RC/TORQUE
HOUSE
Torquehouse /RESEARCH CHAPTER 01

Vehicles & speed evidence

Supplied source dossier · Prepared September 17, 2026 · Claims retain their original qualification.

From the September 2026 research edition. Product details and prices are dated source records; confirm the exact model and manual before buying or making changes.

Research file 01. Compiled September 17, 2026. Electric only (no nitro or gas).

How to read this file

  • Every fact ends with [source: URL, date]. "acc." means the date I accessed the page (2026-09-17). "pub." means the page's own publication date, where it had one.
  • Manufacturer product pages (traxxas.com, horizonhobby.com, arrma-rc.com, losi.com, redcatracing.com) usually show no publish date. Treat their prices as list/MSRP-style prices seen on 2026-09-17. They change often because of sales, tariffs and 40th-anniversary promotions.
  • Speed figures are manufacturer claims unless marked MEASURED.
  • Page text was pulled with an automated fetch-and-summarize tool. Check anything load-bearing, especially prices, against the live page before publishing.

1. Traxxas

1a. Big 2026 change: the "Velineon 3s Brushless Power System" replaces VXL and BL-2s on the 1/10 2WD/4X4 line

  • On June 19, 2026, Traxxas announced the Velineon 3s Brushless Power System. It pairs a new VX3 ESC with a Velineon V3200 brushless motor and ships in the Rustler, Slash and Stampede. The listed models are 37454-4 (Rustler 2WD), 67464-4 (Rustler 4X4), 58434-4 (Slash 2WD), 68454-4 (Slash 4X4) and 67454-4 (Stampede 4X4). The release promises "wheels-up, 60+ mph performance" on 3S LiPo and gives no prices. [source: https://www.prweb.com/releases/new-traxxas-product-debuts-massive-updates-to-set-industry-standard-302805077.html, pub. 2026-06-19]
  • RC Driver separately reported an "All-New Traxxas Stampede 2WD Brushless" as model 136454-4 with the Velineon V3200 motor. The article gave no price or speed. [source: https://www.rcdriver.com/all-new-traxxas-stampede-2wd-brushless/, pub. 2026-06-26]
  • Traxxas's news page lists "Traxxas 40th Anniversary Models" (Aug 6, 2026). It also lists "BL-2s Lower Prices + Free Battery & Charger" (Aug 6, 2025), which shows BL-2s pricing was cut in 2025. [source: https://traxxas.com/articles, acc. 2026-09-17]

1b. Model-by-model (Traxxas)

Slash 4X4 Brushless (new, 68454-4)

  • $429.95; 1/10; Velineon V3200 sensorless brushless, 3200 Kv; 2S or 3S LiPo, NiMH not supported. Claim: "35+ mph with 2s LiPo battery, 50+ mph with 3s", with no gearing change mentioned. Battery and charger sold separately. [source: https://traxxas.com/slash-4x4-brushless-68454-4, acc. 2026-09-17]

Slash 4X4 VXL (legacy, 68386-4)

  • 1/10; Velineon 3500 sensorless brushless; 6–9 cell NiMH or 2–3S LiPo. Claim: "60+ mph with optional gearing and 3s LiPo battery (items sold separately)". Battery and charger not included. No price was shown on the page (likely being phased out; unverified). [source: https://traxxas.com/slash-4x4-vxl-68386-4, acc. 2026-09-17]

Slash 2WD Brushless (new, 58434-4)

Slash 2WD XL-5 brushed with battery (58234-8)

  • $259.95; 1/10; Titan 12T 550 brushed motor; 7-cell NiMH or 2S LiPo. Claim: "30+ mph with 7-cell battery". Includes a 3000 mAh 8.4V NiMH iD battery and a 4-amp USB-C charger. Traxxas skill level 1. [source: https://traxxas.com/58234-8-slash-2wd-xl-5-wbattery, acc. 2026-09-17]

Stampede 4X4 Brushless (new, 67454-4)

Stampede 4X4 BL-2s (67154-4)

Stampede 4X4 VXL (90376-4)

  • 1/10; Velineon 540XL 2400 Kv sensorless brushless; 6–9 cell NiMH or 2–3S LiPo. Claim: "60+ mph with optional gearing and 3s LiPo battery (items sold separately)". Battery and charger not included. Skill level 4. No price shown. [source: https://traxxas.com/90376-4-stampede-4x4-vxl, acc. 2026-09-17]

Rustler 4X4 VXL (67376-4)

Maxx with WideMaxx (89086-4)

  • $599.95; 1/10; Velineon 540XL 2400 Kv 4-pole sensorless; 3S–4S LiPo, no NiMH. Claims: "55+ mph out of the box using single 4s LiPo battery" and "60+ mph with 4s LiPo battery and optional gearing". Battery and charger not included. Skill level 4. [source: https://traxxas.com/maxx-89086-4, acc. 2026-09-17]
  • Current retail listings sell it as "Maxx with WideMaxx", meaning the wide suspension kit comes on the standard Maxx. [source: https://www.hobby-addicts.com/products/traxxas-maxx-with-widemaxx, acc. 2026-09-17]

X-Maxx (77096-4)

  • $1,199.95; Traxxas's "X-Truck" scale (Traxxas gives no fractional scale); Velineon 1200XL 1275 Kv; 8S (two 4S packs). Claim: "50+ mph with two 4s LiPo batteries and included optional spur gear". Battery and charger not included. Skill level 6. [source: https://traxxas.com/x-maxx-77096-4, acc. 2026-09-17]

XRT (78086-4)

  • $1,099.95; X-Truck scale; Velineon 1200XL 1275 Kv 4-pole; 8S via two 4S. Claim: "Up to 60+ mph with Two 4s LiPo Batteries (sold separately)". Battery and charger not included. Skill level 5. [source: https://traxxas.com/xrt-78086-4, acc. 2026-09-17]

Sledge (95096-4)

  • $729.95; 1/8; 4-pole 2000 Kv sensorless brushless; 6S LiPo, or 4S via jumper. Claim: "70+ mph with 6s LiPo battery and optional gearing". Battery and charger not included. Skill level 4. [source: https://traxxas.com/95096-4-sledge, acc. 2026-09-17]

Mini Maxx BL-2s (107154-1)

  • $289.95; Traxxas calls the scale "Mini" (no fractional scale confirmed); BL-2s 3300 Kv sensorless; 2S LiPo. Claim: "30+ mph". Includes a 3500 mAh 2S LiPo and a 2-amp USB-C iD charger. Skill level 1. [source: https://traxxas.com/107154-1-mini-maxx-bl-2s, acc. 2026-09-17]

Mini Rally VXL Ford RS200 (108046-1)

  • $319.95 sale (from $339.95); "Mini" scale; Velineon 3500 Kv brushless; 2S/3S LiPo. Claim: "40+ mph with included 2-cell LiPo. 55+ mph with optional 3-cell LiPo (sold separately)". Includes a 3500 mAh 2S LiPo and a 2-amp USB-C charger. Skill level 1. [source: https://traxxas.com/108046-1-mini-rally-vxl-ford-rs200, acc. 2026-09-17]

1/16 E-Revo VXL with battery (71076-8)

  • 1/16; Velineon 380 4000 Kv sensorless; 6–12 cell NiMH or 2–3S LiPo. Claim: "30+ mph (50+ mph with dual batteries)". Includes a 1200 mAh 6-cell NiMH iD battery and a 2-amp USB-C charger. Skill level 2. No price shown on Traxxas.com. [source: https://traxxas.com/71076-8-116-e-revo-vxl-wbattery, acc. 2026-09-17]

1/18 lines. I did not verify any current Traxxas 1/18 basher; the TRX-4M is a crawler. [gap]

1c. How Traxxas qualifies speed claims (verbatim patterns)

  • "with optional gearing and 3s LiPo battery (items sold separately)": Slash 4X4 VXL, Stampede 4X4 VXL.
  • "with 3-cell LiPo and 20/54 gearing": Rustler 4X4 VXL.
  • "with 4s LiPo battery and optional gearing": Maxx. Out of the box it is "55+ mph".
  • "with two 4s LiPo batteries and included optional spur gear": X-Maxx.
  • "35+ mph with 2s LiPo battery, 50+ mph with 3s": the new 2026 V3200 models, with no gearing qualifier.
  • Sources: the product pages cited above, acc. 2026-09-17.
  • Takeaway for writers: a headline Traxxas number often needs a battery sold separately and a gear that may not be installed.

2. ARRMA (Horizon Hobby)

2a. Lineup note: the 3S "BLX" 1/10 trucks are now "223S"

  • The 1/10 4X4 Granite, Big Rock, Senton and Vorteks, and the 1/14 Typhon Grom, now ship as "223S" (2S/3S) versions. They use a Spektrum 3100 Kv motor and a Spektrum SLT 80A 2-in-1 ESC/receiver with DSC. Big Squid's Vorteks 223S news post (Nov 14, 2024) gave a $329 street price and a "50+ Mph Pro-Level speeds when driven on 3S" claim. [source: https://www.bigsquidrc.com/arrma-1-10-vorteks-223s-blx-brushless-4wd-rtr-stadium-truck/, pub. 2024-11-14]

2b. Model-by-model (Horizon Hobby prices seen 2026-09-17)

2c. How ARRMA qualifies speed

  • ARRMA uses softer wording: "potential for 50+ mph", "50+ mph speed potential", "on 3S", and "with included optional speed gearing" on the Limitless. Sources: pages above.

3. Losi (Horizon Hobby)

4. Team Associated/Element, Redcat, HPI, Tamiya (brief)

5. Budget and direct-to-consumer brushless

MJX Hyper Go

Rlaarlo

WLtoys

Haiboxing/HBX, SCY, Hosim, DEERC

  • HBX 2997A, RC Hobby Lab review: under $200; reported 29 mph on 2S and 41 mph on 3S (flat pavement); motor listed as "15T brushed"; two 2S 1800 mAh LiPos included. Low confidence; see Conflicts. [source: https://rchobbylab.com/reviews/haiboxing-hbx-2997a/, pub. 2024-01-29]
  • SCY, Hosim, DEERC: fetch attempts were rate-limited, so no verified data. [gap]

6. Claimed versus measured speed

Vehicle Claimed Measured Conditions and source
MJX 14210 55 km/h 46 km/h GPS (SkyRC GSM020), gravel, stock 2S. QuadifyRC, 2023-12-08
MJX 14209 none stated in review 46–50 km/h Stock 2S, surface-dependent. QuadifyRC, 2023-09-09
MJX 14209 none stated in review 26 mph Stock 2S, method not stated. Big Squid, 2026-03-04
MJX H16H/E none cited 31 km/h Car's built-in GPS. QuadifyRC, 2022-08-19
Rlaarlo SBK10 none cited 28 mph Stock 3S. Big Squid, 2026-01-21
Rlaarlo AK-917 120 km/h stock; 200 km/h with 4S, motor upgrade and gearing 75–85 mph Forum hearsay only. ARRMA Forum, 2023-04

Patterns worth citing

  • Traxxas qualifies its biggest numbers with "optional gearing", "3s LiPo battery (items sold separately)" or specific gear ratios such as "20/54". Newer 2026 V3200 models give separate 2S and 3S figures with no gearing qualifier. (Traxxas pages above.)
  • ARRMA uses "potential" wording ("50+ mph speed potential") and "included optional speed gearing" on the Limitless. (Horizon pages above.)
  • Castle Creations frames upgrade speeds as estimates that depend on stock tire diameter, battery quality and connectors. (Castle page above.)
  • Budget brands' headline claims often assume a 3S pack or upgrades not in the box, as with the AK-917 200 km/h and the WLtoys 70 km/h "plausible ... on 3s". (Sources above.)
  • I found no dedicated RC Car Action or Big Squid article comparing claimed and measured speeds across brands. Search budget ran out before I could look further. [gap]

7. Toy-grade vs hobby-grade and age guidance

  • The Traxxas Mini Maxx BL-2s owner's manual states: "This model is not intended for use by children under 18 years of age without the supervision of a responsible and knowledgeable adult." It adds: "Traxxas does not recommend that anyone under the age of 18 use or handle LiPo battery packs without the supervision of a knowledgeable and responsible adult." [source: https://traxxas.com/media/productattach/C-107154-1/2/107154-1-OM-EN-R03.pdf, acc. 2026-09-17]
  • The "14+" age mark commonly quoted for Traxxas (usually on packaging) was not verified in this pass. The manual wording above is the citable figure: under 18 needs adult supervision.
  • Traxxas rates difficulty on its own "Skill Level" scale, shown on product pages. Examples: Slash 2WD XL-5 is 1, the new Stampede 4X4 Brushless is 1, Mini Maxx is 1, Stampede 4X4 VXL is 4, Sledge is 4, XRT is 5, X-Maxx is 6. [sources: Traxxas product pages cited in section 1, acc. 2026-09-17]
  • Beginner-friendly inclusions: RTRs that include a battery and charger are the easiest start. Examples: Traxxas Slash 2WD XL-5 with battery ($259.95), Mini Maxx ($289.95) and Mini Rally VXL ($319.95); ARRMA Gorgon brushed bundle ($189.99) and Typhon Grom bundle ($149.99); Losi Mini-T 2.0 and Mini-B ($229.99) and Mini LMT ($249.99). Most 3S and 6S models include neither. (Sources above.)
  • ARRMA and Losi printed age recommendations: not found on the product pages fetched. [gap]

Conflicts/uncertain

  1. MJX 14209 measured speed: Big Squid measured 26 mph on stock 2S (2026), while QuadifyRC reported 46–50 km/h (about 29–31 mph) on 2S (2023). Possible causes are surface, battery charge, GPS device or a production revision. Report both with dates.
  2. MJX 14209 motor Kv: Big Squid and QuadifyRC say 4400 kV, but RC Hobby Lab's review says "3300Kv". RC Hobby Lab also reports 39 mph on 3S, which it seems to have measured itself; its summary presented that as a claim.
  3. RC Hobby Lab reliability: its 14210 review describes a "Brushed 370 motor" and 1500 mAh battery, which contradicts QuadifyRC and Serious-RC (4400 kV brushless, 3000 mAh). Its HBX 2997A review lists a "15T brushed" motor yet 41 mph on 3S. Treat rchobbylab.com as low-confidence.
  4. Serious-RC 14210 V3 speeds (36/47 mph) come from a retailer that sells the car and upgrades, and give no method. They are much higher than QuadifyRC's GPS 46 km/h (about 29 mph) on 2S.
  5. Traxxas prices missing: Slash 4X4 VXL, Stampede 4X4 VXL, Rustler 4X4 VXL, Stampede 4X4 BL-2s and 1/16 E-Revo pages showed no price ($0 in metadata, BL-2s out of stock). These may be being phased out for the 2026 V3200 models. Unverified.
  6. Traxxas 60+ mph vs 50+ mph: the June 2026 press release says the Velineon 3s system gives "60+ mph", but the Slash 4X4 Brushless and Stampede 4X4 Brushless pages say "50+ mph with 3s". The 60+ figure may assume optional gearing or a different model. Unresolved.
  7. Stampede 4X4 Brushless "regular price" $600.00 on Excel RC looks like a retailer compare-at price, not a Traxxas MSRP. Traxxas lists $399.95.
  8. Mini Maxx and Mini Rally scale: Traxxas calls both "Mini"; the fetch tool rendered this as "1/10 scale components". Do not print a fractional scale without checking.
  9. Promoto-MX included battery: the base LOS06000 summary said a battery and charger are included, but Horizon also sells a separately named "Pro Circuit (Battery and Charger Included)" SKU at $549.99. The base $499.99 version may not include them. Verify.
  10. ARRMA Limitless battery requirement: the fetch summary said "4S or (2) 3S Hardcase LiPo". That is inconsistent with an 8S truck (two 4S would be expected). Verify on the live page.
  11. Rlaarlo AK-917 availability: the product page showed "Coming Soon" and a UK-only note on the access date, so US availability and price are uncertain.
  12. AK-917 speed: manufacturer claims range from 120 km/h stock to 200 km/h (blog) and 226 km/h (reported in a forum post). Only second-hand YouTube or forum speeds (75–85 mph) exist. None were independently verified here.
  13. Losi Tenacity: the platform page shows no products. Discontinuation is inferred, not confirmed.
  14. Horizon's DBXL-E 2.0 V2 page showed no price, and its battery text ("3S or dual 4S") looks garbled for a 6S/8S vehicle. Verify.

Research gaps (not covered because of tool limits)

  • The web search quota (200 calls, shared across the session) ran out, and WebFetch was then rate-limited (HTTP 429). As a result, these were not verified: SCY, Hosim, DEERC; MJX 16208/16210; WLtoys 144001/124019 claimed speeds and 2025–26 prices; Tamiya TT-02 pricing and inclusions; HPI's current lineup; Element RC; Redcat beginner models; AMain street prices (AMain pages returned no product data); Traxxas 1/18 bashers; the Traxxas "14+" packaging mark.