Traxxas XO-1 The 100mph+ RC Supercar!

Whilst producing some fantastic vehicles, Traxxas XO-1 really is the 'halo' model of their lineup. Custom designed to break the 100mph barrier, each component has been specifically selected to offer the best performance. As we now have the model in stock (in three colours) we took a closer look at this incredible vehicle.

Record Breaker

The Traxxas XO-1 is one of the fastest production RC cars of all time. How fast? Well it was previously the holder of the World Record for the fastest scale model car, hitting 100mph in under 5 seconds! Its a large model (claiming a 1/7 scale) at 685mm long by 280mm wide with a long wheelbase of 400mm. It is also surprisingly heavy, tipping the scales at nearly 5kg without the batteries. Its worth noting that whilst very capable out of the box, you will need to install the included 34T pinion gear, 46T spur gear, agressive front diffuser and two 3S cells to hit the headline 100mph+ figure (not to mention use the Traxxas link app). Needless to say, this is a professional model, aimed at experienced RC enthusiasts and most definitely not a toy suitable for children.

Aerodynamic Excellence

The Traxxas XO-1 was designed with aerodynamics in mind. Its slippery profile minimises its co-efficent of drag enabling it to punch through the air whilst keeping it firmly pressed into the ground. Indeed with the shell on it is only 128mm tall. This design continues under the chassis with a flat floorplan ending in a large vaned diffuser, designed to suck the car down to the ground and keep it planted at high speeds. Note the NACA duct that forces air onto the motor, providing cooling on the move. From the rear you can see the wide rear wing, providing extra downforce on the rear of the car at speed. The model comes with two front diffusers, one fitted with canards designed to hold the nose down of the vehicle down to the ground for breaking the 100mph barrier.

Incredible Power

Whilst Traxxas have clearly prioritised aerodynamic performance in their design, you still need raw power to break high speeds. Indeed the faster you travel, the greater the requirement for power required to punch through the air. The Traxxas big block motor is one of the largest we've ever seen in an RC car and features a finned, heat-dissipating can, oversized premium-quality bearings and sintered Neodymium magnets. This is powered by the Mamba Monster Extreme speed control, with its integrated capacitor bank and proprietary software created just for XO-1. But to feed the beast you are going to need two 3 cell 11.1v 5000mAh LiPo batteries. The Traxxas XO-1 splits the two cells across the tub for the best weight balance. These battery trays are flexible enough to take a 155mm pack with a height up to 25mm and expansion clips are available to allow up to 43mm tall packs to be locked in place.

Power is nothing without control

To break that 100mph barrier you will also need to have a smart device that is compatible with the Traxxas Link app. You may have read about it on our technology article, but it enables advanced control of your model via a bluetooth link between your iOS or Android device and your transmitter. The provided pistol-grip style TQi transmitter is powered by 4xAA batteries (not included). Steering is handled by the beefy digital waterproof 9kg 2075 steering servo hooked up to the included servo saver. The aerofoil design, rear wing and chassis plate can only do so much, it ultimately comes down to the tyres to put the power down. The Traxxas XO-1 sits on black chrome wheels with belted slick tyres (43mm/51mm front/rear staggered setup with foam inserts) rated for around 110mph.

Running Gear

The high-spec approach continues with the drivetrain. The Revo spec sealed limited slip diffs are linked by an extruded aluminum main driveshaft. The drive system features elastomer dampers between the drive and spur gears, this 'Cush Drive' system taking the shock out of drivetrain under hard acceleration. The entire system features rubber sealed ball bearings. It has a dual bellcrank system with integrated servo saver for steering. The hub blocks are constructed from 6061-T6 aluminium with 6x12mm ball bearings. The shock towers are 7075-T6 aluminium and both these and the steering blocks have a blue anodized finish. The chassis features oil-filled hard anodized aluminum GTR shocks with titanium nitride shafts and springs tuned for road use with a 9.1lb rate. The steering and camber can be altered via the adjustable tie bars.

 The Traxxas XO-1 In Action

Pictures speak a thousand words, but its easier to get a feel for the car when you see it in action : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9bTgu6IWhI Its headline-grabbing top speed has found it used in many different videos, including this film that went viral for the SloMoGuys : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pglMl92P-OA We wouldn't recommend off-roading the XO-1 but its interesting to see that Traxxas has tested it on some rougher surfaces : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWejrp_wPDU

Buy a Traxxas XO-1 Today

The Traxxas XO-1 is available on our webstore with either the black, white or pictured blue shell. As with all our Traxxas models, it comes with free next-working-day courier-delivery to anywhere in the mainland UK. Do you have any specific questions about the XO-1, or have you noticed any errors in this article? We'd love to hear from you so please leave your feedback in the comments section below.