Traxxas remote-controlled car hits 100 mph: Video

Remote-controlled cars have a come a long way since the double-A-battery-powered, open-wheeled, plastic-chassis cars of the past. So far along, in fact, that today's high-quality cars don't do 50 mph, 60 mph or 70 mph. The new Traxxas XO-1 does a neck-snapping 100 mph.

Not only will it hit the century mark, but it gets there in less than five seconds. One thing's for sure, we hope it has a long-distance remote.

The design of the RC car is solid. It looks somewhere in between a Saleen S5S Raptor and a McLaren MP4-12C. Traxxas says it was developed with advanced modeling techniques that make the front splitter, smooth undertray and rear wing work in unison to keep the XO-1 planted.

The company partnered with Castle Creations to develop the motor. It was enhanced for higher output when used on the new car. Traxxas says it's the largest brushless motor ever offered in a ready-to-race model.

To deal with all of that power, the XO-1 has steel differentials that feature reinforced support bars. An extruded-aluminum driveshaft engages the front and rear gearboxes directly, with no other parts to wear. According to Traxxas, the pitch-splined driveshafts can handle 50 percent more torque that conventional units.

The all-wheel-drive Traxxas XO-1 comes with a "big block" brushless motor, a 2.4GHz radio system and telemetry for speed, rpm, temperature and voltage.

The XO-1 uses the Traxxas TQi radio-control system, which comes with a docking base. Purchase of the car also includes access to the Traxxas Link App that turns your smartphone into a tuning device. The app displays the telemetry data and can adjusting things such as steering percentage, throttle and brake sensitivity and throttle trim. The phone mounts nicely in the base of the remote control when the car is running.

The cost of all of this remote-controlled glory isn't cheap; the suggested selling price is $1,100. Warnings include that fact that the XO-1 is not a toy, and it is intended for use by experts only. Sounds good to us; the last time we loaned out an RC car, all we got back was the remote and a "sorry."

By Jake Lingeman