The SC18 is a new 1/18th scale short course RC truck from Team Associated. There's no announcement yet, just a surprise ad in the December 2009 issue of RC Driver magazine.

Features:

• NOT an RC18 with a new body - all-new drivetrain
• Dual belt drivetrain "for ultimate durability capable of handling most brushless/LiPo combos
• Durable gear differentials
• Dual bellcrank steering
• Newly designed servo saver
• Hinged battery strap
• Full ball bearings
• Vertical ball ends
• 370 size brushed motor
• Realistic bumpers and rubber mud flaps
• New AMT Forged style wheels, aggressive multi-terrain scale tires mimick the SC8's gear
• Radio, battery, and charger included

cool.
I think that the shaft drive would be more durable then belt drive, over time the belts are going to wear and stretch,

At the same time, shafts burrow into hubs at their ends, and they can also bow when over-torqued or can get debris wedged into them. Hopefully this is a fully sealed system, which could actually be pretty low-maintenance as the XXX4 showed us.

Wow, been a while since they've made a new 1/18th, I wonder how this'll compete with the Mini Slash. They say they've added belt drive to accommodate brushless and lipo, I thought shaft driven was better in every way except for torque twist? And the RC18's never had that problem, so I'm not totally clear on why they did that.

Can't wait to get this!