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Team Losi has a
long and storied history in on-road racing. From the first-ever
ISTC IFMAR World Championship-winning car, the Street Weapon,
multi-time National Champion XXX-S, and now the JRX-S, Team Losi
knows how to get it done. The latest car to come from the Team
Losi garage, the JRXS Type-R, is a refined race machine designed
to be an all-out winner. From the earliest tests to its
performances at prestigious events such as the 2006 Snowbirds,
2006 ROAR Nats, and the 2006 IIC, the JRXS Type-R definitely
stands out in a sea of copycats.
Revised Layout
 The
most noticeable difference between the original JRX-S and the JRXS
Type-R is the placement of the motor and the battery. The motor
and battery pack are both still placed along the centerline of the
chassis, keeping the polar moment of inertia as close to the
centerline of the chassis as possible. However, the motor has been
relocated rearward, just in front of the rear differential, and
now the battery pack is shifted forward. There are several key
reasons why these changes were made. By relocating the motor
rearward, the JRXS Type-R has exceptional bite from the middle of
the corner off, allowing you to get on the power sooner.
Additionally, moving the battery in front of the motor reduces the
weight transfer to the nose of the car under braking, preventing
the JRXS Type-R from feeling loose or suffering from an over-steer
characteristic.
 In
addition to the layout change, the upper and lower chassis plates
have also undergone some revisions as well. The new upper and
lower deck chassis configuration has a much lower CG than most
other touring cars, which again adds to the JRXS Type-R's stable
yet nimble feel on-track. The upper deck has a slammed look to it,
which was partially accomplished by relocating the steering
bellcranks from underneath to on top of the upper deck. This
change eliminates the need to provide clearance for the servo and
bellcrank arms.
Four side braces
tie the upper and lower decks together with eight total screws;
one each to the top deck and one each that comes up through the
battery tray and holds it in place. The four upper screws can be
used as a tuning aid, as removing the screws that pass through the
upper deck can allow the chassis to have more flex. On some
surfaces, this increased flex can increase grip and improve the
handling of the car. The upper deck connects to the front and rear
aluminum bulkheads instead of screwing into a plastic piece. This
eliminates the possibility of a screw stripping out a plastic
bulkhead, as can happen on some other cars. Finally, the new rear
aluminum bulkhead and motor mount design now allows racers to use
clip-on heat sinks, fans, or other devices to help reduce motor
temperatures.
Revised Drivetrain
and Bulkheads
One of the most
unique tuning features of the original JRX-S was the option of
altering the height of the differentials. This feature returns on
the JRXS Type-R, but with some subtle revisions. The height of the
diffs is now infinitely adjustable thanks to the new clamping
front and rear aluminum two-piece bulkheads. The differentials
have also undergone some changes as well, as new diff outdrives
and tubes have been designed for the Type-R. The new differential
tubes have been lightened and strengthened to better withstand the
abuse and torque put out by the latest generation of high-voltage
batteries and low-turn motors. Adjusting the differential tension
is easier too, as the new differential tubes make accessing the
diff adjustment screw easier. Drivetrain efficiency has been
further improved thanks to new drive belts. The front and rear
belts feature a new, low-friction design for improved top speed
and acceleration. The final drive ratio of the JRXS Type-R remains
unchanged at 1.83:1
Team Losi raised
some eyebrows when they first unveiled the patented LCD driveshaft
in the JRX-S. The LCD returns on the Type-R, but they are now
lengthened to accommodate the longer suspension arms. In terms of
driveshafts, Team Losi has raised the bar even further with the
JRXS Type-R by turning their "outside the box†thinking
style to the rear driveshafts. The rear of the Type-R utilizes
long-span RCD's (reverse CVD's) to minimize wear and make the
driveline even more silky smooth. The RCD's also keep the rear of
the JRXS Type-R flatter in the corners along with improving
on-power steering. The JRXS Type-R uses new metric axles,
eliminating the need for racers to ream out their wheels before
using them.
Updated Suspension
 The
original JRX-S was well known as a car that changed direction very
well, thanks to its central weight placement. When the decision
was made to develop a rear motor chassis, this was one of the key
handling characteristics that engineers strived to maintain. Much
of the development time has gone towards making the JRXS Type-R a
car that works well on rubber or foams, asphalt or carpet. New,
longer A-arms come as standard equipment and alter the roll
characteristics. The A-arms are molded out of Team Losi's
exclusive EA3 composite for exceptional durability and minimal
flexing. The new longer arms also feature the additional lower
shock mounting that team members had first developed on the
original JRX-S.
 The
front suspension of the JRXS Type-R has also been tweaked for the
best possible performance. The front camber links utilize the
all-new JR mounting position which was developed by the one and
only Gil Losi, Jr. This type of upper camber link provides
additional front stability on high bite surfaces by reducing slop
and flex. The Type-R also includes aluminum suspension mounts that
can be flipped to change the roll center. The new aluminum mounts
also allow users to utilize the shorter A-arms of the original JRX-S
by providing a more outboard hinge pin mounting point, providing
you with yet another tuning option. Out of the box, the JRXS
Type-R is configured for carpet racing on foam tires, but with a
little tuning the JRXS Type-R can be easily dialed in for rubber
or foam tires, asphalt or carpet.
Awesome
Accessories
The JRXS Type-R is one of the most tunable and customizable
chassis you can find. It features a ton of tuning options,
including roll center changes, wheelbase, anti-squat, pro-dive,
shock angles and more. The JRXS Type-R also features a ton of cool
accessories and features too. The JRXS Type-R has been designed
with the latest generation of Li-Po batteries in mind, such as the
Team Orion Platinum Li-Po. With this in mind, the JRXS Type-R
includes two new battery trays, one for sub-c batteries and one
for Li-Po packs. Sedans are well known for over-taxing and
over-heating motors which can cause your car to slow down or
flatten out over the last few minutes of a race. There are clip-on
heat sink fans out there, but often a solid hit can knock your fan
or heat sink off the motor where it can get wrapped around an
A-arm.
The JRXS Type-R has
one of the most unique cooling fan setups possible, with a total
of three fans that can be bolted to the rear bulkheads themselves
(1 to the can, 2 on the endbell). This is a much more secure and
efficient setup than a heat sink mounted fan as well. Finally, you
have two different options in how to connect your servo to your
bellcranks. The first option is to use a steering arm that has a
spring-loaded servo saver incorporated into it. The second option
is to use the optional rigid link, which provides a direct
connection from the servo to the bellcranks. This setup was
designed with the expert racer in mind. If you find yourself
hitting the boards frequently or use a nylon-gear servo, stick
with the servo saver. For drivers that rarely need to be marshaled
or crash, or that use high-quality metal geared servos, you may
want to give the rigid link a try.
Designed With the
Racer in Mind
Here at Team Losi,
we're racers too. We know that you don't want to lay your
hard-earned money out for something you won't or can't use. Many
other racecars include wheels, tires, and bodies that never get
used. Even though you're never going to use these parts, you still
pay for these items as the cost is figured into the price of the
kit. The JRXS Type-R was designed from the ground up to be an
all-out racecar, meaning that the choice of wheels, tires, and
body is left up to you. By doing this, Team Losi was able to keep
the cost down while still including some trick bonus items
(aluminum suspension mounts, aluminum bulkheads, Li-Po tray, etc)
making it an even better value. Add in the fact that since the
Team Losi JRXS Type-R is made in the USA, finding replacement
parts is as easy as heading to your local hobby dealer, and you
should find exactly what you need right there on their shelves.
From the Mouths of
the Racers
The Team Losi JRXS
Type-R didn't just happen on its own. Many people have spent time
testing, developing, re-testing, and racing prototype cars in
different stages of development. This extensive testing has led to
the development and creation of the car you see here and on the
track. Recently, some of the drivers who have been involved with
the car sat down to share their feelings.
Todd Hodge:
I have been
involved with the testing of the JRXS Type-R from the very
beginning. We have worked very hard to learn as much as there is
to learn about our centered weight platform. By having the motor
in the rear of the car, it increased our rear traction while also
providing better on-power steering. The longer arms make for a
much smoother and stable car which gives the end user more
consistency. The narrow diffs and longer dog bones also help the
car hold a better set into the turn, increasing corner speed.
Overall I am stoked that we finally have new aluminum bulkheads
and suspension mounts. Now, there are no more worries of stripping
bulkheads. I cannot wait to go race the production car throughout
the 2007 racing season.
Mike Truhe:
The JRXS Type-R has
been the best touring car I have driven, by far. It has the
perfect balance of steering and traction for any level of grip you
are racing on. I have been competing in The Reedy Touring Car Race
of Champions for the last 4-years and, while I have always been
close to winning, I had always come up a buck short. This year
(2006), I was not only able get up towards the top; I was able to
finally be on top of the podium— thanks to the Team Losi
JRXS Type-R. My car was unbelievable to drive, even for an
off-road guy who doesn't dedicate a ton of time testing on-road
cars. The Team Losi JRXS Type-R is just that easy to go fast and
adapt to!
Andrew Grey:
The JRXS Type-R
equals dialed! After a year of development, the Type-R is ready to
tear up carpet and pulverize asphalt tracks around the world. Its
versatile chassis makes adapting to any track conditions a breeze.
The JRXS Type-R has the perfect balance of steering and consistent
traction, making this dope ride unparalleled on tight high bite
carpet tracks. With the motor and batteries being in the center of
the car, the chassis response is lightning quick, making the car
transition left-to-right on the drop of a dime. Maintenance on the
JRXS Type-R is a snap: 4 screws and the diffs come out. The
drivetrain is ultra efficient, so run time isn't an issue either.
Ready to win? Then you're ready for the JRXS Type-R!
Mike Dumas:
The JRXS Type-R was
obviously designed to be the most efficient chassis on the market,
not just drivetrain-wise but corner speed-wise as well. The Type-R
is really nimble, thanks to the weight being down the center of
the car. This in technological terms is called moment of inertia.
With that being said, this is the only car produced like this at
the moment. The car is more efficient and very easy to work on
with this design. I have run other chassis, and the JRXS Type-R is
one of the easiest cars not only to maintain, but also is very
easy to drive fast. The JRXS Type-R changes direction unlike any
other car out there. I am sure anyone who drives one should feel
the same. Good luck to all, and remember have fun.
Kevin Hebert:
Since I started
running the JRXS Type-R, my results have seriously improved. I
qualified for the A-main at two National events in the last year;
one being on carpet and the other on asphalt which means the
Type-R is definitely good on both surfaces. What I like about the
Type-R is that you can find a lot of steering and still have a car
easy to drive. Another great thing about the JRXS Type-R is that
the setup I run stays almost exactly the same from track to track,
which makes life a lot easier.
Paul "Chicky"
Ciccarello:
My JRXS Type-R is
so awesome! It is really easy to drive fast and always has the
traction and steering I need to get the car to the front of the
pack. It is easy on motors, and I have more run time left with
this car than my other competitors because the car is so
efficient. I love the fact that you can take the motor out without
having to remove the batteries. Also the new aluminum bulkheads
allow the diffs to be removed from the top, making rebuilding them
a snap. The JRXS Type-R will for sure be at the top for a long
time.
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