Features

Juraj Hudy and the XRAY Engineering and Racing Teams have conceptualized and built the XB8 platform based on long-term experience and achievements. The XB8E is the next evolution of the XRAY off-road concept transforming the successful XB8 platform into the electric powered XB8E.

Featuring superior weight balance and weight distribution and more forgiving and easy-to-control handling, the XB8E is ready to set a new standard in the 1/8 electric powered class. Long-term tested by the factory racing team including European Champions Martin Bayer, Miguel Matias & Reno Savoya as well tested by regular drivers in all conditions, the design focuses all the way down to the smallest details to increase performance, handling, and reliability.

Building on the heritage of quality, performance and support evidenced by multiple Car of the Year awards, Viewer’s Choice award, and countless wins and victories at racetracks around the world including the prestigious European Championship title, XRAY is proud to present the new XB8E. Developed, designed and manufactured all in Europe.
Dipl. Eng. Juraj Hudy
XRAY XB8E designer

XB8E Concept

The XB8E 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 XB8E is a typical XRAY; a luxury masterpiece.

XRAY Off-Road Platform.

XRAY revolutionized the off-road category years ago with the introduction of the first XB8 which set new trends and standards for premium quality, reliability, service life and of course performance. Since the first XB8, the XRAY off-road racing cars have received honors and accolades across the globe, including multiple ‘Car of the Year’ awards from RC car magazines around the world as voted on by consumers, and countless victories at all levels of racing, including multiple National and European Championship titles.

Over the years, XRAY off-road cars have established new benchmarks for premium quality, reliability and performance; traits which have won XRAY the loyalty of customers around the world.

Development Team.

The XB8E was designed & built based on the XB8 - one of the most successful 1/8 off-road cars. The XRAY off-road R&D team – including Chief Designer Juraj Hudy and European Champions Martin Bayer, Reno Savoya & Miguel Matias – have combined their knowledge, expertise and dedication to transform the XB8 into the most advanced 1/8 electric off-road car. Extensively tested in real race conditions by the Factory Racing Team around the world, and finely tuned to provide you the fastest & best handling car to bring you to victory.
The XB8 is definitely the best performing 1/8 off-road car that I have ever raced, and I am very proud to have had the opportunity to be part of this project. It was a naturally logical choice to evolve the XB8 into an electric version, and I am very satisfied with the results of our work. You can enjoy it now as well!
Our main goal when designing the XB8E was to keep all the great handling characteristics of the previous 1/8 electric off-road car, while incorporating all the new technology of the new ground-breaking XB8. The result is outstanding, and I am sure that everyone will thoroughly enjoy the new XB8E as much as I do.
While the 1/8 electric off-road class has been growing here in Europe, I have spent a lot of time in the last few years testing various brands in the market. While working with the rest of the XRAY R&D team, all the collective experience has made it much easier for me to compare and evaluate the handling & performance of the new XB8E. I can easily say that it clearly stands apart from the crowd. I am sure you all will be very satisfied with the performance of the car.

XB8E All-new

Chassis.

The chassis is CNC-machined from high-quality Swiss 3mm 7075 T6 aluminum, which is strategically machined in low-stress areas and is then anodized 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.

Side Guards.

The side guards have an updated design to compliment the new redesigned chassis. The tough composite side guards offer improved side protection, and fit perfectly to chassis to seal against dirt.

Electronics Layout.

The layout of the electronics was designed to focus specifically on weight distribution and balance. The center differential with motor mount, as well as the receiver box, were moved more forward for better weight balance compared to the previous versions.

Radio Plate.

The receiver box is mounted on the same graphite plate as the servo. The graphite plate is connected the chassis by an aluminum holder and stand that can be easily removed from chassis for cleaning and maintenance. You need only to remove 3 screws from the bottom of the chassis to remove servo and receiver box.

Motor Mount.

The motor is connected to a mounting plate, with the assembly then inserted into an integrated motor holder/drivetrain support. The design of this system allows quick and easy motor rotation to adjust gear mesh, and yet clamp.

The motor mount machined from Swiss 7075 T6 and is 2mm wider compared to older version for improved durability.

Battery Plate.

XB8E includes composite battery holder with higher barriers to eliminate the movement of the batteries. The rear of the plate has a dedicated area for a speed controller placement. The Velcro strips are included for comfortable battery mounting.

Drivetrain.

The XB8E is a conventional shaft driven 4WD off-road car featuring:

Drive Shafts.

XB8E constant velocity drives (CVDs) are manufactured from world-renowned HUDY Spring Steel™. The drive shafts are some of the world‘s thinnest yet most durable drive shafts used in off-road cars.

The central larger and stronger outdrives feature protective rubber boots, thick 3mm pins, and a protective locking ring.
All drive shafts and outdrives are hardened with a proprietary hardening process to provide unbeatable lifetime and reliability.

Diff Outdrives.

To reduce rotating weight, the super-lightweight diff outdrives are machined from HUDY Spring Steel™ material which allows additional material to be removed from the outer part of the outdrives, further reducing the weight without effecting durability. The inner portions of the outdrives are additionally hand-ground for maximum precision and fitment into the diff case.

The outdrives are hardened using XRAY’s own special hardening process to provide extended life time and reliability.

Gear Differential.

Rubber-sealed composite differential housings feature steel inserts that are manually precision ground after the molding process to guarantee a perfect fit with no vibration. Differential internal gears are made from pressed steel, heat treated, and machined for ultra-precision and smooth operation.

Diff Gears & Drivetrain Ratio.

Differential main gears are manufactured from HUDY Gear Steel on a precision manual gear machine. This material was specially formulated and developed for use in gears. All gears are hardened to provide the longest possible lifespan.


A wide range of different gears — spur gears and pinions— are available for perfect set-up and adjustment for particular racing conditions.

Spur gears are available in a range of 44T, 45T, 46T, 47T and 48T

Pinions are available in a range of 12T, 13T, 14T, 15T, 16T and 17T

Diff Bulkheads.

The XB8E bulkheads were reinforced in all necessary areas to withstand the rigors of racing and extreme impacts. The diff bulkheads are an important chassis component, housing both the front and rear differentials and providing mounting points for the suspension mounts and shock towers.

The bulkheads have been designed for extreme durability, while still providing easy access for tuning and maintenance.

Suspension Concept.

Suspension geometry is one of the most important features of any RC model car, yet at the same time is also one of the most difficult and challenging features for a designer to create and perfect.
Suspension is always a mixture of:
From arms and suspension blocks, to light-yet-robust steering blocks, every suspension part has been specially designed for 1/8 off-road racing to provide responsive handling and performance characteristics under all racing conditions.

Over the years, XRAY has successfully gained, utilized, and applied extensive knowledge of suspension geometry and stiffness, all of which has been carefully considered while designing suspension parts. The ultra-lightweight suspension parts are molded from a special composite material that makes the parts very light yet very durable to withstand the rigors of high-performance racing.

I.S.S.™ Suspension Holders.

The aluminum suspension holders feature Integrated Suspension Settings™ (I.S.S.) which allows for quick & easy suspension geometry setting.

Using eccentric suspension bushings inserted into aluminum suspension holders – as well as additional suspension shims – the XB8E suspension geometry can be completely adjusted in mere seconds.

Pivot Ball Suspension.

XRAY Pivot Ball Suspension XPBS™ is a uniquely innovative concept, and smart R&D design. The ultra-robust pivot ball suspension has integrated suspension geometry adjustment, with different kingpin plates being the only optionally-available tuning parts.

Suspension Arms.

Suspension arms are one of the most important parts of any RC model car, as they directly influence the handling and responsiveness of the car. XB8E suspension arms are the result of long-term testing of different designs and layouts. Length, thickness, flexibility, geometry of suspension points, and material characteristics… all these aspects and details had to be thoroughly reviewed to create optimal suspension arms.

Based on extensive knowledge gained from previous XB-series cars, several different suspension arm designs were tested in both virtual reality and in-car to determine the best final designs. 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 survive extra-long main events.

SFA™ Graphite Stiffeners

SFA™ graphite stiffeners allow for super-quick suspension flex adjustment to easily adjust the traction of the car in various track conditions. Whether you drive in low- or high-traction conditions, with the smart SFA™ graphite stiffeners you can very quickly and easily adjust your car to suit current conditions. At the beginning of a race event when traction is low, the arms are used without the SFA™ graphite stiffeners. As traction increases, the suspension can easily be made stiffer by mounting the SFA™ graphite stiffeners for more stability and easier driving characteristics. The SFA™ graphite stiffeners give the car maximum stability in chicanes and allow for easier and smoother steering.
The graphite stiffeners are recommended for use at big jump tracks and also when the weather temperature is 30°C or higher. Made from high-quality CNC-machined graphite material, the stiffeners can be easily mounted or removed by only a few screws.

SFA™ stiffeners are available as option parts.

Steering Blocks.

XPBS™ steering blocks are unique, innovative,
smart... an authentic XRAY innovation.



The steering blocks feature the following
integrated geometry adjustments:
The steering block consists of a super-lightweight composite steering block and stiff Swiss 7075 T6 kingpin plate. The steering block is mounted via massive pivot balls into the upper & lower arms.

The upper pivot ball is mounted into an adjustable upper ball joint and via roll center shims to the kingpin plate; this assembly allows camber and upper roll center adjustment. Using shims of various thicknesses, the upper roll center can be adjusted quickly & easily.

The lower pivot ball is mounted into the steering block via an adjustable alu nut and composite bushing. By adjusting the pivot ball, both track-width and camber can be adjusted.

A higher roll center (more shims) is recommended for grippy, high-traction tracks as well as for bumpy tracks.

A lower roll center (fewer shims) is recommended for slippery and smooth tracks.

Rear Uprights.

The ultra-tiny XPBS™ rear uprights are
unique , innovative, smart… an authentic
XRAY innovation.
The rear upright consists of a super-lightweight composite upright block and stiff Swiss 7075 T6 mounting plate. The uprights were designed to have the smallest design with minimal weight, yet be strong enough to survive rigorous impacts.

The upper roll center plate has a unique design that allows easy changing of roll center position. The roll center plate features 2 roll center positions, so by placing the plate the opposite way another 2 roll center positions for super-fine tuning are available. The roll center shifting is in range of 2.5mm. The roll center height of the upper camber link can be adjusted via shims of various thicknesses. The composite upright features 2 lower roll center positions.

The outer suspension pin on which the rear upright sits features 2 shims which allow for additional wheelbase adjustment.

Suspension Additional Weights.

The smart design of the steering block & rear uprights allows for the mounting of optional weights. To increase the stability of the car, optional brass weights can be mounted directly under the steering blocks and/or rear uprights to further lower the CG. Easy & smart… totally XRAY.

Front Upper Suspension.

The front upper suspension is part of the innovative and unique XPBS™ suspension concept. Extra-strong and robust front upper arms are mounted to the front bulkhead assembly into the front shock tower and adjustable suspension holder. Using eccentric bushings, front inner upper roll center can be easily adjusted.
Caster is easily adjusted using caster clips which are inserted either in front or behind the front upper arms.

The ball link is inserted into the upper arm and the integrated adjustable turnbuckle can be accessed from outside for quick & easy camber link adjustment.

Alu Hex Hubs.

Ultra-lightweight 17mm wheel hex drive hubs are CNC-machined from Swiss 7075 T6 black-coated aluminum.

The alu hex hubs are specially machined to reduce rotating weight while guaranteeing wobble-free wheel mounting.

To adjust the track width optional offsets are available 0mm, +1.00mm and +2.00mm.

Ball-Bearings.

A full set of 22 high-speed, blue-sealed ball-bearings are used throughout the drivetrain to ensure maximum efficiency.

Shock Absorbers.

The XB8E big-bore, long-stroke
shocks have a special construction that gives
ultimate reliability and performance.

These new shocks have had all parts fully redesigned and adjusted to take advantage
of the big-bore design. The oversized big-bore shocks feature 18.5mm outer diameter shock bodies,
externally threaded with an adjustable collar for quick & easy spring preload adjustment. The shock bodies are
hardcoated in a titanium color and feature a 1-piece alu shock cap.

Ultra-precise shock pistons feature 6-, 8- and 10-hole options. The longer shock shafts and shock collar combine to give increased downtravel. Ultra-fine shock protective rubbers give superior sealing against dirt.

The large 16.0mm inner diameter of the shock bodies ensures proper and consistent shock oil flow through the perfectly-round pistons while they travel inside the smoothly-finished interior. The result is more consistent damping characteristics.

The big-bore pistons are molded from tough, well-proven Delrin® material to provide smoother action and durability. The precision molding production process ensures perfect roundness of the pistons after production, so that the pistons will move smoothly inside the shock bodies for identical action in all four shocks.
The specially-formulated rubber material of the shock membrane ensures equal damping characteristics from the beginning of the race to the end, even after extreme operation.

The lower shock assembly ensures that the shock rod will move very freely inside the shock body, while at the same time minimizing oil leakage and keeping dirt out. Two shock O-rings – manufactured from a superior silicone compound to allow ultra-free movement of the shock rod while still maintaining a tight seal – are installed in the lower part of the shock body and are secured with composite shims. The entire lower shock assembly is secured with the lower aluminum shock cap which makes assembly/disassembly very quick and easy.

Thick and robust shock shafts will handle any abusive racing conditions and big jumps. The 3.5mm thick shock shafts are precisely machined from special high-tensile steel and afterwards are ground for a super-smooth finish to ensure smooth movement of the shock shafts in the shock bodies.

Shock Springs.

XB8E springs have been specifically designed to complement the big-bore shocks. These XRAY shock springs, like all other XRAY springs, are manually measured, selected and matched into pairs to guarantee precisely equal length and damping characteristics.

There are two types of springs offered:

Spring rate is constant during the entire spring compression. Springs with different spring rates are available as optional tuning parts.
Spring rate is not constant, but rather the spring rate progressively gets heavier the more the spring is compressed. As the car initially enters the corner, the spring works like a softer spring to provide maximum traction. As the chassis begins to roll in the middle of the corner, the spring rate progressively increases until it works like a stiffer spring which allows the car to maintain maximum cornering speed.

HUDY Spring Steel™ Turnbuckles.

To guarantee maximum reliability all turnbuckles are manufactured from special HUDY Spring Steel™ material for turnbuckles with a tougher core. These turnbuckles are used for front and rear upright linkages, steering system as well as for the servo saver.

The steering turnbuckles are shorter to accommodate the new steering block position.

Shock Towers.

The front shock tower has been updated with new front roll center positions for updated suspension geometry and the rear shock tower has been redesigned to fit the optional longer chassis brace.

Machined from extra thick premium-grade graphite, the shock towers are lightweight and strong. Front and rear shock towers include multiple shock positions as well multiple roll center adjustment positions. The rear shock tower also holds the wing mount.

Dual Arm Steering System.

The dual arm steering system is very simple yet effective and features an integrated easily adjustable servo saver.
Ackermann is easily adjusted by quickly and easily changing steering link mounting positions on the steering plate.
Bump steer is easily adjusted by inserting shims between the graphite steering plate and steering linkage.

Chassis Braces.

The front and rear braces have significant influence on chassis stiffness and chassis flex and as such have great impact on car handling under different grip conditions. The XB8E features the well-proven stiff composite braces for front and rear. These braces are more than up to the task… strong enough to hold the car together after heavy jumps or crashes to avoid tweak or breaking, yet still flexible enough to generate the needed grip.

The longer rear chassis brace increases the stiffness in the longitudinal direction while allowing the car to flex more to the sides.

Front Braces.

The stiffness of the front suspension is easily adjusted to accommodate the particular track traction, even if the traction changes during the race the stiffness is very easily adjusted.

For slippery and low-traction tracks, the front composite brace may be removed and an optional reinforcement alu stand connects the front upper deck to the radio plate. This configuration generates more traction.

For low- and medium-traction tracks, we recommend using the front composite brace only.

For high-traction and hard-packed tracks, both the front brace and reinforcing alu stand are recommended to make the front suspension extra stiff.

Rear Braces.

The longer rear chassis brace included in the kit increases stiffness in the longitudinal direction and gives the car more side flex.

An optional rear short chassis brace provides more longitudinal flex and reduced side flex.

The smart design of the car allows both long & short braces to be mounted at the same time which makes the rear of the car very stiff and is suitable for extremely large jumps to protect the chassis from deformation on landing.

Center Differential Access.

Access to the center differential is quickly and easily accomplished by removing four screws from the upper differential plate. The lower center diff mount is sized appropriately to allow the use of the optional spur gears, while keeping the mass as low as possible.

Anti-Roll Bars.

Anti-roll bars are manufactured from spring steel material and are included to stabilize the car at both front and rear. The roll bars are easily mounted to the diff cases and can be adjusted through the adjustable linkages.
Anti-roll bar wires of different thickness are optionally available for fine-tuning your setup.

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 of the car.

Graphite Grease.

The XB8E includes premium HUDY Graphite Grease which is a high-performance, advanced-technology semi-fluid lubricant which incorporates both extreme pressure additives and finely-dispersed graphite for load carrying.
It is intended primarily for the lubrication of rotating parts and loaded gears. In addition to providing outstanding load carrying, it is formulated to have excellent adhesion and resistance to "fling-off" under extreme conditions. The grease reduces wear and increases parts life.

Body.

The XB8E low-downforce, low-profile aerodynamic body perfectly fits the car and works for most track conditions. The body reduces downforce and makes the car easier to drive especially on rough & damaged tracks. The body is made from high-quality premium Lexan™ material.

Wing.

The stylish and effective rear wing was designed to provide the appropriate amount of downforce and generate required stability for the car. Made from a strong special composite mixture, the wing will survive majority of abusive and extreme crashes while maintaining its shape.

Rear wing holders are ruggedly constructed from a special composite mixture to withstand abusive crashes and offer different wing mounting positions.

Adjustment Possibilities.

The XB8E features fully-adjustable front and rear suspension geometry: caster, camber, toe, anti-dive, anti-squat, ride height, droop, track-width, Ackermann and roll centers. For easy and fast adjustment we recommend using set-up tools and accessories from HUDY, the world leader of RC tools. The extensive and impressive range of adjustment possibilities includes:

Set-Up Book.

The XB8E is one of the most adjustable off-road cars in the world. Whether you are a hardcore racing fanatic or a club-level sportsman, you can very easily adjust the XB8E to suit your racing style, race track type, and all track conditions. To fully understand the set-up possibilities we suggest the legendary HUDY Set-up book, loaded with over 50 pages of high-quality pictures and easy-to-read RC car set-up explanations. Whether you are a novice driver or an experienced racer, you can easily learn many set-up tips & tricks and improve your set-up skills, ultimately translating into improved racing performance with your XB8E. The HUDY set-up book is available for download exclusively at www.hudy.net

Instruction Manual.

XRAY Instruction Manuals have become the industry standard, and are simply the best manuals you will ever get with an RC model car. Whether you are a first-time builder or an experienced racer, all instructions are straight-forward and easy to understand. The full-colour Instruction Manual contains large 3D illustrations that show all assembly details in the easiest and clearest manner.

VIP Customer Treatment.

Owning an XRAY model racing car is an experience unto itself. Not only will you own the most premium luxury model racing car in the world, but you will also become a member of the prestigious family of XRAY owners with direct support and service from the XRAY factory. XRAY brings you the most up-to-date RC Web site on the Internet, with daily racing news, and the latest product developments. If you have any questions, problems or comments, you can ask the XRAY Support Team or any XRAY Factory Team Driver on the XRAY Support Forum. You can even upload your own set-up sheets or download from the thousands of different set-up sheets available from around the world at the exclusive XRAY Virtual Set-up Sheet Database. And that is only the start of the VIP treatment you get by joining Team XRAY.

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