Modern locomotives operate on the same basic principle. A giant diesel engine turns like 500rpm, driving an alternator the size of a van. Each locomotive is then powered by 6 massive A/C motors.

So who's gonna build the first 1/5th scale hybrid land-speed car? Big gas engine powering an alternator, with an electric motor in each wheel...

thats an idea. you could even go nuts and string a few nitro motors together , and the biggest baddest brushless motors on each wheel, sounds like fun

It took 1005 posts - then this thread slowly died christmas eve :-)
Towerhobbies still states late december. 3 weekdays days left!!
All though I'm most likely going to buy one of these babies, I'm not going to be a guinea pig.
I'll wait for some real life reviews and flaws detections, before I place my order.
Just look what happened with the pos HPI xs Flux!

I can't wait to get my hands on a roller and chassis specifications. I would like to perhaps fabricate some carbon fiber components and see just how quick we can get this thing.

Also, I am curious to see just how effective the duct in the under body of the car will be in cooling the motor. Where it is located you typically find low pressure (increase lift, stick car to road) so I don't forsee much air actually entering the area. In fact it wouldn't be surprising to see air being drawn away from the engine compartment to underneath the car, although the duct doesn't appear to be built to function in this manner.

As for it being a NACA duct, I'm not so sure. Until we can get a hold of some specs for it, it will be difficult to determine the precise purpose of the duct. Surely, though, Traxxas would employ a NACA duct unless the X-01 requires some sort of drag coefficients normally not sought out by aircraft and vehicle manufacturers (perhaps somehow overcoming the pressure differentials within the car and the exterior, cooling the motor?). Traxxas may be onto more than just innovating the RC car market.

I'm not so certain aftermarket bodies will be available any time soon and for any reasonable price. Each body will need to be tailored for each aerodynamic component of the chassis, possibly severely limiting the realism of full scale car bodies on this platform.

In regards to the proprietary iOS platform being used for the telemetry, I have no objection. I do object, however, to the method in which it was employed and the limitations of the design. I would have liked to have seen a usb port somewhere on the remote with three wires included in the box (iPod, mini USB for Android/pretty much any smartphone not produced by apple, and USB for PC).

As for the purported fragmentation issues with Android, you are largely exacerbating the severity of the so-called "issue." I can say with absolute certainty that at least 90% of all applications within the Android Market work on 90% of Android devices, excluding some of the fringe Chinese knockoffs equipped with Absurd versions from the operating systems infancy. Furthermore, building a telemetry app isn't exactly akin to building the pyramids of Giza or some other herculean task. Rendering a few graphics and calculating a few numbers is definitely not arduous work nor does it require complex software engineering, reducing the probability of encountering any issues associated with fragmentation of the platform.


I completely understand the strong reaction to this things price but you must understand the reason for its existence. The chief end of this car in this market, despite the marketing, is to fortify the prowess Traxxas has in this hobby as a innovator and a producer of top-of-the-line products. Saber rattling at it's finest, but these kinds of things are overall beneficial to our hobby, regardless of its practicality. Nobody will purchase a $100,000 Nissan, but it serves the purpose of showcasing technology.

To conclude this lengthy post, don't complain because you are unable to afford one (heck, I can't either), but instead consider what this car has introduced to our hobby.

Looks like Feb First http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...4Ghz-TQi-Radio

Here's what im thinking, the slash started an all new off-road racing phenomenon, short course truck. Now there are probably 100 different SCT's on the market. I cant wait to see if traxxas has done it again and will revolutionize electric onroad racing.

I want one. in fact I think deep down inside, we all want one I dont think that I will be blowing my tax return on one, but someday it will be mine! I will dominate Grundy County Raceway... with a RC car.

Although I will probably wait for the AE RC7TS1.

Several factors made the Slash popular:

1) Price. The Slash was cheap enough for everybody to get one for themselves and their kids. With a $1,000 price tag, I don't see that happening with the XO-1.

2) Ease of Entry. Every hobby shop had them, and those with tracks had classes for them. They're durable too, something we probably won't notice with the XO-1.

The XO-1 is Traxxas' flagship vehicle and nothing more.

You know the slash was the 2nd Sct out there. The first Sct was the exceedrc Madbash EP, and GP. I was even looking at buying that truck then the slash was released and i knew Hpi would get in so i waited for there release.

hope they get the bugs ironed out before they release it unlike the spartan boat

I am weighing up the choice to pre purchase all the X0-1 parts I have in my Towerhobbies wishlist or wait to see who has them on sale first. I would think Tower would get it as early as any company would right?