X-5 discontinued - New 4WD

[jimmy]

A recent problem with the main chassis mold has forced X Factory to discontinue selling the aging kit, though large part stores mean many drivers are continuing to campaign their X - 5's. Development of a totally-new X Factory 4wd car is currently underway...

So - a new 4WD is on the way despite 'a team driver' telling me it DEFINITELY wasn't happening just this weekend Never trust a team driver

So - what do we know about the new car? we're not gonna get anything out of the XFactory guys as they are keeping it quiet, that's clear, so lets throw some theorys about!

Conversion kit? what for?
New car from the ground up? using some donor parts possibly?
Belt? Shaft?

[bbq]

Sweeet =)

Team drivers never trust them =)

[DCM]

I think they would be mad to make another conversion.... maybe something that CAN use suspension components from another car, but really, their own car. Got to be the way to go!!

[burgie]

Well, I think that's a shame, it's a good car.

Looking forward to seeing the replacement though. In the meantime I must get a replacement chassis!!

[peetbee]

I suppose if anyone gets stuck for a chassis they can always unconvert it back into a XX4!!

[Chrislong]

I can't think of anything that hasn't been done. But expect suprises.

Infact, the X-6 goes well, if they extend the layshaft, run a belt off that and drive the front wheels it won't be far off

[usafaircrew]

I wonder if it is going to be belt or shaft drive?

[Darren Boyle]

The "Team Driver" would be correct then, there is NO new 4wd car coming anytime very soon...............yet!!! But you never know what the future holds

Jimmy, sent you a PM mate, you should always speak to me if you want to know what is REALLY happening, and what I can, I will always tell you from within our camp. Trust me, you will be first to know when it does.

[chris_dono]

The X - 5 was X Factory's first kit, entering the market in late 2004. Originally a conversion for the Team Losi XX4, it merges that car's awesome suspension with the extreme efficiency of the XXX4's single-belt driveline. The X - 5 brought on X Factory's first major-race success by winning the ROAR national title in 2005. Continued X Factory Family and Team development lead to the X - 5 Squared. A recent problem with the main chassis mold has forced X Factory to discontinue selling the aging kit, though large part stores mean many drivers are continuing to campaign their X - 5's. Development of a totally-new X Factory 4wd car is currently underway...

From the XfactoryRC website

[Lee]

Chazz has quoted here in the past that the X6 squared was going to be the last conversion kit that X Factory will make.

Take from that what you will, but one thing for is for sure, it will probably be a bit different and have some innovative concepts

[jono83]

I heard it will be a complete car

[Lee]

It's not even a complete CAD file yet

[Darren Boyle]

Originally Posted by Lee

It's not even a complete CAD file yet

LOL

Here is the official stance that I just posted in the "other" X-factory thread

Dont get too excited just yet, thats what happens when Press people get hold of a snippet of info from our website and read into it totally the wrong way. The announcment online is to state that the X5 is now obsolete due to the broken chassis mould but to re-assure our customers we are working on somthing new for the future and not giving up on 4wd or anything...nothing more. Our new 4wd is in the early stages of thoughts and ideas ONLY and is a LONG way off yet, even as a prototype concept

As LEE states it is not even a complete CAD file yet, let alone anything more

Jimmy is just getting a little carried away thats all

[YoungChazz]

1) The X - 5 Squared has been discontinued because of problems with the chassis mold. We can repair it and make great chassies, but the cost will be too high compared to expected sales. They haven't made xx-4s for a long time. As with so many other things, it's a matter of money.

2) We will continue to stock all X - 5 parts except the chassis. We actually just ordered some bodies. We will run out of chassies first. We discovered the problem when we hung the mold and began to shoot more. That is, our stock hit the re-order point, and we found out the hard way. We have excellent stock of all other parts, and will continue to stock the Losi parts too.

3) The X - 5 is my baby. I cried. Literally.

4) At this time, we do not plan to make another Conversion Kit.

5) We are racers and engineers. Ideas for new cars and improvements to existing ones dance in our heads constantly. A new 4WD car has been designed in our heads and discarded twice in the last four years. The inside of Elvo's head is an amazing place...

No complete assemblies have been in SolidWorks. Bits, parts, and sub-assemblies here and there all the time -- for us it's like drawing on napkins -- but nothing even approaching reality yet. SolidWorks is on my laptop in the pits...

6) We are at the very beginning of a new 4WD car now. As has been reported elsewhere, some testing has been going on since January, and several major mechanical principles have been tested and decided upon. That is significant progress. Over the next months we will be testing various specific drivelines to determine which iteration works best. If you look carefully, you’ll see new suspension ideas on those cars too. We will see what works.

7) X Factory has an absolutely dialed design team. Team drivers are selected as much for their help in design/development as for on-track wins. You just don't get more experience than Brian Kinwald, Ellis Stafford, and Elvo. You won't find more education than Tom Cockerill and Paul. Cyril, Phil, Alexander, Dan, Dan, and Mike all make salient points constantly. (We have two Dans.) E-mails flow daily, often two or three time a day, with copies and drawings everywhere. I can't keep up with it all.

X Factory began with a car that made everybody say, "Why didn't Losi think of that?" and proceeded to a revolutionary concept.

The new car will be fast. That's a promise.

8) But it all takes time and money. For a new 4WD where we make everything, on the market for Christmas 2010 is the very EARLIEST we can talk about.

9) We will release over the next few months a series of new parts designed to fit our cars and others too. If you've looked with care you've seen them in testing. These parts will be great new things that will make you faster -- our primary goal -- and will help move X Factory forward.

That's the Family concept. We make good stuph, the Family buys it, and that moves us to the next thing that the Family loves. We are in this thing together, having an absolute blast with our toy cars.

[ashleyb4]

Heard about this quite some ago. lol

Jimmy "mould"

A

[showtime]

sounds like you guys are already on your way

wishing you all the best with this & any future projects & can't wait to see the finished car

[Fiddybux]

We are talking about the squared chassis here and not the standard "original" one?

Gutted about this...my favourite 4wd ever. Best look after my chassis huh!

[Darren Boyle]

Originally Posted by Fiddybux

We are talking about the squared chassis here and not the standard "original" one?

Gutted about this...my favourite 4wd ever. Best look after my chassis huh!

We still have plenty of chassis's in stock at present, just cant make any more now ........

[YoungChazz]

Darren is wise to point that out. Lots of X - 5s running in U.K. You guys have always been big on the xx-4 and, thus, the X - 5, so D.M.S. has always stocked lots of X - 5 parts. Between D.M.S. and us, you should be good for a long while on the X - 5. It's not like you break a chassis every week...

[Cooper]

Originally Posted by YoungChazz

It's not like you break a chassis every week...

UK legends do ;-)