a new centre bulkhead with a carbon fibre cover that holds the slipper assembly in place. Like the motor mount the bulkhead is flippable to achieve different weight distribution configurations.

As for the 3-pad slipper clutch the XB4’16 includes upgraded parts such as lightweight slipper plates with machined reliefs for an increased friction surface and SLS material slipper pads for precise and efficient slipper adjustment and action. Included are also Hudy spring steel outdrives for the highest possible durability. Other new drivetrain parts include upgraded centre driveshafts to accommodate the new position of the motor mount and centre bulkhead.

Moving to the suspension package, the front arms of the XB4’16 are narrower to allow for independent wheelbase and thus weight balance settings and with the new A-arms the weight of the buggy moved a bit towards the centre of the car. The ’16 rear arms feature a refined design to better withstand crashes while both the front and rear arms offer updated shock mounting positions.

Next up are redesigned zero degree toe uprights with three different roll centre settings and a more outside position for improved stability. For maximum drivetrain reliability, larger 5x12mm ball bearings are used in the outer position for increased dynamic load. At the inner position, the smaller 5x10mm ball-bearings are used to minimise unsprung weight.

The new kit is rounded out by redesigned shock towers to accommodate the new bulkheads. Updated shock positions and multiple roll centre adjustments are also incorporated into the new design. Last but not least is an all-new high-downforce bodyshell with improved aerodynamics for better stability in most racing conditions. The regular weight body is also available in an ultra-lightweight variant for reduced body roll. The 2016 specification car is currently in use at this week’s IFMAR World Championships with Martin Bayer and Bruno Coelho sitting in the top 3 after practice and the kit should hit the stores very soon.

2016 features:
– All-new chassis
– All-new front & rear bulkheads
– All-new side guards
– All-new battery strap
– All-new upper plates
– All-new chassis braces
– All-new motor mount
– All-new 3-pad slipper clutch
– All-new central drive shafts
– All-new front & rear lower arms
– All-new rear uprights
– All-new front & rear shock towers
– All-new electronic plate
– All-new front body post
– All-new body
– All-new weight balance
– Improved handling

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]