Associated TC5 official press info!

[PeterV]

http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_body.jpg

http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_bumper.jpg
^ Adjustable roll-centers and hinge-pin angle

^ Mono-bellcrank and adjustable servo-saver

^ Light weight and durable high-impact bumper


http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_batt.jpg
^ 20 Precision ball-bearings

^ Woven carbon fiber battery strap included

^ Blue aluminum thumbscrews included


http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_rear.jpg
^ Belt drive with adjustable differential heights and belt tension

^ Blue titanium turnbuckles

^ Blue aluminum clamping wheel hexes


http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_corner.jpg
^ Hardened steel CVAs with cross-pin retaining clips

^ Rear hubs with vertical ball studs

^ Durable front and rear A-arms


http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_behind.jpg
^ Composite differentials with blue aluminum outdrive saver rings

^ 3mm woven carbon fiber shock towers

^ Rigid 2.5mm woven carbon fiber chassis and top plate



http://209.2.68.15:8011/pics/TC5_front.jpg
^ VCS2 shock package

^ Hard anodized threaded shock bodies

^ Front & rear anti-roll bars


From Team Associated:

Team Associated's Area 51 is proud to announce the release of the
Factory Team TC5. The TC5 is Area-51’s answer to the most competitive
onroad touring car field in history. Starting with a blank sheet of
paper, many decades of race winning experience and new ideas, the
designers built the TC5 from the ground up producing an entirely new
platform. The result is the TC5, an electric touring car that offers the
performance and durability to stand up to the highest demands of touring
car racing.

The TC5 starts with a full ball bearing, dual belt-drive system that
transfers all the power from the motor smoothly and efficiently. With
today’s motors and batteries delivering more power than ever before, the
belt-drive system gives the TC5 a very predictable throttle response and
feel, making it easier to drive fast and carry more speed through the
corners.

The newly designed composite ball differentials are super light for
reduced rotational mass. Reducing the weight of the diffs lets the TC5
accelerate harder out of the corners. The new diffs are also quick and
easy to maintain, and are strong featuring blue aluminum outdrive-saver
rings. Hardened-steel CVAs with cross-pin retaining clips and blue
aluminum clamping wheel hexes offer reliable service getting all the
power to the wheels.

The TC5 has also received an updated, fully adjustable and more durable
suspension package. The rugged new A-arms pivot on 3mm inner hinge-pins
and 2.5mm outer hinge pins, making it easier than ever to drive away
from some of the most severe mishaps. Fully adjustable roll-centers and
hinge-pin angles (anti & pro-squat) help you to squeeze every last ounce
of handling potential out of the TC5. The steering is handled by a
mono-bellcrank with adjustable Ackerman for more precision and less
play. An integrated adjustable servo-saver releases only when you need
it to and not before. Front and rear anti-roll bars are included.

A VCS2 shock package is included and features hard anodized threaded
shock bodies and are very quick and easy to rebuild thanks to the
silicone shock bladders. Weight-bias is a very important part of tuning
any race car and to accommodate this, the stiff 3mm carbon fiber shock
towers are indexed with center-holes to assist in balancing the TC5
side-to-side.

The TC5’s 2.5mm carbon fiber chassis and top plate together with the
blue aluminum bulkheads makes for a very rigid chassis assembly. This
chassis rigidity gives the TC5 a broad sweet-spot making it easier than
ever to get dialed in for high grip carpet racing or for low traction
parking lot racing and all the conditions in between.

Team Associated's Area 51 has produced a touring car that racers have
been talking about for many months and now the time has come to set the
record straight. Team AE is the winningest race team in the business and
the Factory TC5 will show everyone how we got there.


The Factory Team TC5 features:


Belt drive with adjustable differential heights and belt tension

Composite differentials with blue aluminum outdrive saver rings

Hardened steel CVAs with cross-pin retaining clips

Blue aluminum clamping wheel hexes

20 Precision ball-bearings

Blue aluminum bulkheads and motor-mount

Woven carbon fiber battery strap included

Genuine Kimbrough 48 pitch spur-gear included

Rigid 2.5mm woven carbon fiber chassis and top plate

Front & rear anti-roll bars

VCS2 shock package

Titanium turnbuckles

3mm inner hinge-pins and 2.5mm outer hinge pins

Adjustable roll-centers and hinge-pin angle

Rear hubs with vertical ball studs

3mm woven carbon fiber shock towers

Mono-bellcrank and adjustable servo-saver

Indexed balancing holes in shock towers

[ErikRC10]

I can't wait until it comes out, if I have the money I will deffinetly be picking one up. I would like to see larger up close pictures. The ones on there site don't blow up when you click on them like the rest do.

[Linkster]

FINALLY!!!!!! I cant wait to get my hand on one of these.
It looks AWSOME!

[OutFrontFrames]

Very nice... Typical AE beauty..

[chilly4kc]

I'm starting wonder what AE's marketing strategy is on future kits. What I mean is that the last 4 new vehicles they have released are:

GT2
18R
RC8
TC5

The GT2, RC8, and TC5 were all first shown as FT kits which are better but more expensive for the average consumer. The 18R is only offered as a RTR (for now).

For the GT2 they first offered the FT kit and then the RTR kit. So for the RC8 and TC5 will they do the same? That gives you 2 options, but there is still a market for those that want the new kit but don't want RTR or FT. Some want to build their own vehicle, but yet not have to pay for the top of the line gear or have to deal with the RTR electronics that they don’t need.

With the TC4 they had the Team kit, RTR, and FT kit. The same exists with the B4 and T4. But with recent releases they only seem to offer the FT or RTR versions. So will they offer a kit that is in between FT and RTR anymore?

Don't get me wrong, I usually buy the FT kits, but for some racers the FT kits can be out of their budget and they don't want to try and sell off the RTR electronics each time they buy a new kit.

[ErikRC10]

I am sure there will be a Team version for the TC5 but not for the others and I will tell you why. Look at there other kits, they original GT didn't have a Team version, just the FT and RTR and the MGT only was avaible as an RTR.
As for the RC18R I don't think an FT version will be realeased because there simple isn't a market for it same for the RC18MT. While the RC18T and the RC18B are both have class you can race in and you will benifit from the FT versions but not so much if you are bashing which.
Now that still leaves the regular Team version for those cars. Once again I don't think there is a market for it. For the mini's most likely if you are gonna go all out with electronics you aren't going to want the Team version and very few would be sold. The same goes for nitro vehicles, if you are gonna spend the money on nice equipment you are most likely gonna want the FT version but if you get the RTR you can bash it around the yard and can still take it to the track without spending huge amounts of money. Now with electric for some reason there seems to be a good bugdet market. I think this is because you can still use the Team version and be just as competive but the electronics in RTRs are not really good enough to race with.
Just my 2 cents..

[birdy233]

Why??

A little lesson as I have done this myself: :teacher:

Because most people throw a mad fit when the "team" version comes out, then AE trickles out all the factory options for months, you wind up buying some or all of the factory hop-ups so by the time the factory team version comes out you spent $100 more dollars than you would have for the factory team version's price.

So yes, maybe a bad move money wise for AE, but would you rather pay a bit more for the full factory team version and save money or buy the team version, spend more money to have a factory version??

I say bravo AE :D

[Cain]

Will be nice to see how well this vehicle does. In recent years didn't seem AE was doing as well as I would have expected in touring car.

[hyperstang]

I think I'll be picking one up...

Need a new on road for my stable...

[print]

why belts? I love that shaft drive set up. Do you think they will continue making the TC4?

[hyperstang]

In my experience, I raced on road for a heck of a long time, and I felt belts have great control and awesome speeds....but belts break. In competition, you snap a belt, you better have one in your box if you want to continue.

Shaft drive is awesome. I did switch to the Nitro TC3 from my Mugen, but I am now back to the Mugen for my nitro on road and she is a killer on the track. No problems with the belt at all and I am kicking butts and taking names. My nitro TC3 is for bashing now and I think my shaft drive TB-02 will be a basher now and concentrate on the AE one. But I was also looking into the TRF Tamiya cars as well...but I want to see the price for this bad boy.

[Tamiya4ever]

I got this info from another forum. Check it out

"The TC5 will be released in “carpet foam” rather than in rubber because the US drivers run more carpet with Touring Car's than they do on rubber. This will mean nothing more than it will be promoted more as a carpet racer than as a "rubber racer". Obviously the car can be used in both forms, there will be one platform that is good for both conditions, therefore everything is changeable on the car, geometry wise so it can be tuned for both conditions. The final version to be released will be in one form, Factory Team Edition only, no RTR or sport kits, it's a pure racing platform."

[Neon_Dave]

:p Nice... TC5 seems fitting, I suppose... going by the TC line, but nothing like it :D

It looks good. I can't help but feel behind the crowd now... with my TC3 :p:D

[dallasv8]

i was hoping they would have kept the white arms :)

[DENTEC36]

Glad to see this high level race version, I don't think we will see a lower level version of this car, that's what the TC4 is for. my 2 cent's :cool:

[rc411]

About time they switch to belts. Looks way better than what they've ever had before, except for the body.

[rcfreak9]

i think that body is sweet. it looks different, but in a cool way.

[eveloso]

does anyone have one yet??

[T/Losi]

PREORDER ASC30103 Factory Team TC5 Touring Car Kit
PREORDER ONLY $339.99, ETA is Early May, Your order will ship as soon as they come in. We have a Limited amount of the TC5 coming SECURE yours now!!! PLEASE ORDER THIS ITEM SEPRATE FROM OTHER PARTS WE WILL NOT COMBINE SHIPPING ON THIS.

http://www.losipartshouse.com/servlet/StoreFront

[B4 Stealth]

this ride looks badA$$ :D

[trailranger]

Tower has already inputed the stock numbers.. So i guess they are waiting like the rest of us

[Demon-TC3]

Not a fan of the shell, as for the belt looking better, i HONESTLY think the FT TC4 is one of the most beautiful cars to ever hit the track!

ive never been a fan of belt drive BUT i know this will be my "next season" car (happy with FT TC4 now).

However, i dont agree with AE only releasing the FT version, i would prefer the Option of a bathtub chassis Team version...not that i would buy one, i would go for the FT any day, but some people PREFER bath tub chassis.

[chilly4kc]

but some people PREFER bath tub chassis.

What I like about those is that there is a small sidewall to the chassis that gives you some protection from a side impact crash. Not as important to the Pros, but for the Joes like us, that helps protect our electronics so we can race another day. :D

[Tamiya4ever]

I am positive they will release a sport version with a tub chassis. Why wouldn't they? All the RC companies have a sport and a team version of there cars most of the time.

[Demon-TC3]

Im not so sure, AE always released the FT version Last, and if this is a purely pro platform i doubt they will release a racer version...

[Tamiya4ever]

Well then what will they do? I doubt it if they will have the TC4 and the TC5 produced at the same time. Unless they come out with a new name for the TC4. Tamiya, Kyosho and Yokomo have dual platform touring cars but under different names. Can't imagine them calling them TC6 and TC7.

[Demon-TC3]

No they have stopped producing teh TC4, hence the mass clearing of TC4's a couple months back...That said, They will still be producing parts for years to come! :cool:

[T/Losi]

The TC4 RTR is still available

Cheers

[Demon-TC3]

yea there is allot of them arround but i dont think they are being produced any more...are they?

[traxxas-dude]

I guess the TC world is getting more and more competitive...

The TC3 Ruled the tracks for nearly 6 years, and the TC4 lasted hardly 2...

Anywho, nice car. :D

[T/Losi]

Be good if they kept selling the TC4 so you could have a choice of shaft or belt driven. Losi seys the XXX-4 G+ and still sells the XX-4 W.E

Cheers

[Tamiya4ever]

I guess the TC world is getting more and more competitive...

The TC3 Ruled the tracks for nearly 6 years, and the TC4 lasted hardly 2...

Anywho, nice car. :D

Yes and more expensive. To bad they take a nice thing like a TA01, simple yet effective car for around $145 and turn it into cars that cost over $350 and up. :mad:

[Bigedmond]

Be good if they kept selling the TC4 so you could have a choice of shaft or belt driven. Losi seys the XXX-4 G+ and still sells the XX-4 W.E

Cheers

They sell both cars still because the cars handle different track better then the other. So instead of giving 1 option that works on some track, you now can buy either or both cars so you have something to work on any track. But thinking about it as i typed this, its pretty wrong to force a buyer to get 2 cars, when they should just tweak 1 to work well on all tracks.

[Grizzbob]

Yes and more expensive. To bad they take a nice thing like a TA01, simple yet effective car for around $145 and turn it into cars that cost over $350 and up. :mad:
True, but at the same time, we also have low budget cars today that are LIGHT YEARS better than anything we used to have back then. As an example, Tamiya's TA05 can be had for as little as $125 at a few places, yet it can handle as well as almost ANYTHING out there(though it does have one glaring disadvantage, it's VERY heavy compared to the all carbon-fiber & aluminum cars, but it takes an EXCELLENT racer to be slowed down by that, for the average driver, that's not a problem, & its sheer toughness is a real benefit). Now personally, I won't miss the TC4, had a Team & Factory Team one & I just couldn't get them to run the way I needed them to(FAR too inconsistent, could get a good lap once in awhile, but could never get them working well enough to be competitive in a 5-minute race), & if the TC5 works well, perhaps a budget version later(like XRay & Hot Bodies have both done with the T2R & Cyclone S, respectively) will give the budget racer what he needs too..... :cool:

[ragamuffin]

Where the hell is the next generation NTC3? :mad:

[Demon-TC3]

There will be no NTC4 as the NTC3 is pretty much the same as the TC4 as it is...as for an NTC5...who knows