Features

The road to realizing my dream was often filled with challenges, twists & turns, revelations & victories. Such was the literal truth in my pursuit of the ultimate racing machine, fuelled by passion and vision… a dream realized as the RX8. With a full stable of nearly every imaginable RC car in the XRAY line-up, the center stage held an empty spot for a new flagship to showcase XRAY ideals, philosophy, and commitment to racing perfection.

Borne of childhood passion and developed from my 37-year heritage of dedication to engineering ingenuity, the RX8 was crafted for one purpose: to be the definitive representation of XRAY craftsmanship and sophisticated engineering. My quest for realizing the dream has involved the full range of the substantial resources at XRAY’s disposal: concept & design, research & development in virtual and physical reality, and rigorously thorough testing before the RX8 races out of the stable and into the arms of the eagerly waiting world. Joining its brethren in the XRAY family, the RX8 is positioned to capture the hearts and minds of the racing world, and carry them into the Winner’s Circle.

Learn more about development of the RX8:
Exclusive interview with Martin Hudy - Making of the RX8. >

Concept.

The RX8 is a typical XRAY car - a premium, professional, high competition model racing car for the most demanding racers, developed and designed with attention to the smallest details. Manufactured from premium European materials, machined using state of the art Swiss and German machines and backed by premium service & support, the RX8 is a typical XRAY, a luxury masterpiece.

Chassis.

The RX8 chassis has been redesigned to achieve better steering characteristics. The front of the chassis was widened to make the car less twitchy and easier to drive, and the chassis now has grooves for the engine mount screws which allows the engine to be moved forwards or backwards to accommodate either standard or small 2-speed gears. The new front middle shaft holder is positioned differently on the chassis, and there are two holes for the servo saver which allows for quick Ackermann changes. More placement holes for additional weights were added to the right side of the chassis.

The lightweight chassis is CNC-machined from 5mm thick premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum and is strategically machined in low-stress areas to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity. All screw holes on the bottom of the chassis are countersunk, allowing for a very smooth chassis underside with no protruding screw heads.

The outer edges of the chassis have been beveled and screw holes have been countersunk in order to provide a smooth lower surface. Provisions have been made to accommodate graphite reinforcing inserts or additional balancing weights, front and rear to tune chassis stiffness, balance and CG.

Radio Plate.

The radio plate was made stiffer in front to make the car more stable and easier to drive. A different set of two holes for servo saver placement allows for quick Ackermann changes, and there is more play around the fuel tank to allow more movement of the fuel tank.

The radio plate is CNC-machined from 2.5mm graphite material and the design allows for the easy removal of the entire radio plate (with all electronics) for quick & easy servicing and cleaning.

The unique compact lightweight radio case features a clean design and layout. The radio case is attached to the side of the radio plate and will fit any standard-size receiver and an optional on/off switch with water-resistant rubber cover.

Servo Saver.

Fuel Tank Mounting.

The fuel tank mounting on the radio plate has been redesigned to use a grommet and new O-ring with special screw. With extra space around the fuel tank in the radio plate, as well as the new mounting system, the fuel tank has greater movement in all directions which improves fuel pickup and scavenging as fuel is used up.

Bulkheads.

Both front and rear bulkheads are now made from an all new composite mixture for increased rigidity and stability, and the all new designs accommodate a new front & rear wire anti-roll bar system.

The bulkheads are the backbone of the car where all main parts and suspension are mounted, so the flex of the bulkheads has a significant influence on the suspension, handling, and performance of the car. The RX8 features super-lightweight composite bulkheads with a very clean and lightweight design to create the lowest weight and CG, making the RX8 easy to service while allowing easy access to all parts. The bulkheads create a super-solid platform where all parts are mounted; a special composite mixture was developed to allow repeated assembly/disassembly cycles without stressing or wearing the parts.

Anti-roll Bar.

The front & rear wire anti-roll bars are all new. The kit now includes both wire and blade-style front anti-roll bars for freedom of choice based on track conditions.

The wire anti-roll bar is used to increase steering response on small technical tracks, while the blade anti-roll bar is used for improved cornering speed on larger open tracks. The new wire anti-roll bar is mounted to the bulkheads from outside, for quick & easy changes and adjustment. The roll bar turns in ball-bearings for maximum precision and freedom of movement. Anti-roll bar height is adjustable via a screw… quick & easy.

Different wire thickness anti-roll bars are optionally available:

Upper Bumper.

Front Arms.

New front arms have been redesigned to accommodate the new front wire anti-roll bar system.

Suspension arms are one of the most important parts of any RC model car, as they directly influence the handling and racing characteristics of the car. The RX8 suspension arms are the result of long-term testing of different designs and layouts. Length, thickness, flexibility, geometry of suspension points and materials used… these are all the concepts and details that had to be thoroughly reviewed to create optimal suspension arms.

The exclusive composite mixture used for suspension arms is a perfect balance between reliability and performance. The suspension arm itself is rigid enough to provide a responsive feel, yet soft enough to provide extreme durability.

Steering Blocks.

The steering blocks have been redesigned to allow the mounting of new graphite aerodynamic disks.

The tiny yet tough steering blocks are molded from a special composite mixture for maximum strength. Thanks to perfect molding, bearings fit into the steering blocks perfectly without any extra play for maximum stability and steering.

The kit includes 0° kingpin steering blocks, with +1° and -1° kingpin steering blocks being optionally available.

Rear Uprights.

Aerodynamic Disks.

New CNC-machined high-strength graphite aerodynamic disks
improve both low & high-speed steering, improve rear traction,
and improve stability in high-speed corners.

Rear Suspension Extensions.

Pivot Pins.

Shock Towers.

Shock Absorbers.

Shock Springs.

Transmission & Drivetrain.

The 2-speed transmission has seen significant improvements: a new smaller & lighter carrier for 2-speed gear, new smaller & lighter alu drive flange with one-way bearing, and smaller & lighter gears from the well-proven NT1. All parts are smaller & lighter for better bottom-end power and acceleration.

The 2-speed transmission parts are installed on a precision-manufactured super-smooth lightweight hollow middle layshaft made from tough HUDY shaft steel for 2-speed, which is additionally heat treated for extra strength and long life. The 2-speed gear adapter is CNC-machined from Swiss 7075 T6 for precision fitment of the 1-way bearing, and allowing super-precise and wobble-free installation of spur gears. The high-quality 1-way bearing is hand-ground before installation for maximum running precision and strength. The 2-speed adapter is manufactured from hardened steel.

Clutch.

The reverse clutch has been redesigned for use with the new smaller rear transmission. Smaller & lighter gears from the well-proven NT1 are now used, and a new 4-bearing system for the clutchbell gives improved durability.

This updated clutch design provides smoother and faster acceleration, while increasing the lifespan of the clutch shoe.

Easily-adjustable 3-shoe XCA (XRAY Centrifugal-Axial) clutch features clutchbell, clutch nut, flywheel nut and thrustbearing collar made from exclusive HUDY Spring Steel™. The hardcoated flywheel, clutch disc, and spring cup are made from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum.

The internal shape of the clutchbell and clutch nut ensure easier clutch gap adjustment.

Spur Gears.

The smaller 2-speed allows the use of smaller spur gears from the well-proven NT1, allowing for faster acceleration and lower rotating mass.

Precision-molded spur gears are made from XRAY's exclusive secret blend of composite material, allowing the gears to run true and super quiet, and be robust enough to handle the power of a modern nitro engine. The spur gears are molded with a special technique allowing the gears to be absolutely true thus improving the drivetrain efficiency. Each gear is stamped with a tooth number for easy identification.

Front Middle Shaft Holder.

The aluminum front middle shaft holder was redesigned for easier access to the front belt and pulley for easier maintenance. CNC machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 black coated aluminum, the smart design also allows for quick & easy front belt changes. The muffler mount is also now incorporated into the new holder.

Muffler Mounting.

XRAY Multi-Flex^™.

When it comes to setting new standards in the RC industry, XRAY is always leading the pack in bringing new and innovative engineering ideas and solutions, raising the bar and quickly becoming a new market standard for others to follow.

XRAY's innovative Multi-Flex Technology™ (MFT™) was originally designed for 1/10 electric touring cars, and has resulted in some of the most significant milestones in touring car development in the past several years. This innovation not only received numerous awards and honors, but it has proven to be a distinct competitive advantage at racetracks worldwide... helping XRAY dominate races everywhere from local to national events.

The RX8 was the first 1/8 scale nitro on-road car featuring the Multi-Flex™ system. The smart design of the RX8 chassis allows for the mounting of additional weights or stiffeners for complete chassis adjustment. Whether you need to add weight or stiffen the front or rear, you have a choice of optional front/central/rear machined brass weights and central or rear graphite stiffeners. At the front of the car, both the brass weight and graphite insert can be mounted either fixed or flexible to avoid undesired stiffening effect.

Radio Plate Multi-Flex^™.

The flex of the radio plate can be now adjusted independently from the chassis flex which allows super-fine tuning.

Using the bushings in the rear, the radio plate can be mounted to the mounts either fixed or with a flex. The fixed radio plate mounting is recommended for high-traction conditions, while the flex setting is recommended for low-traction tracks to generate more traction.

The muffler mounting system was redesigned as well, and was moved from the radio plate to the front middle shaft mount. This eliminates the negative flex influence. Now the radio plate flexes more equally to both sides which improves consistency and, as it allows more flex in the front, also provides for more in-corner steering.

Low CG Platform.

Premium & Exclusive Materials.

The RX8 is luxury model racing car and as such features only the most premium materials: premium woven graphite - exclusive top-secret HUDY Spring Steel™ - high grade Swiss 7075 T6 - high-tensile heat-treated steel and aircraft aluminum - and XRAY's self-developed and formulated composite compounds. All is premium and unique on the RX8.

Battery Access.

The receiver battery pack can be easily removed from below the fuel tank by a quick access composite cover at the bottom of the chassis. Optional graphite cover contains a special CNC-machined pocket in which the batteries are placed, allowing the batteries to sit as low as possible. The main feature of the graphite cover is its integrated Multi-Flex Technology™ functionality to additionally reinforce the chassis in the vertical plane.

Engine Mounts.

Integrated Belt Tensioning.

Brake System.

A strong, highly-efficient brake system was created by focusing on all of the smallest details.

The laser-cut, precision flat-ground ventilated steel brake disk features extra-deep machined grooves making it very light and the split design allows maximum heat absorption. The ventilating holes are by design outside of the brake pad area to ensure maximum contact of the pads with the disk. Precision hand-grinding on flat grinding machine allows true, wobble-free rotation.

The specially-glued pads are resistant to high heat, and the special high-grip brake pads give strong, fade-free braking.

Both the brake disk and brake pads are specially heat-treated for maximum lifespan.

Brake inputs are transferred precisely to the brakes thanks to the ball-raced super-smooth brake cam. The alu brake cam is machined from hardcoated, black anodized 7075 T6 aluminum for better durability. Two spacing springs ensure a proper gap is maintained between the brake pads to reduce parasitic drag and heat build-up .

Drive Shafts.

The tiny drive shafts are manufactured from HUDY Spring Steel™, the most effective drive shaft material by the industry leader HUDY. Self-developed HUDY Spring Steel™ ensures the longest drive shaft life, maximum strength, and lowest weight.

The front of RX8 is driven by CVD driveshafts, while standard dogbones are used in the rear.

Hardened with a proprietary process, the drive shafts provide unbeatable lifetime and reliability.

Axles.

The front 1-way and rear solid axle are small and light, ensuring super-low rotating mass and lowest CG. The super lightweight front 1-way bearing is inserted directly in the axle. The axle body is manufactured from Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum.

The rear composite lightweight axle pulley is inserted on 1-piece solid HUDY Spring Steel™ axle. All outdrives are manufactured from HUDY Spring Steel™ and are specially ground for maximum precision. All pulleys have self-cleaning holes.

Outdrives.

All axle outdrives and wheel axles are manufactured from premium HUDY Spring Steel™ which has been additionally hand-ground for maximum precision and easy fit. These parts have unmatched lifespan and maximum strength to withstand the tremendous forces generated by today’s modern nitro engines.

Pulleys.

PUR® Drive Belts.

Belt Tensioner.

Suspension Geometry.

Integrated Suspension Settings^™.

The design of the RX8 features I.S.S. (Integrated Suspension Settings™). All adjustment possibilities are completely integrated, allowing complete set-up changes without changing or replacing any parts. The use of square eccentric bushings in the front upper bulkheads, as well as in the rear bulkheads for upper & lower suspension, allows for complete geometry adjustment. Roll centers are adjustable in the standard upper & lower positions, as well as in inner and outer positions. High-tensile steel suspension pivot pins are polished for smooth suspension action.

Adjustable Axle Height.

Front steering block and rear uprights feature concentric and eccentric bushings which allow roll center adjustment as well as positive caster adjustment in front. The eccentric bushings in the rear upright also allow independent wheelbase adjustment. The height of front and rear axles can be easily adjusted with eccentric bushings.

Wheelbase & Weight Balance Adjustment.

Wheelbase can be easily adjusted using clips on the front and rear suspension. Moving the arms towards the front or rear can also be used to fine-tune weight balance.

Offset Adjustment.

Wheel offset is easily adjustable by 0.5–2.5mm using included shims. This affects steering adjustment (when adjusted at the front) and also rear traction characteristics (when adjusted at the rear).

FRONT

Less offset at the front gives more in-corner steering and improved steering response. Recommended for small technical tracks. More offset at the front gives more stability and makes the car easier to drive on large tracks or under high-grip conditions.

REAR

Less offset at the rear gives more in-corner steering, but less rear traction and stability. Therefore it is recommended to use less offset on small technical tracks or under high-traction conditions.

More offset at the rear makes the car more stable and improves cornering speed.

Suspension Arms.

Suspension arms are one of the most important parts of any RC model car, as they directly influence the handling and racing characteristics of the car. The RX8 suspension arms are the result of long-term testing of different designs and layouts. Length, thickness, flexibility, geometry of suspension points and materials used… these are all the concepts and details that had to be thoroughly reviewed to create optimal suspension arms.

The exclusive composite mixture used for suspension arms is a perfect balance between reliability and performance. The suspension arm itself is rigid enough to provide a responsive feel, yet soft enough to provide extreme durability.

Pivot Balls.

The RX8 pivot ball suspension contains precision pivot balls which are specially hardened for enhanced lifespan and to withstand hard crashes. A total of eight (8) pivot balls are included and are captured by strong M10 composite nuts to minimize weight and give smooth suspension movement.

Standard pivot balls are made from steel for maximum durability and lifespan. For those who are focused on minimizing unsprung weight, optional lightweight aluminum and titanium pivot balls are available.

HUDY Spring Steel^™ Turnbuckles.

To guarantee maximum reliability all turnbuckles are manufactured from special HUDY Spring Steel™ material for turnbuckles for maximum core strength.

Silicone Oils.

XRAY Premium Silicone Oils are manufactured in Europe by a specialized premium silicone oil manufacturer; these new oils were exclusively created for XRAY. Each batch of premium oil is laboratory tested and calibrated to ensure the highest possible consistency and quality batch-to-batch. Based on the industry-standard cSt rating, the new line of oils will be easy to identify, adjust, and feel.

When following any setup sheets by XRAY or XRAY team drivers, you can be sure that the oils you will get for your car will be exactly same as used by the factory racing team, thus ensuring very exacting setups and handling.

Ball-bearings.

The RX8 is fully ball-bearing equipped and features high-speed, blue-sealed ball-bearings throughout the drivetrain for maximum drivetrain efficiency. The high-tolerance, high-performance bearings are degreased and lightly oiled with Aero Shell Fluid 12™ for maximum smoothness and long life. The main ball-bearings are oversized with extra-strong bearing frames to ensure smooth, efficient running even under extreme conditions.

Body Posts.

Front and rear body mounts allow for 2mm front/rear adjustment of the body position depending on the wheelbase and body downforce adjustment. Special composite mixture rear body mount features 3 positions for rear upright downforce adjustment.

Rear Body Holders.

Chassis Balance.

The chassis design focuses on balanced weight distribution and weight transfer. The chassis features pre-drilled holes for additional weights for optimum car balancing. Centerline holes are pre-drilled for easy balancing with the HUDY Chassis Balancing Tool #107880.

Adjustment Possibilities.

XRAY Instruction Manual.

VIP Customer Treatment.