XB9E – Features and Pictures
- Team Xray XB9E -
Juraj Hudy and the XRAY Engineering and Racing Teams have conceptualized and built the XB9 platform based on long-term experience and achievements. The XB9E is the next evolution of the XRAY off-road concept transforming the successful XB9 platform into the electric powered XB9E.
Featuring superior weight balance and weight distribution and more forgiving and easy-to-control handling, the XB9E is ready to set a new standard in the 1/8 electric powered class. Long-term tested by the factory racing team and regular drivers in all conditions, the innovative design focuses all the way down to the smallest details to increase performance, handling, and reliability.
Building on the heritage of quality, performance and support evidenced by multiple Car of the Year awards, Viewer’s Choice award, and countless wins and victories at racetracks around the world including the prestigious European Championship title, XRAY is proud to present the new XB9E. Developed, designed and manufactured all in Europe.
Dipl. Eng. Juraj Hudy
XRAY XB9 designer
XB9E Concept
The XB9E is a typical XRAY car – a premium, professional, high competition model racing car for the most demanding racers, developed and designed with attention to the smallest details. Manufactured from premium European materials, machined using state of the art Swiss and German machines and backed by premium service & support, the XB9E is a typical XRAY; a luxury masterpiece.
XRAY Off-Road Platform.
XRAY revolutionized the off-road category years ago with the introduction of the first XB8 which set new trends and standards for premium quality, reliability, service life and of course performance. Since the first XB8, the XRAY off-road racing cars have received honors and accolades across the globe, including multiple ‘Car of the Year’ awards from RC car magazines around the world as voted on by consumers, and countless victories at all levels of racing, including multiple National and European Championship titles.
Over the years, XRAY off-road cars have established new benchmarks for premium quality, reliability and performance; traits which have won XRAY the loyalty of customers around the world.
Chassis.
The chassis is CNC-machined from high-quality Swiss 3mm 7075 T6 aluminum, which is strategically machined in low-stress areas and is then anodized to make it as light as possible without affecting strength or rigidity.
All screw holes on the bottom of the chassis are countersunk, allowing for a very smooth chassis underside with no protruding screw heads.
Side Guards.
The side guards have an updated design to compliment the new redesigned chassis. The tough composite side guards offer improved side protection, and fit perfectly to chassis to seal against dirt.
Weight Balance.
The layout of the electronics was designed to focus specifically on weight distribution and balance. During the design and prototyping process, several different layouts were tested and evaluated by the factory team. Data from these testing sessions as well as their qualitative feedback was reviewed prior to choosing the final layout.
The center differential with motor mount, as well as the receiver box, were moved more forward for better weight balance compared to the 808E.
Radio Plate.
The servo was turned 90° and is mounted on a graphite plate. The receiver box is mounted on the same graphite plate next to the servo. The graphite plate is connected the chassis by an aluminum holder and stand that can be easily removed from chassis for cleaning and maintenance. You need only to remove 3 screws from the bottom of the chassis to remove servo and receiver box.
Motor mount.
The motor is connected to a mounting plate, with the assembly then inserted into an integrated motor holder/drivetrain support. The design of this system allows quick and easy motor rotation to adjust gear mesh, and yet clamp.
The motor mount machined from Swiss 7075 T6 and is 2mm wider compared to older version for improved durability.
Battery Plate.
XB9E includes an all-new composite battery holder with higher barriers to eliminate the movement of the batteries. The rear of the plate has a dedicated area for a speed controller placement.
Drivetrain.
The XB9E is a conventional shaft driven 4WD off-road car featuring:
Front & rear gear differential with adjustable oil viscosity featuring 40T crown gear and 12T pinion gear
Central differential with adjustable oil viscosity featuring a 46T spur gear
Front, central and rear CVD drive shafts
Drive Shafts.
XB9E constant velocity drives (CVDs) are manufactured from world-renowned HUDY Spring Steel™. The drive shafts are some of the world‘s thinnest yet most durable drive shafts used in off-road cars.
The central larger and stronger outdrives feature protective rubber boots, thick 3mm pins, and a protective locking ring.
All drive shafts and outdrives are hardened with a proprietary hardening process to provide unbeatable lifetime and reliability.
Diff Outdrives.
To reduce rotating weight, the super-lightweight diff outdrives are machined from HUDY Spring Steel™ material which allows additional material to be removed from the outer part of the outdrives, further reducing the weight without effecting durability. The inner portions of the outdrives are additionally hand-ground for maximum precision and fitment into the diff case.
The outdrives are hardened using XRAY’s own special hardening process to provide extended life time and reliability.
Gear Differential.
Rubber-sealed composite differential housings feature steel inserts that are manually precision ground after the molding process to guarantee a perfect fit with no vibration. Differential internal gears are made from pressed steel, heat treated, and machined for ultra-precision and smooth operation.
Diff Gears & Drivetrain Ratio.
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 gears and pinions— are available for perfect set-up and adjustment for particular racing conditions.
Spur gears are available in a range of 44T, 45T, 46T, 47T and 48T
Pinions are available in a range of 12T, 13T, 14T, 15T, 16T and 17T
Diff Bulkheads.
The XB9E bulkheads were reinforced in all necessary areas to withstand the rigors of racing and extreme impacts. The diff bulkheads are an important chassis component, housing both the front and rear differentials and providing mounting points for the suspension mounts and shock towers.
The bulkheads have been designed for extreme durability, while still providing easy access for tuning and maintenance.
Suspension Concept.
The correct suspension geometry is one of the most important features of any RC model car yet at the same time is also one of the most difficult and challenging features for a designer.
The suspension is always a mixture of:
From the suspension arms, through the suspension blocks, to the light, yet robust steering blocks, every suspension part has been specially designed for 1/8 off-road racing platform to provide responsive racing characteristics in all racing conditions.
Over the 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 that makes the parts very light yet very durable to withstand the rigors of high-performance racing.
I.S.S.™ Suspension Holders.
The aluminum suspension holders feature Integrated Suspension Settings (I.S.S.) which allows for super fast, easy and comfortable suspension geometry setting. This XRAY concept was first introduced in the very first XB8 and now has been carried over to the XB9E platform.
Using eccentric suspension bushings, which are inserted into aluminum suspension blocks, as well with the additional use of suspension shims, the XB9E suspension geometry can be completely adjusted including:
Caster
Camber
Front & rear Toe-in
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.
Suspension Arms.
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 XB9E suspension arms are the result of long-term tests of different designs and layouts. Length, thickness, flexibility, geometry of suspension points and materials used… these are all the concepts and details that had to be thoroughly reviewed to create the optimum suspension arms.
Based on extensive knowledge gained from the previous XB series cars, several different suspension arm designs were tested in both virtual reality and in-car to find the final best design. 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.
**Caster Blocks. **
The new 16° caster blocks have been successfully long term used by the factory team in almost all conditions. The 16° caster blocks proved especially beneficial on rough and rutted tracks, where they added stability and made the car easier to drive through the rutty sections.
The new caster blocks feature a new additional roll center position for the lower suspension mounting.
The lower position is suggested to use for grippy and high traction tracks as well as for bumpy tracks.
The upper position is suggested to use for slippery and smooth tracks.
The chassis itself features an integrated caster angle of 10° which together with the 16° caster block creates a total 26° caster on the car. The suspension holders allow for a +/-2° caster adjustment as well.
There is a variety of different optional caster blocks available for super fine suspension geometry adjustment.
Steering Blocks.
The XB9E steering blocks are new in design featuring increased steering angle for improved steering and corner speed and a new Ackermann position which provides improved corner speed.
The super-lightweight composite zero kingpin 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.
Rear Uprights.
The uprights were designed to have a smaller design with less weight. The lower roll center position features 2 positions while the upper roll center positions features 3 different roll center positions.
The tiny size of the upright was achieved by using new lighter ball-bearings. The inner bearing (13x19) carries a heavier load where the CVD drive shaft outdrive rotates while the outer bearing (8x14) is newer & lighter than previously used to reduce unsprung weight. The two ball-bearings are further away from each other which provides more stability to the mounting and holding of the wheel axle.
The outer suspension pin on which the rear upright sits features 2 shims which allow for additional wheelbase adjustment.
Alu Hex Hubs.
Ultra-lightweight 17mm wheel hex drive hubs 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 adjust the track width optional offsets are available -0.75mm, 0mm, +1.00mm and +2.00mm.
Ball-Bearings.
A full set of 22 high-speed, blue-sealed ball-bearings are used throughout the drivetrain to ensure maximum efficiency.
Shock Absorbers.
The XB9E big-bore, long-stroke
shocks are all of special construction offering
increased downtravel, reliability and performance.
The XB9 shocks have all the parts fully redesigned and adjusted to the big-bore design
including hardcoated shock bodies, reinforced ball-joints, and shock balls with increased movement.
The lower shock nut gives superior shock shaft centering. Ultra-precise shock pistons feature 6-, 8- and 10-hole
shock pistons. The longer shock shafts and shock collars combine to give increased downtravel. Premium quality shock boots provide superior protection against dirt.
The oversized big-bore shocks feature 18.5mm outside diameter shock bodies, externally threaded with an adjustable collar for quick and easy adjustment. The shock bodies are hardcoated, and features a 1-piece alu shock cap.
The large 16.0 mm inner diameter of the shock bodies ensures proper and consistent shock oil flow through the perfectly-round pistons which move very precisely inside the smoothly-finished interior of the shock body. The result is more consistent damping characteristics of the shocks.
The new big-bore pistons are manufactured from well-proven specially-formulated composite material to provide smoother action and durability. The well-proven molding production process is used to ensure perfect roundness of the pistons after production, so that the pistons will move perfectly inside the shock bodies for identical shock action in all four shocks.
The shock membranes are wider to fit the big-bore shocks. The material has been also improved to guarantee the same damping characteristics from the beginning of the race to the end even after extreme operation.
The lower shock assembly ensures that the shock rod will move very freely inside the shock body but at the same time will minimize oil leakage while keeping the dirt away. 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 quick and easy.
The shock shafts are thick and robust to ensure they will handle any abusive racing conditions and big jumps. The 3.5mm thick shock shafts are precisely machined from special high-tensile steel and afterwards are ground for a super-smooth surface to ensure very free and smooth movement of the shock shafts in the shock bodies.
Shock Springs.
The XB9E springs have been specifically designed to complement the big bore shocks.
The springs, like all the other XRAY springs, are manually measured, selected and matched into pairs to guarantee precisely equal length and damping characteristics.
There are two types of springs in offer:
The spring rate is constant during the entire spring compression. There are springs with different spring rates available as optional tuning parts.
The main advantage and benefit of progressive springs is that as the car initially enters the corner they work like a softer spring to provide maximum traction. At the same time, when 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 car to maintain maximum cornering speed.
HUDY Spring Steel™ Turnbuckles.
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 and rear upright linkages, steering system as well as for the servo saver.
The steering turnbuckles are shorter to accommodate the new steering block position.
Shock Towers.
The front shock tower has been updated with new front roll center positions for updated suspension geometry and the rear shock tower has been redesigned to fit the optional longer chassis brace.
Machined from extra thick premium-grade graphite, the shock towers are lightweight and strong. Front and rear shock towers include multiple shock positions as well multiple roll center adjustment positions. The rear shock tower also holds the wing mount.
Dual Arm Steering System.
The dual arm steering system is very simple yet effective and features an integrated easily adjustable servo saver.
Ackermann is easily adjusted by quickly and easily 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.
Chassis Braces.
The front and rear braces have significant influence on chassis stiffness and chassis flex and as such have great impact on car handling under different grip conditions. The XB9E features the well-proven stiff composite braces for front and rear. These braces are more than up to the task… strong enough to hold the car together after heavy jumps or crashes to avoid tweak or breaking, yet still flexible enough to generate the needed grip.
The longer rear chassis brace increases the stiffness in the longitudinal direction while allowing the car to flex more to the sides.
Center Differential Access.
Access to the center differential is quickly and easily accomplished by removing four screws from the upper differential plate. The lower center diff mount is sized appropriately to allow the use of the optional spur gears, while keeping the mass as low as possible.
Anti-Roll Bars.
Anti-roll bars are manufactured from spring steel material and are included to stabilize the car at both front and rear. The roll bars are easily mounted to the diff cases and can be adjusted through the adjustable linkages.
Both front and rear anti-roll bars have a thickness of 2.4mm. Anti-roll bar wires of different thickness are optionally available for fine-tuning your setup.
Body Mounts.
The improved design for mounting the new high-downforce body features 2 rear body mounts and 1 front body mount. This provides increased body stability.
Wing.
The stylish and effective rear wing was designed to provide the appropriate amount of downforce and generate required stability for the car. Made from a strong special composite mixture, the wing will survive majority of abusive and extreme crashes while maintaining its shape.
Rear wing holders are ruggedly constructed from a special composite mixture to withstand abusive crashes and offer different wing mounting positions.
Adjustment Possibilities.
The XB9E 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:
Chassis Balance.
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.
XB9E New Features:
New longer and wider chassis for increased stability and weight balanceNew motor position and internal component layout to improve performance, efficiency and durabilityNew updated side guardsNew 16° caster blocks suitable for majority of track conditionsNew steering blocks for increased corner speedNew Ackermann position for increased corner speedNew HUDY Spring Steel™ turnbuckles with new sizeNew front shock tower with new roll center positionsNew rear shock tower to accommodate optional longer chassis braceNew thicker motor/diff mount for improved strengthNew servo mountNew radio boxNew battery tray for improved durability
XB9E Features:
More forgiving and easy-to-control handlingLong-term tested by team and regular drivers in all standard conditionsFocus on smallest details to increase performance, handling, and reliabilityBig bore shocks with redesigned internals have been long term tested at tracks and in the labRear wing with increased side stability and increased downforceMore-reliable central drivetrain with larger outdrives and central drive shafts with 3mm pinsDrive shaft locking rings prevent the driveshaft from coming apartDrive shaft rubber covers protect the CVD drive shafts from dirtFront & rear drivetrain ratios feature 12T pinion gear and 40T diff gear46T spur gearIncreased shock stroke for increased suspension downtravelReinforced shock ball-joints and shock balls with increased movementHardcoated shock bodies with black coatingLower shock nut with shock shaft centeringShock collar for increased suspension downtravelUltra-precise 6-, 8- and 10-hole shock pistons with different hole diametersLonger shock shaftsUltra-fine shock protective rubbers with reinforced construction and mountingRear uprights with dual holes for short and long arm mountingRear suspension arm gives possibility to adjust the length of the arm depending on the track conditionsFront suspension arms allow mounting of 5° king-pin steering block without needing to use offset wheel adaptersSteering plate with 3 different Ackermann positionsHigh-precision servo saverFront and rear composite bracesLightweight drivetrain partsUpdated rear wing holdersBody mounting via 1 front and 2 rear body mountsUpdated central differential mountsEfficient Zero Kingpin suspensionLightweight & strong composite steering blocks with molded-in aluminum bushingswell-proven suspension parts and geometryUltra-low CG, all parts centralized in chassisOptimized front/rear and left/right weight balance for perfect jumpingPure racing design, highest performance, ultra-durable partsUltra-lightweight, high-tensile transmission parts hand-made from HUDY Spring Steel™Drivetrain includes 22 high-speed rubber-sealed bearings for maximum efficiency and speedUltra-precision front/rear and center diffs with HUDY Spring Steel™ outdrivesPinions, spurs and crown gears manufactured by HUDYCompact steering blocks with molded-in aluminum bushings and ultra-light caster blocksUltra-strong inboard & outboard suspension pivot pinsFront & rear anti-roll barsCentralized motor positioningGearboxes with Labyrinth Dust Covers™
XRAY Premium Shock Oils for perfect consistency
Winner's pedigree - European Champion, countless National and Championship titles, Multiple Car-of-the-Year awards
XB9E Specs:
Dimensions
Lenght: 490mm
Chassis lenght: 400mm
Wheelbase: 319~330mm
Width: 308mm
Weight: 1810g
Approximate running weight: 3350g
Chassis
Chassis: CNC-machined Swiss 7075 T6 hardcoated aluminum
Radio tray: CNC-machined 2.2mm graphite
Front upper deck: Composite
Central diff upper deck: CNC-machined 2.22mm graphite
Braces: Composite braces (front / rear)
Suspension
Suspension: Adjustable suspension with preset geometry
Rear suspension: Lower H-arm with adjustable upper camber link
Front suspension: Zero Kingpin suspension
Rear upright: Composite with dual arm mounting and 3 roll center positions
Shocks: Big-bore shocks with various shock pistonsand with protective rubber folding shock boots.
Shock towers: Front 4.0mm graphite, rear 3.5mm graphite
Drivetrain
Type: Full-time shaft-drive 4WD w/ center differential
Primary: Steel spur gear / pinion
Drive shafts: HUDY Spring Steel™ CVD drive shafts
Central shafts: HUDY Spring Steel™ CVD drive shafts
Differentials: Sealed, 6 gear, silicone-filled
Bearings: Rubber-sealed
Gearing
Pinion: 12T front / rear
Crown gear: 40front / rear
Pinion gear: not included
Spur gear: 46T
Primary ratio: 3.33:1
Final gear ratio: 11.79:1
Body,Tires, Wheels & Misc
Body: Not included
Tires: Not included
Wheels: Not included, standard 17mm hub
Adjustment possibilities
Standard adjustment: Camber, front toe-in, wheelbase, rear anti-squat, front and rear roll center, Ackermann
Optionally adjustable: rear toe-in, front kick-up, rear anti-squat
Items not included: Motor, Electronics (Radio, Receiver, Steering Servo, Battery Pack, Speed Controller), Pinion, Body, Wheels, Tires, Tools, Wheel tool, Switch, Paint, Charger, Universal tool for all nuts and turnbuckles
