[MattHiggins]

Here are some photos and Hasbro's press release:

THE NITRO XRC REVOLUTION BEGINS: BRINGING NITRO-POWERED
VEHICLES TO THE MASS MARKET
Hasbro revs into hobby grade radio-control market with a highly innovative nitro-powered RC
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Start your engines! Tiger, a division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), invites
extreme thrill seekers, ages 16 and up, to experience the power and speed of NITRO XRC, a
new line of radio-controlled vehicles powered by nitro fuel. This fall, the groundbreaking NITRO
XRC brand will bring the power and performance of hobby-grade nitro-fueled vehicles that
feature incredible speed, hot styling and the ability to perform mouth-dropping stunts to the
mass market.
The technology used in the NITRO XRC (Extreme Radio Control) line allows speedsters the
opportunity to and achieve speeds up to three times faster than traditional battery-operated RC
vehicles. The vehicles not only feature the speed, sound, and smell of a real working engine,
but also offer the nitro fuel experience for a fraction of the investment of traditional hobby car
counterparts. The vehicles are capable of speeds up to 25 mph, and durable enough to handle
stunts both on- and off-roads. The NITRO XRC line also features an innovative ignition system
with electric starters and a unique fuel delivery system that is quick and easy to use.
“Hasbro is truly revolutionizing the radio control market with the NITRO XRC brand,” said Brian
Goldner, COO of Hasbro. “Through amazing innovation and technology, we are able to deliver
the highest-performing RC experience available on the mass market. Older teens will be thrilled
with the speed and stunts that can be achieved with NITRO XRC vehicles.”

Hasbro has teamed up with leaders in the RC and hobby trade to create the NITRO XRC line,
including: Taiyo Kogyo Company Ltd. and Shuwa Industries, both of Japan, for their engineering
and manufacturing expertise; Wildcat Fuel, the leading supplier of nitro fuel and exclusive
supplier of fuel for NITRO XRC vehicles; and HobbyTown USA, which will serve as the
authorized service support center for NITRO XRC vehicles.
The first NITRO XRC vehicles – the NITRO XRC RICOCHET and NITRO XRC REVOLUTION
MT – will be available at retail locations in October 2006. The NITRO XRC RICOCHET is a
two-sided stunt machine that features oversized tires to allow the vehicle to drive on both sides
– turning any obstacle or ramp into a RICOCHET stunt course! The approximate retail price is
$179.99. The NITRO XRC REVOLUTION MT is a rugged monster truck build for speed and
stunts – both on-road and off. The approximate retail price is $129.99.
Accessory kits, including specialized tires, body kits, and glow plugs, are available for both the
NITRO XRC RICOCHET and REVOLUTION MT. With its nitro fuel-powered, internal
combustion engine, NITRO XRC is recommended for ages 16 and older. Nitro fuel is sold
separately.
Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment
products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys
ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL,
TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST
brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the
world.

[jocktheglide165]

they should have went electric first.....either way this is great for the industry as a whole if hasbro gets into RC thats pretty mainstream...

[thedarkness]

What about when someone breaks there car and takes it into wallmart for parts?
Id like to see how gutless and hot these things run.

[Dan H]

Oh man, I smell lawsuits or refunds. I hope the engine is bulletproof enough to withstand any abuse.

[Farwar]

So we will be able to get nitro fuel at walmart now?lol I can just see people complaing that it doesn't run because they can't tune it. There can be some positives and negatives here.

[Tamiya4ever]

Well it does say that Hobbytown USA will be the authorized service support center. So they would be able to fix it and have spare parts I am sure. We got one here.

[Racer Rob]

This is going to be interesting....

[ElectricThunder]

Part of me wants one of these just so I can beat the utter crap out of it during hurricane season.....

[RCRevolution]

I hope we can see fuel at walmart, but good fuel, though I doubt Byrons or OD will ever be carried at walmart that would be cool

[LongRat]

Are 'older teens' really going to be interested in that? It looks just the same as the normal kids toy versions. And it isn't all that cheap.

[Superdood]

The world IS coming to an end. Although I do want to see a body off photograph. Parts Are gonna break.

[MattHiggins]

The fuel will be made by a well-known nitro fuel company.

Will they break? All RC cars break. When Hasbro invited us to NYC and demo'ed these trucks, they beat the tar out of them. They seem to be a durable as they need to be.

Remember: if you already own an RC car or two, these are not meant for or marketed for you. So, why do we care if they even exist? This is huge for us. Every RC car eventually needs parts or service, so the owners of these trucks will most likely eventually go to a hobby store. This will expose them to what is really a "secret hobby." Thousands and thousands of people will be exposed to hobby-grade RC. If they make a second purchase, it will be what we all call a hobby-grade RC. Are you starting to see where I'm going with this? Hasbro is good for the hobby, in my opinion.

[YR4Dude]

I guess Hasbro has decided that it is easier to deal with Nitro than to deal with LiPo.

I wonder what this all have to say about the perceived safety of LiPo as a power source?

[Losi Stealth]

I'm a little worried about where the rubber meets the road. From the pics it looks like these run typical toy hard rubber, which, at 25 mph could prove unpleasant. You guys said they demo'd them, whats up with tires? Its still slower than your typical Rustler, so it could be alright...

[skylineTT]

i think they are uhh.. a little umm.. i dont know. i cant put my finger on it. but i can see hobbytown being upset when no one goes there to buy anything but just to get their cheapy engines tuned. maybe it will put some kind of experience into their minds so that when they upgrade to a better nitro from a GOOD brand, they will have a little experience with nitro. i can see a lot of lawsuits happeneing though. burns, poisoning, injury or whatever.

[rcboy201]

i think i get what they are doing, selling a cheepo nitro car that breaks a lot and wont run at walmart. then they go to hobbytown to get parts, find out how much better the actual hobby grade rc's are and buy one, i think its actually a semi good idea

[Cain]

I say if this can get more people interested in the hobby, the better even if they start with a toy.

[Tig]

I like the ramps they have lol

[TC4RACER]

They will get sued for burning someones hand. I agree with people breaking them and going to a hobby shop and walk out with a different car. I think Traxxas or another company should sell their cars at Target or atleast make a cheaper electric car and have replacement parts on the shelf or have parts support in the manual with a link to Tower Hobbies. Those would sell and get more people into the hobby.

[crazyjr]

I think it will be more puug and play than what we run, because the bodies are screwed on so you can't just adjust them. I think they will be like tyco's, run it break it then go find something faster and tougher. I think the hobbyshop service is a great idea, but hobbytown usually hire Joe/Jane blow that don't know much about the hobby much less how to work on them

[___rollin___]

I should sit at wallmart with a video camera and watch out for someone bringing one of these in and asking the customer service dept. how to tune a nitro engine. Or something like that. The funny part is that that IS inevitable...

[Petox20]

The only thing going through my mind is that everyone reading this thread should stop going to HobbyTown USA for good. How can a Hobby Shop, no matter how much they are like Walmart, sell this crap. I do agree that it could potentialy gte new people into the hobby, though. It could, however, turn those potential new entrants off of the hobby. If the product is of poor quality, engine won't run or is hard to tune, parts break, or if those suposed to service and help you with these vehicle don't know what they are doing, it could be an experiance that would last that person's life and keep them from exploring deeper into the hobby, and off the hobby completely.

[___rollin___]

Originally Posted by Petox20

The only thing going through my mind is that everyone reading this thread should stop going to HobbyTown USA for good. How can a Hobby Shop, no matter how much they are like Walmart, sell this crap. I do agree that it could potentialy gte new people into the hobby, though. It could, however, turn those potential new entrants off of the hobby. If the product is of poor quality, engine won't run or is hard to tune, parts break, or if those suposed to service and help you with these vehicle don't know what they are doing, it could be an experiance that would last that person's life and keep them from exploring deeper into the hobby, and off the hobby completely.

It's not good for the hobby, but it's all about money. People will buy these things. But who knows, they could be pretty cool. They might be pretty easy to tune, durable, whatever. They could be complete junk too. They might even be hobby grade.
Hobbytown here doesnt really carry any radioshack/wallmart/stuff, could be either way

[RCRevolution]

the Fuel is gonna be made by Wildcat, now is this fuel good? I see wildcat has different kinds, will they carry the good stuff or 30%?


oh the possiblities

[Cain]

I have heard that wildcat does make good fuel. I still say depending on how they configure this thing for easy of use, it will be good for the hobby.