General Motors is having trouble after discovering that one Chevrolet HHR could pose a head injury risk. After examining the problem closer it was discovered that vehicles not equipped with the optional “roof rail” airbags are not in compliance with crash standards. This is not going to be very good for GM since 181,516 models are affected. All those cars have been recalled in service and an energy-absorbent piece of plastic will be installed to the headliner. This will solve the problems.
Audi officially revealed the new Audi Metroproject Quattro, a design study for the forthcoming Audi A1 as the German auto maker ventures into the sub-compact segment.
The Audi Metroproject Quattro is powered 1.4 liter TFSI engine that produces a total of 150 horsepower mated with a S-tronic Direct Shift Gearbox. Working as a hybrid, a 41 horsepower electric motor sits in the back allowing for a fuel-economy range of 48 mpg. This could mean that the A1 will most likely come with a hybrid variant in its lineup.
The Audi A1 is expected to come in four different variants including a three-door hatchback, a five-door and a coupe and convertible. Power is expected to come from a 1.2 liter engine that will produce up to 170 horsepower. Production on the Audi A1 is scheduled for 2009. Pictures and video after the jump
Rumors say that Bugatti is going to come with a special edition of the Veyron at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. They’ve teamed up with the French saddle maker Hermès to bring back the relationship between Emile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti from the `20s. Considering all these I’d bet my horses that it’s going to be come with a modified interior designed by the Paris based company and some minor exterior mods.
America has a SuperCar, or at least this is what Chevrolet general manager Ed Peper is saying (thinking) after showing to the public the new Corvette ZR1 at the Detroit Auto Show. Corvette is deep inside he blood of every American that needs speed and looks, but the we ZR1 is really business. It comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that sports 620 hp and a 823 NM (595 lb/ft) torque, being able to hit the 200mph speed, while the speedometer has a 220 mph on it.
Corvette’s ZR1 basic stats include a manual six-speed gearbox (race hardened), a high capacity dual-disc clutch or larger brake calipers. The design is great, with a raised carbon-fiber hood and carbon fiber panels prominent inside on the fenders, the roof and front splitter. Consider 19-inch or 20-inch chrome wheels and a dark color for the American SuperCar and it’s looking furious.
Stop by CorvetteGuys.com and check out their large inventory of Corvette Parts.
Hobbytron is offering 30% off all clearance items, so you might want to check out those deals before those products go out of stock. There's also been some recent price drops, as well as free shipping offers on all the latest RC products - including the Traxxas Revo. You can check out more deals here.
> Team Associated Nitro TC3 Review Article
When ‘Team Associated’ started off as ‘Associated Electrical’ about 50 years back, little did they know that they would be one of the biggest and best companies ever to manufacture RC cars. From manufacturing slot cars all the way to technologically advanced RC cars, team associated has come a long way. But what has remained constant over all these years is their commitment towards excellence.
Read more on the pros and cons of the Team Associated Nitro TC3.
I've been getting e-mails that say that all our RC videos are not showing on the page anymore. At first, I had this same issue, but after rebooting my computer, all the videos are there again.
On a side note from RC cars, supposedly the 'code' that is most commonly used to embed videos has been copywrited by microsoft off some other company. Now, everyone is going to have to update the way they put videos on their site sometime soon. At first I thought that's what happened to the videos on our site, but apparently it's all good for the time being. Companies, always fighting over something - eventually we'll all be one big 'global corp', and they will make the best RC cars around! ha ha. Anyway, here's an article about the whole video thing if you're interested in this silly legal battle.
So to answer your questions, please reboot, the videos will be there :)
> Pictures From RCX 2007
As you know, the end of March/ beginning of april was the RC Expo, and now RC Car Action has put up some pics of the event if you're curious to see what goes on at an event like this. Maybe this will pursuade you to go next year! Check em out here.
> Duratrax Nitro Evader ST Review Now Up!
At 1/10th scale, the Duratrax Nitro Evader ST has all the makings of a great beginner truck. Duratrax really knows how to take care of their drivers, because when you get the Evader, you've already got everything you need to get running. There's nothing worse then getting a new RC vehicle, and you're sitting there for two or more hours trying to figure out how to get the darn machine operational! It comes with a video on how to get started, so for those of you who are bad with instructions, just watch and learn. Here we're going to outline some of the pro and cons for the vehicle, as well as show you pictures and videos of it racing around in action!
Read more on the Duratrax Nitro Evader ST
> New RC Drifting Video
Here's a brand new drifting video of some guy just havin fun and messin around. By the end of it he actually does some cool stuff with it.
CEN has released it's newest model, the MG10. The MG10 is available as the MG10-MT and the MG10-TR. It will be ready to buyers sometime this spring. CEN has posted an overview of the vehicles, which you can read at your pleasure here.
> LRP Pulsar 3 Battery Charger
Ok, the guy's over at RedRC.net posted a great overview of the new Pulsar 3 battery charger. Anybody who owns an electric vehicle has GOT to take a look at this, because you're able to charge NiMH, NiCd and LiPo batteres on it. I'm definitely going to get my hands on one of these! Click here to read more about it.
> Coming Soon To Everything RC Cars
As you know, we're very busy working on the website. There will be a bunch of new updates coming up in the next two weeks. We are also going to be launching something 'secret' (for now) coming up by the end of the month / early May. You won't be disappointed!
The new Lazer ZX-5 SP adopts the same wheel sections as the new specification version of the ZX-5 that entered into the 2007 World Championships. This newly designed suspension shows superior turning performance at different speeds and on a variety of different surface types. The advanced aerodynamics of the body also generates effective down-force to keep the machine anchored to the surface. With a rear midship mounted motor, the simple transmission and battery layout achieves optimal weight balance for greater control response. Easy control of the machine's airborne posture marks it as an advanced racing buggy. Whether racing competitively at the highest level or turning the nearest available off-road space into a race track, the Lazer ZX-5 SP delivers winning speed!
Features:
-Straight motor layout is specially designed for center shaft driven 4WD racing.
-Freely adjustable turnbuckle upper arms are included as part of the double wishbone 4-wheel independent suspension system.
-Equipped with slipper clutch that effectively transfers power as well as protecting the gears from overloading.
-High strength and rigidity of the resin main chassis is reinforced with X-backbone upper deck.
-Features new type triple-cap Pro Shocks. Delivers a wide range of setting adjustment options as well smooth suspension function.
-Choice of three front axle configurations with one-way, ball differential or spool (rigid). One-way is sold separately.
-Rear section equipped with stabilizer.
-Precision universal swing shafts included on front and rear.
-Chassis layout is compatible with either loose battery cells or battery packs.
Whenever we talk about new products such as brushless systems, new nitro engines, etc, most people wonder - where do I get those latest gadgets? Well, that's why we've added RC Planet to our list of online RC merchants. RC Planet sells everything you will ever need to keep your new RC customized, upgraded and running as best as it possibly can. Also, RC Planet has a great selection of all the newest vehicles, as well as combo deals. For those of you that live out of the USA, you can finally get the best RC vehicles and equipment shipped to you since they ship internationally - like their name says, RC Planet.
> Factory Replacements + Performance Upgrades
What RC Planet is known for. If you just bought a new RC and you're already needing parts, chances are you're going to find what you need at RC Planet. You can get replacements and upgrades for EACH brand and their individual products (ex: Traxxas Revo, Jato, HPI Savage, etc.). Find brands and models such as:
Associated
HPI
Mugen
OFNA
Traxxas
CEN
Kyosho
Losi
& many many many more
> Tires + Wheels Sedan, Monster Truck, Buggy, 1/8, 1/18th, Brand tires such as Traxxas Jato, Tire glue, etc. > Tools + Bags Everything you'd need - from adhesives to lubricants to painting equipment. > Nitro Engines + Electric Motors .12 to .46 nitro engines, boat, airplane and helicopter engines. Also major brand engines for HPI, Traxxas, etc. Brushless motors, heatsinks, you name it. > Radio Systems Pistol grips of all kinds, radio receivers (plane + cars), servos, electronic speed controllers, etc. > Fuel & Accessories Cleaner, glow plugs, oil, fuel, temperature gauges, starter kits, etc. > Bodies & Paint Bodies for all types latest brand name cars, buggies and trucks. Get paint, supplies, and everything you'll need to be a pro customer designer. > Batteries + Chargers All the latest advanced battery chargers available. Find all types of batteries, from lithium to NiCad. So, check out RC Planet for all your part & upgrade needs. > Battery Storage + Care Tips If you're racing every other week, you won't have to worry about any storage - but when race season ends, then it’s time to cool down the RC until next year. If you have ever opened a battery compartment of some other device only to notice that there is goop leaking all over, you know the importance of battery care. RC models are no different, so be sure to remove all the batteries that are used in your setup. This also includes the batteries used in your radio and the receiver. This will be the one time that charging will not be an issue. No sense charging these before storage as they will soon discharge anyway. It is better to discharge your batteries and store them “dead”. Even a fully discharged pack will retain about a 1v charge throughout the storage. One recommendation is to store them in the fridge, but NOT the freezer. This will prevent failure due to excess temperatures, especially those higher than 74 F (24 C), which makes the insulating part of the battery oxidize and in turn shorts the battery out. Batteries that are close to failure will be exposed next season, and batteries that are potentially in poor condition will completely drain and short out. Who wants to find that out the first day back at the track? Sounds tricky, but if you keep them cool, it won't happen - and you won't have to worry about it! If you follow these refrigeration steps, when next season comes around, all you need to do is charge them. And be sure your charger is compatible with your specific type of battery setup. A quick check of the voltage should reveal about 1.0v even after long storage periods before you hook up the charger. If you get a reading of zero volts, then that’s a good indication your battery may fail. Do not try and revive it as it’s not worth the effort. Cut it out of that pack and replace it, you’ll be glad you did. Once fully charged, you should have a minimum of 80% capacity, and anything less is suspect. So whatever your pick, get that battery going and rev it up! > RC Racing EP3 VideosPart 1Part 2Part 3> New RC Blog I'll be switching this blog over to a new wordpress blog, giving me a lot more functionality, and better able to categorize posts, etc. Once the new blog is up, it'll be kind of a 'webpage within a webpage' of our main site, where you can access all the latest videos, news, events, maintenance tips, & more. Don't forget, subscribing to this blog DOES NOT get you in the contest to win a Traxxas T-Maxx 3.3 - so please sign up with our newsletter
I like new developments in battery technology, just because when I first started having an electric RC was not very much fun. Team Trion have released two versions of pre assembled 6-cell battery packs. You can get them in 3800MAh or 4200... And if you do get any, go with the higher MAh.
> Serpent In The News
Serpent have been all over the news lately, from new products to new designers. Here's a list of some recent Serpent news below:
> ZX15 Small Block DSII+ engine
Here's an engine for serious racers...
"High Performance 5 port engine for top level competition featuring a top quality piston and liner set, latest design carburettor, orange cooling head and superbly finished grey anodised crankcase."
Read the rest of the features here.
> New Off-Road Designer Gerd Strenge
"Serpent is very pleased to officially announce that Gerd Strenge, better known as Mr Durango from Germany, has entered into a long-term cooperation with Serpent, for the development of offroad rc racing cars.
Gerd Strenge is famous in the electric offroad scene, for his very innovative Team Durango 1/10 scale 4wd offroad project. Gerd started this project in 2002 and he has been developing the car ever since. His Team Durango car has been European Champion and his cars have reached many GP, EC and even WC finals in the hands of famous drivers like Hara and Marc Reinhard."
Read the rest here.
> Champ Drives Serpent F180 Formula Car
"Champ Car star and soon to be Formula One driver Sebastien Bourdais tried out Serpent's F180 formula car yesterday (Thursday) in Assen where he and his Newman Haas Lanigan Team are preparing for this weekend's second European Champ Car World Series encounter.
The reigning Champ Car Champion drove one of three F180s brought by Serpent to the 1:1 track which is situated in the north of Holland."
