With six years of research and development, the INSPIRE4 is the next step in the 1/10th electric 4wd buggy platform !
When starting to design the INSPIRE4 over 6 years ago, we decided that the current 4wd buggy platforms had reached a dead-end, and that only a new ground-up design could bring the sport to the next level and inspire other manufactures to innovate their designs. From the start we had a list of must-haves for the platform with a no-compromise design brief.
When starting to design the INSPIRE4 over 6 years ago, we decided that the current 4wd buggy platforms had reached a dead-end, and that only a new ground-up design could bring the sport to the next level and inspire other manufactures to innovate their designs. From the start we had a list of must-haves for the platform with a no-compromise design brief.
The chassis layout design
The chassis layout has been designed to have as much of the rotating mass as far forward and towards the centre of the buggy as possible, while maintaining an overall 50/50 front-to-back weight balance.
The buggy has been designed around current electronics - shorty LiPo in both standard and low-profile, standard sized speed controllers, 540 sized motor, low-profile servos.
The motor position and the centre driveshafts are offset from centre line to counter motor torque and chassis twisting that you normally get from a standard 4wd shaft drive set up.
Side pods are designed to control the chassis flex, and this flex can be tuned by simply removing or adding screws. The side pods are also integrated into the front and rear bulkheads, minimizing longitudinal flex but without affecting the transverse twist of the chassis. The side pods also have large angled outer edges to decrease the chances of the chassis grounding out in corners.
To access and change batteries, the centre slipper is removed with a quick-release system. This unique & innovating feature also makes it simple to change from a standard slipper design to a centre-diff set up giving easy access drivetrain tuning options. It is also a huge advantage in changing weather conditions when you might need last minute setup changes.
The buggy has been designed around current electronics - shorty LiPo in both standard and low-profile, standard sized speed controllers, 540 sized motor, low-profile servos.
The motor position and the centre driveshafts are offset from centre line to counter motor torque and chassis twisting that you normally get from a standard 4wd shaft drive set up.
Side pods are designed to control the chassis flex, and this flex can be tuned by simply removing or adding screws. The side pods are also integrated into the front and rear bulkheads, minimizing longitudinal flex but without affecting the transverse twist of the chassis. The side pods also have large angled outer edges to decrease the chances of the chassis grounding out in corners.
To access and change batteries, the centre slipper is removed with a quick-release system. This unique & innovating feature also makes it simple to change from a standard slipper design to a centre-diff set up giving easy access drivetrain tuning options. It is also a huge advantage in changing weather conditions when you might need last minute setup changes.
As seen in the above photo there is minimal mass in front of the front axle line and behind the rear axle line. This will increase the steering responsiveness without making the car twitchy and also minimize over-rotation. The front and rear overhang is designed to be as minimal as possible to reduce grounding from bumps and landing off jumps. Also seen in the photo above is is the front and rear wing mounting position which is inline with the center line of the axles. This will keep the downforce generated directly inline with the wheel axles to keep a balanced feel at all speeds and any adjustment to the rear wing only efficient the rear without the front changing.
THE SUSPENSION
For the damper locations I wanted them as low as possible in the chassis, as standard design buggy shock locations are not ideally located for a low CG. This laydown damper position gives the INPIRE4 the lowest CG of any production 1/10th buggy ever made by a substantial margin. This is just one of the many features that gives the INSPIRE4 truly breath taking corner speed !
Even though it has an innovative suspension design, We have tried to keep the way in which it works on the track, similar to a tradisanal design upright suspension buggy so it's easy to transfer your existing set-up knowledge onto the INSPIRE4.
The areas of adjustment on the suspension are as follows;
•Kick-up and caster
•Anti-squat plus the option to run pro-squat
•Steering ackermann
•Easy to adjust rocker ratio adjustment
•Shock angle
•Wheelbase front and rear
•Fine-tune droop adjustment
•Camber link positions
•Rear hub height
•Kick-up and caster
•Anti-squat plus the option to run pro-squat
•Steering ackermann
•Easy to adjust rocker ratio adjustment
•Shock angle
•Wheelbase front and rear
•Fine-tune droop adjustment
•Camber link positions
•Rear hub height
We have designed the front and rear damper geometry to be progressive, but with the unique rocker geometry the last 5mm of damper travel increases the damping and spring force on the wheels, and this feature helps keep the buggy drive flatter through the corners, absorb heavy landings off jumps but still feel reactive and supple around the rest of the track.
The rear ‘cross over quad rocker’ system is unique to the INSPIRE4 and this allows the buggy to have both correct damper geometry and optimum damper position on the chassis.
The rear ‘cross over quad rocker’ system is unique to the INSPIRE4 and this allows the buggy to have both correct damper geometry and optimum damper position on the chassis.
The wishbones have carbon inserts top and bottom that make the wishbones more aerodynamic, increase stiffness and give them extra strength, but can be removed to increase flex of the wishbone for even more tuning options, if required.
THE TSD dampers
The TSD dampers are the cars secret sauce and has unleashed the performance and pace of the cars suspension setup and though it's not new in the RC world it is very new for 1/10th buggy's with it being the first of its kind to be able to cope with the high loads of off-road racing.
The design has a 23mm stroke front and rear to keep a great front and rear balanced feel in the car and uses 42mm long big bore spring that's used on most current cars.
The reason for the TSD damper is to be 100% oil damper that has the same damping on compression as well as on rebound in its standard setup. The 100% oil damper has a lot of advantages with setup and if your a pro racer or beginner the dampers are are super easy to build and maintain with no air bleeding required and repeatable time after time. The TSD damper is essential when mounted dampers horizontal but also more consistent through a race compared to a bladder or emulsion damper.
Due to the TSD damper having seals and bushes at both ends within the damper there less binding and holds a constant clearance between the piston and shock body through its full travel so its super smooth and consistent.
The design has a 23mm stroke front and rear to keep a great front and rear balanced feel in the car and uses 42mm long big bore spring that's used on most current cars.
The reason for the TSD damper is to be 100% oil damper that has the same damping on compression as well as on rebound in its standard setup. The 100% oil damper has a lot of advantages with setup and if your a pro racer or beginner the dampers are are super easy to build and maintain with no air bleeding required and repeatable time after time. The TSD damper is essential when mounted dampers horizontal but also more consistent through a race compared to a bladder or emulsion damper.
Due to the TSD damper having seals and bushes at both ends within the damper there less binding and holds a constant clearance between the piston and shock body through its full travel so its super smooth and consistent.
THE DRIVETRAIN
The front and rear gearbox assemblies are designed the same, both are quick-height adjustable by just using three screws and the appropriate shim. Drivetrain diffs are geared, and there will be a centre diff hop-up option for low bite tracks.
The kit supplied centre slipper assembly uses two PTFE pads with carbon-fibre slipper discs to increase cooling consistency, improve durability and with the added bonus of lower maintenance. The slipper also uses high quality engineering belleville disc springs instead of a coil spring to keep tension. These features all contribute to give the INSPIRE4 excellent slipper consistency, stability under pressure and lighter rotating weight to create a very efficient, low-maintenance slipper system.
INSPIRE4 AERODYNAMICS
Fluid Dynamics was used in the design of body and wings to get the maximum downforce possible for the chassis, but with the same or less drag of a traditional buggy. Due to the dampers being mounted inboard there is already a substantial aerodynamic advantage over a conventional buggy, but this unique aerodynamic design also offers superior control of the air flow from the front of the buggy to the rear wing by guiding the flow of air over the body towards the underside of the rear wing, but without being disturbed by any rear damper or tower. This gives the INSPIRE4 superior downforce and wing efficiency over any other current 4wd buggy platform.
To sum up, the INSPIRE4’s overall aerodynamic package has managed the double the downforce of a traditional buggy while maintaining the same drag !
To sum up, the INSPIRE4’s overall aerodynamic package has managed the double the downforce of a traditional buggy while maintaining the same drag !
The Inspire4 has also been designed to always run a front wing as part of the aerodynamic package. To finely adjust the aerodynamic balance front-to-rear, it’s easy to trim down the last eliminate on the rear wing. It was decided to run a multi-eliminate rear wing as this is a more efficient way of generating down force over a traditional gurney flap style of wing.
The wings are made from polycarbonate - the same as the bodyshell - but the rear wing will need to have the slots cut into it to produce the multi-eliminate style rear wing. The rear wing has large endplates to trap the low-pressure air under it, and was found that the INSPIRE4’s aerodynamics allowed an overall narrower wing that incorporates a centre wing section to creates more downforce than a full width standard wing.
The wings are made from polycarbonate - the same as the bodyshell - but the rear wing will need to have the slots cut into it to produce the multi-eliminate style rear wing. The rear wing has large endplates to trap the low-pressure air under it, and was found that the INSPIRE4’s aerodynamics allowed an overall narrower wing that incorporates a centre wing section to creates more downforce than a full width standard wing.
Maintenance / Spares
Maintenance simplicity has been designed into the INSPIRE4 by making it modular with easily accessible parts. This also makes it easy to replace parts if required during a race day, so less down time and more track time !
A huge advantage of the INSPIRE4 is that numerous components are shared throughout the buggy, so you will need to carry far less spares. For example, wishbones are the same front to rear and left to right, so you will only ever need one type of wishbone for the INSPIRE4 !
A huge advantage of the INSPIRE4 is that numerous components are shared throughout the buggy, so you will need to carry far less spares. For example, wishbones are the same front to rear and left to right, so you will only ever need one type of wishbone for the INSPIRE4 !
INSPIRE4 SPEC
*Quick diff height adjustment, just loosen 3 screws on the chassis and slide a shim under the gearbox also easy to remove the whole diff case with the same 3 screws without affecting any of the suspension .
*Quick diff change without the need to remove the whole diff case or affecting any of the suspension.
*Low diffs front and rear.
*Left-right, front-rear wishbone are the same complainants.
*Front and rear bulkheads are the same
*The buggy has the lowest CG of any other rc buggy on the market.
*Adjustable front kick up/caster.
*Adjustable anti-squat plus the option to run pro-squat.
*Inboard suspension design with the dampers mounted as low as possible.
*Easy adjustable rocker ratio.
*Unique rocker geometry that keeps the car flatter around corners making swaybars not necessary.
*Adjustable Rear hub height
*Unique to the “INSPIRE4” a cross over quad rocker rear suspension system.
*Suspension geometry designed from scratch.
*Ground-breaking TSD dampers
*Centre slipper is removed with a quick-release system
*Chassis layout to achieve a 50/50 weight distribution (depending on electronics).
*Side pods are designed to control the chassis flex are can be adjusted
*Large angled side pods to increase ground clearance when the chassis rolls through the corners and decrease the chances of chassis rub.
*7075 t6 aluminium 2mm thick chassis design (Carbon fibre chassis option will be available)
*No shock towers to disturb the air flow to the wings and body shell.
*CFD software used when designing the car.
*Minimal weight passed the front and rear axles.
*Wings mount perfectly over the centre line of the axles.
*Minimal mass in front of the front axle line and behind the rear axle line
*80% of the kit has CNC machined parts.
*Aluminium 12mm hex’s
*Compatible with most popular wheels
*Internal Gear Ratio 2.44
*Machined main gears
*Oil filled diffs
*PTFE pads with carbon-fiber slipper discs to increase cooling consistency
*High quality engineering Belleville disc springs for consistent slipper loading.
*Optional centre diff will be available.
*Quick diff change without the need to remove the whole diff case or affecting any of the suspension.
*Low diffs front and rear.
*Left-right, front-rear wishbone are the same complainants.
*Front and rear bulkheads are the same
*The buggy has the lowest CG of any other rc buggy on the market.
*Adjustable front kick up/caster.
*Adjustable anti-squat plus the option to run pro-squat.
*Inboard suspension design with the dampers mounted as low as possible.
*Easy adjustable rocker ratio.
*Unique rocker geometry that keeps the car flatter around corners making swaybars not necessary.
*Adjustable Rear hub height
*Unique to the “INSPIRE4” a cross over quad rocker rear suspension system.
*Suspension geometry designed from scratch.
*Ground-breaking TSD dampers
*Centre slipper is removed with a quick-release system
*Chassis layout to achieve a 50/50 weight distribution (depending on electronics).
*Side pods are designed to control the chassis flex are can be adjusted
*Large angled side pods to increase ground clearance when the chassis rolls through the corners and decrease the chances of chassis rub.
*7075 t6 aluminium 2mm thick chassis design (Carbon fibre chassis option will be available)
*No shock towers to disturb the air flow to the wings and body shell.
*CFD software used when designing the car.
*Minimal weight passed the front and rear axles.
*Wings mount perfectly over the centre line of the axles.
*Minimal mass in front of the front axle line and behind the rear axle line
*80% of the kit has CNC machined parts.
*Aluminium 12mm hex’s
*Compatible with most popular wheels
*Internal Gear Ratio 2.44
*Machined main gears
*Oil filled diffs
*PTFE pads with carbon-fiber slipper discs to increase cooling consistency
*High quality engineering Belleville disc springs for consistent slipper loading.
*Optional centre diff will be available.
INSPIRE4 DIMENSIONS
Wheel base 290-296mm
Vehicle length 350mm
Vehicle width 250mm
Average race ready weight 1600g
Vehicle length 350mm
Vehicle width 250mm
Average race ready weight 1600g
REQUIRED TO COMPLETE
•1/10th scale 540-size electric motor with 48-pitch pinion gear
•1/10th scale electronic speed control
•7.4V LiPo "shorty" battery dimensions
•2-channel surface transmitter
•2-channel receiver(small receiver)
•Low profile steering servo
•Polycarbonate-specific spray paint for body
•1/10th scale off-road wheels and tires
•1/10th scale electronic speed control
•7.4V LiPo "shorty" battery dimensions
•2-channel surface transmitter
•2-channel receiver(small receiver)
•Low profile steering servo
•Polycarbonate-specific spray paint for body
•1/10th scale off-road wheels and tires