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The system intensity can be dialed up or down using the adjustment knob on the TQi 2.4GHz transmitter depending on surface conditions or driver experience, or it can be turned off altogether if you want to drive on the wild side. The VXL version of the 1/16 E-Revo comes with the patented Traxxas Stability Management (TSM) system built into the receiver, which helps to tame the extra power on tap and keep it pointed in the right direction. And the compartments have quick-release battery doors and cooling vents, providing extra protection while still allowing fast, convenient battery changes without needing to remove the body. First, it keeps the weight mounted low and centered, improving both handling and stability. There are integrated battery compartments molded right into the base of the chassis which have a couple key advantages.
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The most obvious is the battery mounting setup. All of that hardware is mounted into a fiber-reinforced composite monocoque chassis for extra rigidity, and it too features familiar hallmarks of the bigger Revo. It also uses similar shocks: adjustable threaded body oil-filled dampers mounted horizontally and actuated via rocker arms to keep the CG low and still give maximum travel and progressive damping to effectively soak up bumps and jumps. The 1/16 E-Revo uses scaled down version of its big brother’s suspension setup, starting with the same style pivot ball suspension for smooth articulation and ease of adjustment. Putting power to the wheels is a set of telescoping universal-joint driveshafts made of high-impact plastic with curvilinear splines to resist binding and increase durability. Under an easily removable gear cover there’s a slipper clutch that is adjustable for driving style or surface conditions. The heavy-duty single-speed transmission rides on rubber-sealed ball bearings for maximum efficiency and the sealed diffs come filled with silicone to increase traction control and resist wheelspin on any unloaded tire, something you don’t find on many minis. Its water-resistant case is O-ring sealed to give a measure of safety in any terrain or conditions. It has 2-stage voltage detection so it’s compatible with 2S or 3S LiPo power too. It’s also versatile, accepting the included 6-cell NiMH battery or the option for twin 6-cell packs for 14.4V and 50+mph. The VXL-3M is a three-mode design featuring a standard Sport setting with forward, brake, and reverse, a Race mode that locks out reverse, and a training mode that limits forward and reverse to 50-percent throttle maximum. The 8-turn 4000kv 380 is efficient and powerful, delivering smooth, consistent response. The Velineon Brushless Power System pairs a sensorless 380 brushless motor with the VXL-3M electronic speed control. The 1/16 E-Revo VXL may be small in size, but it’s certainly not undersize in the powertrain department. It shares its big brother’s advanced chassis design, yielding similar dynamic capabilities and feel while being considerably more practical and affordable, positioning it well to dominate the mini monster market the way its big brother did the 1/10 class years before. In VXL form it’s still insanely fast-good for 50+mph with the optional dual battery setup, and that feels even faster at the smaller size. It’s about half the size (12.9 inches), less than half the price ($270), and a fraction of the weight (about 2.5 pounds) of the bigger E-Revo. Impressively, it did so without sacrificing speed-VXL versions were rated for 70+mph on 6S power!Īt nearly 2 feet long and tipping the scales at more than 11 pounds the E-Revo was no lightweight, and at $600 was not exactly light on the wallet either. When it came time for a Revo reboot, Traxxas released a beefier, tougher truck better able to withstand the extremes of backyard basher bumps, jumps and crashes. In that setting, the E-Revo’s lightweight design, which had traded off some durability for track speed, seemed somewhat less at home. The industry spent the next few years catching up, but during that time the racing classes that the E-Revo had been designed to dominate kind of tailed off in popularity, and so monster trucks were mostly being bought for sport bashing rather than competition. As its name implies, the E-Revo revolutionized the electric monster truck segment when it first came out-its lightweight design and advanced suspension offered a level of dynamic capability that made everything else seem outdated almost overnight.
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