Whats the difference....?
 

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a nosram matrix and the istc version (apart from the fan and heatsink)? Is it just program settings? ie on road suitable more than off road..?

It's just the next generation, but to be honest, do you need the extra speed on off road?, its not like we are using 3.5 motors. I think the ISTC was brought out to run cooler back in the day of bonded rotors, but 99% of motors are sintered now and they run cooler anyway:)

I don't know if i dreamt it but i think there is a new LRP on the way, so that means there will be a red version too.

Yeah I think it's the lrp sxx and nosram pearl

Seen in the pits at the Worlds in Thailand is the new prototype ESC from LRP, called the SXX. Much smaller than the previously available Sphere TC spec ESC, the new controller uses a metal plate set into a plastic frame, to which a heatsink fan combo can be applied but currently isn’t necessary for the 4 cell 1:12th scale class. The new ESC, which is also here in Nosram colours, features a revolutionary copper core cooling technology to keep the internals at a low temperature, while the controller software now has 10 power profiles to select from for finer adjustment of power delivery. Also new is what the company calls X.Brake which provides stronger braking, and it too has 10 adjustment settings which can be set by the 2 new externally mounted buttons.

To actually answer your question,

All of the LRP / NOSRAM speedos of the same generation have the same programs. LRP Sphere TC / ITSC NOSRAM Matrix / Evolution have all the same profiles. The only differences are colour and fan or heatsink only.

not quite true as the itsc versions have 2 extra value settings on mode 2 profile ;)