Fifth prototype teaser image shows rear end of upcoming Team Associated 4WD buggy

0 Nov. 22, 2016, 12:16 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Shortly after 6 PM CT yesterday, Team Associated posted a direct shot of the rear end of its upcoming 4WD buggy - which shows off even more clues about the overall design. The caption included no interesting quotes or special info, simply stating "Can't show the front without showing the rear! #TheRearend #SLAPrototype." It was a follow-up to the photo posted of the front end earlier in the day, and upon closer inspection gives away a few new details.

It's only a matter of time now before we get to see the whole thing - and learn what it will be named!

CLICK HERE to view the first teaser, which shows the steering blocks and rear hubs
CLICK HERE to view the second teaser, showing the bottom of the chassis
CLICK HERE to view the third teaser, displaying the steering system and front bulkhead
CLICK HERE to view the fourth teaser, a direct shot of the front end

Like the image shown of the front end, the rear is depicted with arms sitting on the all-white surface but the chassis lifted aboce to show off the car's downtravel - and looking at how close the left rear driveshaft is to the edge of the outdrive, this might be all it's got (which is still quite a lot). The rear arms have a strong gullwing bend upward just inside the shock mounting point. Like the front caster blocks, it looks like the inner rear hub bearing is larger than the outer piece. The most striking feature shown on the rear end is the three-point wing mount attachment to the shock tower. In the Facebook comments following this photo's publishing, Team Associated simply explained the design as "three [screws] is less than four" and said it's proven plenty durable in testing. The rear diff case, with swaybar mount, looks very similar to that found on the front end, as does the blue-anodized 'D' block with replaceable inserts. The photo shows the car with B5-style ball cups installed, but Team Associated replied to a comment in the Facebook comments saying that the hardware was only used for the photos and that the car will include the newer B6-style ball cups.

Look further into the image and you can see the blue-anodized aluminum motor mount on the left, and just above the right inner ballcup is a glimpse of the blue-anodized thumb nut to hold down the battery strap. Based on what we've seen in other photos, it's likely that the motor, speed control and receiver will mount on the left side of the car with the servo and a shorty-sized LiPo pack on the right.