The new chassis is updated for the narrowed rear suspension configuration. The rear bulkheads are mounted 8.4mm closer together. The rear arm mounts move the inner pivot pins 2.5mm closer together, which combined with the bulkhead placement generates more rear traction and improves the stability of the car.

The chassis also features a unique, innovative front flex adjustment using a removable aluminum brace.

The chassis is narrower to increase chassis flex and generate more traction and steering. The narrower chassis also prevents chassis rub during cornering to help eliminate the feel of the car ‘stopping‘ in mid-corner.

Adjustable weight positions on both sides of the chassis offer quick & easy weight balance adjustment.

The chassis features cut-outs for the bulkheads, arm mounts, radio plate mounts, and front layshaft holder for perfect fitment and to ensure that these parts will always mount into the same precise position.

The outer edges of the chassis have been beveled and screw holes have been countersunk to provide a smooth lower surface with maximum clearance during cornering.

The lightweight chassis is CNC-machined from 5mm premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum, strategically machined in low-stress areas to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity.

The aluminum bulkheads provide optimal stiffness & flex characteristics for better steering characteristics, even with hard spec tires.

The super-lightweight Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum bulkheads have a very clean and lightweight design to give the lowest weight and CG, and still allow quick access to the driveline components for reduced maintenance downtime. 

All-new rear bulkheads have been redesigned to fit the new composite anti roll bar bearing bushings that eliminate the wear of the bulkhead. The rear bulkheads are an integral part of the rear suspension Multi-Flex™ system that offers the choice of different flex adjustments.

The rear bulkheads are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum to provide the lightest & strongest framework for the car.

All-new front bulkheads have been redesigned to fit the new composite anti roll bar bearing bushings that eliminate the wear of the bulkhead.

The bulkheads are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum to provide the lightest & strongest framework for the car.

The all-new redesigned rear lower suspension mounts move the rear lower arms 2.5mm closer together for improved traction and stability.  

The front & rear lower suspension holders are fully independent from the bulkheads, mounting directly to the chassis to increase traction and make the car easier to drive.

The suspension mounts are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum to provide the lightest & strongest framework for the car.

All-new rear suspension extensions update the shock mounting positions to match the new rear suspension pivot pin and arm locations. Both front & rear extensions are made from laser-cut steel and additionally black coated for improved durability, and they also features optimized shock mounting positions.

All-new graphite upper arm holders feature new positions for the eccentric bushings that position the upper pins 2.5mm narrower to work with the new rear lower arm mount position.

The rear upper arm holders are machined from strong 3.5mm graphite material for optimal flex of the rear suspension. Both front & rear mounts are mounted on the rear upper clamps.

The rear shock tower was redesigned to work with the new rear narrower bulkheads mounting and updated suspension geometry.

Both front & rear shock towers have optimized shock mounting positions.The towers are made from thick 3mm graphite material for maximum durability.

All-new front wire anti-roll bar was redesigned to work with the new adjustable system that allows easier adjustment of the bar as well as remove any excess play from the system.

The RX8 includes both wire & 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. The wire anti-roll bar is mounted to the bulkheads from the outside to allow quick & easy changes and adjustment. The wire roll bar turns in ball-bearings for maximum precision and freedom of movement. Anti-roll bar height can be quickly & easily adjusted.

All-new rear wire anti-roll bar was redesigned to work with the new adjustable system which allows easier adjustment of the bar and reduce play.

The rear 2.8mm anti-roll bar helps to reduce rear chassis roll. The roll bar turns in ball-bearings for maximum precision and freedom of movement. For fine precision tuning, optional wires of different thickness are available. Anti-roll bar height is adjustable via a screw… quick & easy.

The all new rear solid axle shaft and lightweight composite pulley were redesigned to fit the new narrow positions of the rear bulkheads. All outdrives are manufactured from HUDY Spring Steel™ and are specially ground for maximum precision. All pulleys have self-cleaning holes to reduce buildup.

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, and the axle body is machined from Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum.

The all-new rear pivot balls were lengthened to work with the new lower rear arm mounts to still achieve the desired vehicle width.

The RX8 pivot ball suspension contains precision pivot balls that are specially hardened to better withstand harsh crashes and extend their lifespan. 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.

Development at XRAY never stops, nor does our pursuit of perfection. Evolving the RX8 to its present state has been a challenge for everyone at XRAY, and this new, re-designed version of the RX8 incorporates all the best features and ideas gathered over the past years.  Enjoy the new RX8.

Martin Hudy
XRAY RX8 Platform Designer

The road to realizing a dream is often filled with challenges, twists & turns, revelations & victories. Such was the literal truth in the pursuit of the ultimate racing machine, fuelled by passion and vision… a dream realized as the new 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. 

Martin Hudy XRAY
RX8 Platform Designer

Read my exclusive story about the making of the XRAY RX8 here for an insider’s view of our daily work as RC car designers and what we have all done to make the RX8 platform a reality.

Martin Hudy
XRAY RX8 Platform Designer

The all-new redesigned graphite brace for the rear bulkheads is an integral part of the rear suspension Multi-Flex™ system that offers the choice of different flex adjustments to easily adapt the handling of the car to particular track conditions and tires used.

All-new chassis with unique, innovative front flex adjustment via an insertable aluminum brace. Using the aluminum brace increases steering response & cornering speed; without the aluminum brace, the car is easier to drive and has more forward traction.

All-new redesigned 2-speed bulkheads allow to use bracket bushings to connects the 2-speed bulkheads with rear bulkheads to reinforce the entire rear suspension. There are two flex settings of 2-speed bulkheads.

Bracket bushings not installed.
The car has more traction. Recommended for low-traction conditions.

Bracket bushings are installed.
The car is  more free.  Recommended for high-traction conditions.

The new bulkheads are an integral part of the chassis Multi-Flex™ system that offers a variety of choices for different flex adjustment.

The new graphite brace for the rear bulkheads is an integral part of the rear suspension Multi-Flex™ system that offers the choice of different flex adjustments to easily adapt the handling of the car to particular track conditions and tires used.

There are two different flex characteristics to choose from:

Graphite brace not used. This setting increases flex in the rear suspension and generates more rear traction. Recommended for low-traction tracks, or races with spec hard or large tires. 

Graphite brace is connected to the 2-speed bulkheads. This setting reduces flex in the rear suspension and improves out-of-corner steering and rotation, but also slightly decreases rear traction. Recommended for medium-high-traction tracks, or when tires with additive are used.

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.

The most significant change to the latest RX8 platform was the aluminum backbone. The main frame and backbone of the car consist of high-precision aluminum bulkheads and aluminum suspension holders that are mounted to the aluminum chassis.

All bulkhead parts are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum and have been designed to provide the lightest and strongest possible support framework for the car with maximum flex characteristics for increased traction.

The bulkheads are anodized in a distinctive orange color. XRAY’s legendary attention to detail is noticeable in all the precisely chamfered edges. (Color may vary slightly between products.)

The rear upper clamps – made from Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum – hold the rear shock tower and graphite upper arm holders.

The front upper clamps – made from super-lightweight Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum – hold the front shock tower and front upper arm mount, allowing super-easy access to the front 1-way axle.

Each upper front arm holder is mounted to the front upper clamp via a single screw, and to the radio plate with two screws. This way, the front suspension has optimized flex for improved in-corner steering and better steering response. One of the 2 mounting screws of the radio plate may be removed for even more flex, as part of the Multi-Flex™ system. 

The holder works as a belt tensioner for the front & side belts. CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum, the smart design also allows for quick & easy front belt changes. 

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

Made from Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum, these lightweight mounts give improved flex characteristics and durability.

The flex of the radio plate is adjusted independently from the chassis flex, giving more fine tuning options. Using bushings in the rear, the radio plate can be mounted to the mounts with either fixed position or with flex; the fixed setting is recommended for high-traction conditions, while the flex setting is recommended for low-traction tracks.

A very useful feature is the front Multi-Flex™ adjustment via radio plate bushing in the servo saver area. When the bushing is used, the setting has a fixed position; when the bushing is removed, the screw is directly mounted on the servo saver post and the whole front suspension has increased flex. The fixed setting is recommended when there is already abundant in-corner steering, while the flex setting is recommended for increased in-corner steering.

The XRAY fuel tank uses the well-proven leak-free, super-durable cap from the NT1.

The 125cc fuel tank with hypertonic tank lid and internal stone-type filter is positioned in the center of the car and sits as low as possible.

The internal baffles inside the fuel tank ensure that fuel will always be in the area around the fuel line intake so even in long, fast corners the fuel will be constantly supplied to the engine. 

The fuel tank mounting is being mounted atop the radio plate for easy insertion & removal from the car. Cleaning and maintenance around the fuel tank and radio plate is very easy. The fuel tank is mounted on aluminum fuel tank posts with rubber grommets and secured by micro clips. 

The receiver battery pack is located beneath the fuel tank to help create the lowest CG possible.

With the smart fuel tank design, the mounting is designed to allow the fuel tank to sit low in the radio plate to lower the weight as much as possible. The fuel is placed right above the low-profile LiPo battery. If larger LiPo or LiFe batteries are used, the included shims and bushings allow vertical repositioning of the fuel tank. 

The 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, 2-speed gear adapter and spring cup are made from premium Swiss 7075 T6.

The SLS brake material was developed to maximize the braking characteristics of the car. Thanks to the SLS brake material, the brake works smooth, consistent, and gives better brake feeling.

Soft brake springs allow for precise braking and brake feeling.

The laser-cut, precision flat-ground ventilated steel brake disk features extra-deep machined grooves to make it very light, and the split design allows maximum heat absorption. The ventilation 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.

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.

2-speed shaft shim is made from steel instead of aluminum for improved durability and more consistent work of the alu drive flange with 1-way bearing. The clutch carrier is machined from a softer material for improved and more consistent clutch engagement.

The 2-speed transmission features smaller & lighter parts: carrier for the 2-speed gear, alu drive flange with the 1-way bearing, and gears from the well-proven NT1. All this combines to give 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 allows for 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.

Engine mounts are mounted to the chassis the same distance from the center of the chassis and close together for equal & improved flex characteristics.

The quick-set engine mounts are CNC-machined from premium high-strength aircraft aluminum. The engine mount has a fixed position for super-easy engine installation and gear mesh adjustment.

The centralized servo saver is ball-raced to ensure super-precise, smooth operation, and the adjustable spring preload tension allows for fine tuning. The servo saver also features easily-adjustable Ackermann positions which greatly influence the steering characteristics, allowing the RX8 to be adjusted for driving styles and track conditions.

Pivot pins for rear upper & lower and front lower suspension arms are designed to fit aluminum suspension mounts. Rear upper pivot pins feature a machined groove that allows better fixing by set-screw, helping to prevent pins from coming out during operation.

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

Shock bodies are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum and hardened to ensure maximum lifespan. External fine threading allows for quick & easy ride height adjustment. The shocks feature low-profile membranes for super-smooth, precise damping.

The set of pistons includes 2- and 3-hole pistons with 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2mm diameter holes. The pistons are precision molded from special Delrin™ material to ensure perfect roundness for extra-smooth dampening, while maintaining maximum stiffness and durability.

The RX8 comes equipped with C7.5 front springs to provide maximum stability and steering, and C5.6 rear springs to provide maximum traction & cornering speed. 

The RX8 springs, like all the other XRAY springs, are manually measured, selected and matched into pairs to guarantee precisely equal length and damping characteristics.

The adjustable side-belt tensioner is captured on a graphite plate, mounted to the side of the radio plate mount. The smart design allows the side-belt tensioner to be easily adjusted, or easily removed for engine removal.

Rear upper clamps feature integrated belt-tension adjustment using adjustable bearing eccentric holders, eliminating the need for a separate belt tensioner. All ball-bearings turn in composite hubs to reduce friction and improve drivetrain efficiency. 

The RX8 features a smooth & efficient on-road drivetrain with intelligent design & construction of all drivetrain parts for super-smooth and low-friction operation. From the small lightweight axles, through the efficient ratios and lightweight pulleys, to the high-speed lightly-oiled bearings and lightweight drivetrain parts, all parts are specifically designed for maximum efficiency & durability.

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. 

The drivetrain is operated by PUR®-reinforced high-efficiency low-friction drive belts, which ensure that all power is properly and efficiently transferred to all drivetrain parts.

The small 2-speed allows the use of smaller spur gears from the well-proven NT1, allowing fast acceleration and low rotating mass.

The spur gears are made from graphite material for improved durability. The special graphite material is also very light which helps to decrease the weight of rotating parts for improved acceleration.

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.

The RX8 includes pinion gears specially designed for 1/8 on-road cars; but using the same pitch as NT1 for more smooth and improved transmission efficiency.

The pinions are machined from tough 7075 T6 aluminum and specially hardcoated for superior strength, light weight, and high durability. Created on a special gear machine, all pinions feature ultra-precise tooth shaping and ultra-true running for vibration-free operation.

Fine internal threading allows easy installation on XCA clutch bells (standard or lightweight versions), and each pinion is fine etched with the tooth number for quick & easy identification.

The RX8 features the most advanced, race-engineered suspension geometry for nitro on-road car racing and is designed to provide responsive racing characteristics under all racing conditions.

Over the years XRAY has successfully gained and utilized extensive suspension geometry knowledge and self-developed suspension stiffness technology, which have been used with great success in electric & nitro cars, both on- and off-road. The ultra-lightweight suspension parts are molded from special composite materials that make the parts very light yet very durable to withstand the rigors of high-performance racing.

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 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.

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

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 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… all these concepts and details have been 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.

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

The included 0° kingpin steering blocks allow the mounting of optional graphite aerodynamic disks which improve both low & high-speed steering, and improve stability in high-speed corners.

The steering block extension is mounted to the steering block, and features 3 different Ackermann positions. The kit includes 2mm bump steer shims for optimized bump steer characteristics; bump steer can be easily changed by adding or removing shims.

The extensions for steering blocks are made from Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum for increased durability and unmatched lifespan.

The small, compact rear uprights are very strong due to the special composite mixture used. Thanks to perfect molding, bearings fit into the rear uprights without any extra play, giving maximum stability and handling.

The rear uprights allow mounting of optional graphite aerodynamic disks which improve, improve rear traction, and improve stability in high-speed corners.

The rear uprights feature two easily-adjustable upper roll center positions which are used for traction adjustment. The uprights also feature two body mount adjustment positions depending on the type of body used. Also included are shorter and longer pivot ball joints for optimum set-up adjustment.

Front body posts are machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum and are additionally lightened for minimal weight. 

The rear body mount holder allows the mounting of all popular racing bodies and meets all EFRA rules. The reinforced body mount is reliable and durable to withstand hard crashes. 

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.

The optional graphite cover is also recommended for use with a LiPo receiver pack. An optional brass battery holder adds weight to the bottom of the car.

Multi-Flex Technology™ allows the mounting of the optional brass or graphite battery holders either affixed directly to the chassis or mounted independently from the chassis.

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

HUDY Exclusive Silicone Oils are manufactured in Europe and each batch is laboratory tested and calibrated to ensure the highest possible consistency and quality from 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 set-up sheets by XRAY or XRAY team drivers, you can be sure that the oils you will get for your car are exactly same as those used by the factory racing team, thus ensuring very exacting set-ups and handling.

HUDY Chem Series.

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.

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.

The RX8 features fully-adjustable front and rear suspension geometry: caster, camber, toe, ride height, droop, track-width, Ackermann, roll centers and weight balance. For quick & easy adjustment, we recommend using set-up tools and accessories from HUDY, the world leader of RC tools.

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-color Instruction Manual contains large 3D illustrations that show all assembly details in the easiest and most comprehensive manner.

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.