First Look: Axial EXO Terra Buggy

WORDS/PHOTOS: Tony Phalen

Axial has made a name for themselves in the crawling world with releases like their AX10, SCX10 and XR10. Their latest vehicle, the Wraith, was modeled after the KOH (King of Hammers) style rock racers. This truck was a huge hit as it combined the technicality of rock climbing with the sheer speed of open trail racing. When news of a new vehicle came out, the world wondered what Axial had up their sleeve. I introduce to you Axial’s newest creation, the EXO Terra Buggy.

Vital Stats
MANUFACTURER: Axial
PRODUCT: EXO Terra
PRICE: TBA

WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT
• Completely new design from the ground up
• Killer sand-buggy looks
• 3 oil-filled differentials
• One-of-a-kind, quick and easy battery mounting system
• Durable 32p gears
• Sealed receiver and ESC boxes
• Functional light bars
• Licensed Raceline Renegade wheels, Hankook Dynapro MT tires and Griffin radiator

WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
• 32p gears for durability, but that means I have to buy more pinions

Meeting the Buggy
I was fortunate enough to attend the 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas in November. While there, I was able to get a sneak peak at the EXO Terra; only body on shots and no test drives. I spoke with Axial about the rig, and they gave me a few details about the truck. First off, it’s 4WD. It uses a central mounted motor that drives a center, oil-filled differential. Dogbones lead to the front and rear, turning an additional oil-filled diff. That power is pushed to the outside, driving Axial’s licensed Hankook Dynapro MT tires wrapped around Raceline Renegade wheels.

The unique battery mounting system is sick! Looking at the EXO Terra, you’d think that there would be a ton of work involved in changing the battery. Not so…simply remove one body clip, rotate the bodywork out of the way, pull on a pair of rubber straps to unhook and pop the battery out. To replace, simply reverse the process.

Rodney Wills also mentioned the use of 32p gears. While this is a bit abnormal for a vehicle this size, durability is the key factor here. You’ll be able to run flat out with whatever motor system you choose and these 32p gears will be able to handle it. Even if any debris enters the chassis, the large teeth will be way more durable than any 48p gears! This means less downtime for repairs. I’m ok with that.

Finally, the sheer look of the EXO Terra is awesome! The roll cage is integrated into the chassis for an extremely durable platform and the multi-piece body panels can be painted and attached individually. Front and rear light bars are included and ready for you to install the LED’s. This allows you to choose whatever kind of light system you’d like to install, however, Axial will be releasing a light kit specifically for the EXO Terra. There’s even a licensed Griffin radiator and molded fuel cell!

Testing
I met up with Axial at their shop and we headed to their nearby testing grounds. The track was pretty packed from the recent rains, so this would be a good test of the tires, suspension and durability (you know, should I crash). We did our photos and then Rodney handed the transmitter over to me. My first impression was how well the EXO Terra handled on the stock tires. I figured since they weren’t necessarily a ‘race tire’, I’d be countersteering the whole time. Uh, no. Just point the EXO in the direction you want to go and mash the throttle. It was a ton of fun flying through the berms and shooting mad rooster tails in the air! The sandy whoops section was next…full throttle blasts had the front end floating will the rear end digging! The EXO wasn’t afraid to fly, either. The huge jump in the middle of the track got quite a bit of use and, since it’s 4WD, you can make in-air adjustments for that perfect landing. There was one, long section of track that has a few rolling hills in it. Full speed down this area and you’d swear you were watching a real buggy, in the desert, from a helicopters point of view. It’s simply awesome!

Conclusion
This test was just the beginning of my fun with the EXO Terra. I get to build one of the first ones, strap in some buko-power and let ‘er rip! This buggy is going to hit some dirt, sand (hello paddle tires!) and even the track. I’m going to install lights, a whip antenna, maybe retrofit the radiator with functional fans…Ok, ok. I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll have a full write-up in an upcoming issue, and a full follow-along build-up on my RC Driver Blog. Stay tuned!

Links
Axial, www.AxialRacing.com, (949) 600-8642