Being responsible for R&D at the XRAY off-road division, I was actively involved in the XT8 project. I can assure you that not even the smallest detail was overlooked.

With the huge amount of effort, time, and energy our R&D team put into this project, you can be sure that the XT8 is nothing less than the highest-competition, premium truggy capable of winning any race.  You will be amazed by the superior handling and reliability of the new XT8.

Martin Bayer
XRAY XT8 Designer

The XT8 front C-hub suspension was redesigned using zero kingpin steering blocks with interchangeable steering plates and new CVD drive shafts.

The super-lightweight composite zero kingpin steering blocks feature exchangeable steering plates to easily adjust the Ackermann.

The steering blocks feature an inset aluminum bushing that is molded into the steering block itself, ensuring a lightweight, precise and durable steering block assembly.

This enables the kingpin screws to be firmly held in the aluminum threaded bushing while the end of the screw is self-locked in composite to prevent the screws from loosening during racing.

The molded-in aluminum bushings allow the steering blocks to turn freely ensuring precise steering reaction. The super-tiny steering blocks are molded from a lightweight yet very strong and durable composite material.

The new XT8 features CVD drive shafts both front & rear.

All drive shafts are manufactured from world-renowned HUDY Spring Steel™, resulting in some of the world‘s thinnest yet most durable drive shafts used in off-road cars. All drive shafts and outdrives are hardened with a proprietary hardening process to provide unsurpassed lifespan & reliability.

The central larger & stronger outdrives feature protective rubber boots, thick 3mm pins, and protective locking rings.

The new XT8 chassis was redesigned to fit both SOFT and HARD composite radio boxes without chassis modification. The included SOFT radio box generates increased traction as it allows the chassis more flex and is suggested for most standard track conditions. The optional HARD radio box increases vehicle stability and is suggested for very high temperature and high traction conditions.

The chassis features a new mounting position for the updated rear brace.

The chassis is CNC-machined from 3mm high-quality Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum; strategically machined in low-stress areas and then anodized to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity.

The rear wing holder is a super-slim, 1-piece design that reduces weight and increases strength.

The complete wing mount is 40% lighter than the previous version, significantly reducing the weight behind the rear suspension and lowering the CG. The wing holder provides maximum stability while still allowing some flex during impacts.

To help prevent rear bulkhead breakage during crash impacts, the new rear wing mount features a wing holder brace that transfers crash impact energy from the wing and shock tower to the chassis instead of directly to the bulkhead.

Aluminum shock towers are CNC-machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6 and then additionally coated. The stiff aluminum towers, along with the new rear wing mounting positions, give better performance on high-traction tracks.

The rear uprights were redesigned and feature new larger outside 8x16x5mm ball-bearings for increased reliability and life-span. To expand the set-up choices, an additional lower roll-center adjustment position was added.

The smart design allows the same upright to be used on both left & right sides. The rear uprights feature integrated geometry adjustments for camber, upper and lower roll center and wheelbase.

Two shims allow positioning the hub forward/backwards along the outer suspension pin to adjust wheelbase.

The new XT8 shocks now include the softer ribbed membrane. The XT8 big-bore, long-stroke shocks are of special construction, offering increased downtravel, reliability & performance.

Oversized big-bore shocks feature 16.2mm I.D. shock bodies which are externally threaded for use 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.

The lower shock assembly ensures very free movement of the shock rod 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 & easy.

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

The all-new hard alu clutch shoes allow for smoother engagement. The Swiss 7075 T6 clutch shoes are small, lightweight, and designed for engagement during the entire travel of the shoe. The shoes are less sensitive to wear and give improved lifespan.

The high-torque clutch provides smooth, continuous power transfer from the engine at high RPM. The clutch fully engages higher in the RPM range, resulting in more controllable power during acceleration, while still maintaining good handling and performance on jumps.

The Swiss 7075 T6 aluminum flywheel has a smaller diameter but heavier weight. The smaller diameter allows the flywheel to be more protected after landing large jumps, so there is a reduced chance of accidental engine stoppages.

The extra-tough flywheel nut is machined from Hudy Spring Steel™.

The clutch is equipped with soft clutch springs; optional medium and hard springs are also available. 

Spring steel anti-roll bars – carried over from the XB8 platform – are used to stabilize the truggy. The new 2.6mm front anti-roll bar improves the corner speed.

The front & rear anti-roll bars are easily mounted to the diff cases and can be fine-tuned using the adjustable linkages.

Optional anti-roll bar wires of different thickness are available for fine-tuning your set-up.

With attention to the smallest details and a mandate to simplify servicing of the car, the all-new chassis features cross-platform compatibility to ensure use of the same chassis on the XT8 and XT8E.

Some information shown below may include details from previous kits,
and it may vary slightly from current kit specifications

The major performance & handling feature of the XT8 is the weight balance that relocates weight to the front. This improves rotation of the truggy, increases cornering speed, improves handling in jumps, and offers more forgiving handling.

The improved weight balance was achieved by completely redesigning the chassis with more weight in the front, and using super-short fuel tank.

Attention was also focused on side-to-side balance to achieve the desired handling both on the track and in the air.

The super short fuel tank allows placement (and weight) towards the front of the truggy.

Despite its short length, the fuel tank has an extra-large 150cc fuel capacity. The tank is molded from a special composite mixture which ensures very high reliability and rigidity. The molded-in splashguard protects the brakes from fuel spillage.

An integrated floating stone filter ensures that the fuel pickup will always be in the correct orientation, even if your truggy isn't. This fuel pickup system will allow fuel to continue to flow to your engine, even if the truggy is inverted and waiting to be righted.

Rubber mounting grommets absorb vibration, and composite holders secure thick 5.5mm silicone fuel tubing.

The side guards incorporates a larger bottom radius to make the truggy more stable on rough tracks, while increasing longitudinal flex. The side guards are moulded from special composite mixture for increased flex which helps to generate more traction.

The tough composite side guards protect the truggy, muffler, and fuel tank from side impacts. The side guards perfectly fit the chassis and seal against dirt.

The aluminum suspension holders feature Integrated Suspension Settings (I.S.S.™) which allows for super-fast & easy suspension geometry adjustment.

Using eccentric suspension bushings inserted into aluminum suspension blocks – as well as suspension shims – the XT8 suspension geometry can be completely adjusted:

• Caster
• Camber
• Front & rear toe
• Front & rear roll center
• Front kick-up
• Rear anti-squat
• Wheelbase
• Track-width

A complete set of various eccentric bushings is included for complete suspension geometry adjustment. The bushings are inserted into aluminum holders which are machined from premium Swiss 7075 T6.

Proper suspension geometry is one of the most important features of any RC model car, while at the same time is also one of the most difficult & challenging features for a designer.

Suspension is always a mixture of:

• design & shape of individual suspension parts
• flexibility & hardness
• materials used
• mounting system
• geometry & position of mounting points of connecting parts

From suspension arms, through suspension blocks, to the lightweight yet robust steering blocks… every suspension part has been specially designed for 1/8 truggy racing to provide responsive racing characteristics in all racing conditions.

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

Front & rear lower suspension arms have a reinforced design which makes them more resilient in jumps and crashes. Outer pivot pins feature self-locking nuts for increased reliability.

All suspension parts on the XT8 were purposefully designed & developed for truggy racing. The super-long arms provide maximum stability while the optimum stiffness of all suspension parts ensures maximum traction under all different racing conditions. The super-long suspension arms ensure the best handling over rough terrain and excellent landings from big jumps.

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.

The dual-arm steering system is reliable and has improved steering characteristics.

Molded graphite servo saver makes the steering more resilient & efficient in dusty conditions. The alu steering plate gives more aggressive steering characteristics, the composite upper top deck ads flex to help steering, and the steering pivot balls feature backstops for increased reliability.

Ackermann can be adjusted quickly & easily by 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.

Front & rear chassis braces have a significant influence on chassis stiffness and flex, and as such have great impact on handling under different grip conditions.

The front chassis brace adds more front flex for improved steering characteristics.

The rear double composite braces have a direct mounting to the rear bulkhead instead to the rear shock tower. This bulkhead mounting eliminates transfer of vibrations and energy from the suspension via shock towers, helping to improve landings and generating more off-power traction.

The rear medium brace is mounted with a graphite chassis extension for flex adjustment in 3 different settings. The rear brace is moulded from a medium-stiff composite mixture for better flex & rigidity, and allows the mounting of optional graphite inserts to reinforce the chassis brace to make it even stiffer (suitable for high-traction conditions).

The diff bulkheads are reinforced and strengthened for increased reliability. The bulkheads are an important chassis component, housing both the front & rear differentials and providing mounting points for the suspension mounts and shock towers.

The super-strong front & rear bulkheads can withstand rigorous impacts and other abuse during racing conditions. The bulkheads have minimized ball-bearing play, resulting in increased gear teeth lifespan and minimized gear stripping.

The XT8 is a conventional shaft-driven 4WD truggy featuring:

• Front & rear gear differential with adjustable oil viscosity, and each featuring 43T crown gear and 10T pinion gear

• Central differential with adjustable oil viscosity, featuring a 50T spur gear with standard 13T clutchbell on the engine.

• Front, central, and rear drive shafts

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 gear, clutchbell, and crown gear — are available for perfect set-up and adjustment for particular racing conditions.

The high-volume gear differentials were designed for increased reliability & performance. Differentials feature high-volume cases, and larger internal gears with more teeth for improved differential movement. The larger volume of the differential and the shape of the gear teeth reduce oil overheating. To increase reliability, diff pins have stronger design. The differentials give increased traction and reliability, especially in long runs.

Internal diff gears increase differential reliability and reduce diff oil overheating. The 20T and 10T gears have a larger size and a greater number of teeth to ensure more precise fitment and engagement. Pressed-steel differential bevel and satellite gears are heat-treated and machined for superior precision and smooth operation.

Diff outdrives accommodate the stronger diff pins. The front longer diff outdrive adapters ensure that the drive shafts will not fall out, even in extreme crashes at full steering lock.

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

All outdrives are hardened using HUDY’s own special hardening process for extended lifespan and reliability.

Access to the center differential is super easy by releasing the upper deck with only four screws. The lower center diff housing is sized to accommodate optional spur gears and the stands are lowered to keep the weight as low as possible and to allow smaller central diff gears to be used. The center diff housing stands hold the effective, race-proven brake system.

XT8 shock springs offer a mix of progressive & linear characteristics. XT8 springs are slightly progressive, but under more compression change characteristics to become more linear. This gives excellent feeling and feedback in all different track conditions.

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.

Two types of springs are optionally offered:

• Linear: Spring rate is constant during the entire spring compression. Springs with different spring rates are available as optional tuning parts.

• Progressive: Spring rate is not linear, but rather the spring rate get progressively heavier the more the spring is compressed. As the truggy 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 truggy to maintain maximum cornering speed.

Ultra-precise shock pistons with 6-, 8- and 10-hole options. The big-bore pistons are molded from tough, race-proven Delrin® material to provide smooth action and durability. The precision molding production process ensures perfect piston roundness, ensuring that the pistons move super-smoothly inside the shock bodies for identical, perfect action in all four shocks.

Ultra-lightweight 17mm wheel hex drive hubs with +5mm offset 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 improve chassis flex & handling characteristics – especially in low- to medium-traction conditions – the radio box is moulded from a softer composite mixture which makes it more flexible.

The 1-piece electronics assembly is very compact and can be quickly & easily removed for servicing and cleaning. You need only remove a few screws from the bottom of the chassis to remove the entire electronics assembly from the truggy.

The large, molded radio box features a very clean design and layout that places the weight in key areas for proper balance. The batteries are placed along the front centerline of the chassis, and the lightweight receiver is placed on its side at the rear. The easy-access radio box is mounted on the side of the truggy and is secured by the fewest possible screws.

The engine mounts extend up to the front engine bearing to provide higher reinforcement of the chassis in the longitudinal direction, and in jumps will minimize the bending of the chassis between the clutchbell and spur gear.

The CNC-machined aluminum engine mounts are made from superior-grade, lightweight alloy and help dissipate engine heat. The engine mounts are easily adjustable to obtain proper gear mesh.

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 & rear upright linkages, steering system, and servo saver.

A full set of 24 high-speed, blue-sealed ball-bearings are used throughout the drivetrain to ensure maximum efficiency. 

The XT8 features a well-proven, high-performance braking system that is strong, precise, and dependable to make slowing and stopping almost effortless. Coupled with the car’s balanced load distribution, the extraordinary control imparted by the braking system gives you complete confidence as you pitch the truggy into corners.

XRAY focused on the smallest details when designing the brake system. The laser-cut, precision flat-ground steel brake disk allows for fade-free braking in conjunction with the special high-grip brake pads installed on the laser-cut brake plates.

The brake disk is small, slim, and very light. The precision hand-grinding allows true, wobble-free rotation. Brake inputs are transferred precisely to the brakes thanks to the rigid, high-precision machined brake cams. Both brake disk and brake pads are specially heat-treated for maximum lifespan.

The smooth-flowing and efficient air filter is made from two parts. Air filter oil is included as standard. The universal rubber elbow allows fitment to most standard 1/8 buggy engines.

The body is mounted on two strong composite body mounts with foam cushions both front and rear. There are two types of rear body mounts included depending on the type of the body used.

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

Rear wing holders are made from a special composite mixture to withstand abuse and crashes, and feature several different wing mounting positions.

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 truggy are exactly same as those used by the factory racing team, thus ensuring very exacting set-ups and handling.

HUDY Chem Series.

The XT8 includes premium HUDY Graphite Grease - a high-performance, advanced-technology semi-fluid lubricant which incorporates both extreme pressure additives and finely-dispersed graphite for load carrying.

HUDY Graphite Grease 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 from "flinging off" under extreme conditions. HUDY Graphite Grease reduces wear and increases parts life.

Click here for more information of the full HUDY Grease range

The XT8 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: 

• Caster
• Camber
• Toe
• Kick-up
• Anti-squat
• Ride height
• Downstops
• Track-width
• Lower roll center
• Upper roll center
• Roll center positions
• Bump steer
• Wheelbase
• Ackermann
• Adjustable shocks
• Adjustable front and rear diff
• Adjustable XRAY Multi-Flex™

The XT8 is one of the most adjustable off-road kits in the world. Whether you are a hardcore racing fanatic or a club-level sportsman, you can very easily adjust the XT8 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 XT8. The HUDY set-up book is available for download exclusively at www.hudy.net

Download Set-up Book

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 Instruction Manual contains large 3D illustrations that show all assembly details in the easiest and clearest 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.