Engineers Week - Building the 100+MPH Supercar
Engineers Week - Building the 100+MPH Supercar
World-Record Performance: The 100+MPH XO-1
With a full stable of models easily capable of topping 50, 60, and even 70mph, Traxxas’ reputation as The Fastest Name In Radio Control was earned by sheer performance. But being the fastest isn’t a reason not to go faster, and with the XO-1, the Traxxas engineering team was challenged to do just that. The mission: build the first-ever 100+mph ready-to-run RC car.
Extreme 6s Horsepower
High-output 6S power became a Traxxas staple with the award-winning E-Maxx and E-Revo Brushless Edition models as well as the Spartan superboat, but the XO-1’s 100mph mission required the most powerful brushless system yet. At more than 100mph, the XO-1 is basically pushing against a wall of air. Getting the RPM to go 100mph is easy; delivering the torque to overcome the wind resistance was the real challenge. The solution: a specialized speed control and ultra-powerful, super-sized 1650kV motor tuned for torque to punch through the 100mph barrier.
Aerodynamic Engineering
Shaping the XO-1 required more than just a sleek look. In addition to the aerodynamic efficiency required to punch a 100mph hole through the air, the XO-1 had to produce significant downforce to generate the traction required to overcome air resistance. But at the same time, the shape had to be efficient, so the engineers had to be careful not to add drag along with downforce. Finally, the XO-1 had to be a good-looking supercar—not just an ‘optimized shape’. The solution included a smooth undertray and diffuser—real racing tech from full-size 200+mph race cars—and a special canard-equipped High Downforce front splitter to keep the car planted at 100+mph.
Putting Tire Tech to the Test
Very early in prototype testing, it became clear that off-the-shelf tire compounds and glues were not up to the task of repeated 100+mph passes. An entirely new type of tire, and a new glue to hold the tires onto the rims, was essential to the XO-1 program. After many test miles and 100+mph pulls, the correct blend of tread life and traction-enhancing softness was sorted out. To resist tire-tearing centrifugal force, stretch-resistant belts were molded into the rubber. For a 100mph-proof bond, Traxxas developed an extra-pure, extra-strong cyanoacrylate glue. In addition to its place on the XO-1 assembly line, you can find Traxxas Ultra Premium Tire Glue at your favorite hobby store.
Electronic Stability
At 100+mph, things happen fast. In just one second, the XO-1 covers more than 140 feet! Precise control is a must at such speeds, and the XO-1 delivers with Traxxas Stability Management (TSM). Faster than a human can react, TSM monitors and responds to the car’s attitude and the driver’s input to virtually eliminate fishtailing and sliding. And you can dial up as much or as little assistance as you want—turn it down for big drifts and donuts, turn it up for locked-in handling at 100mph. TSM is adjusted on the fly, right from the TQi transmitter via the Multi-Function knob. There’s no need to stop or access the XO-1’s electronics.
A Technological Tour de Force
Everything the Traxxas engineering team learned about going fast went into the XO-1. The shaft-drive system that made the Slash 4X4 the most popular 4WD short-course truck was extended and outfitted with new, all-metal CV axles and rugged Cush Drive for the XO-1. The ultra-high-output brushless system built on lessons from the E-Revo and E-Maxx Brushless Edition models—which would later be further refined for the Maxx and X-Maxx. Traxxas telemetry technology became standard equipment, so drivers could see the speedometer needle swing past 100mph in real time. Belted tires. Proprietary, speed-rated glue. Aluminum chassis and components, and more. The XO-1 puts every Traxxas innovation to work in one car, and there’s still nothing faster.
