The 22 best rc nitro car brands
Kyosho, Traxxas and HPI lead our ranking of 22 rc nitro car brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Rc Nitro Car brands, ranked
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1
Kyosho
Japanese maker with a deep nitro range, spanning wheelie cars, monster trucks and 1/8 buggies and touring cars.
Top products: Nitro Crusher· Rampage Pro· Superten FW-03
Website: rc.kyosho.com |Brands like Kyosho
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Traxxas
Large American brand whose ready-to-run nitro trucks come with EZ-Start pull-start systems for beginners.
Top products: Revo 3.3· Nitro Rustler· Nitro 2.5
Website: traxxas.com |Brands like Traxxas
Popularity 9.5/10
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3
HPI
Broad nitro line covering 1/8 buggies, truggies and 1/10 monster trucks for both bashers and racers.
Top products: Hellfire SS· RS4· Nitro Monster King
Website: hpiracing.com |Brands like HPI
Popularity 8.4/10
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4
Team Associated
Racing-focused brand, strong in 1/10 touring cars and stadium trucks, with nitro kits aimed at club racers.
Website: associatedelectrics.com |Brands like Team Associated
Popularity 7.0/10
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5
Tamiya
Plastic kit specialist whose chassis kits suit builders who enjoy assembling and tuning their own car.
Website: tamiyausa.com |Brands like Tamiya
Popularity 6.0/10
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6
Losi
Strong on 1/8 and 1/10 nitro trucks and buggies, including sturdy 4WD truggies and monster trucks.
Top products: 8ight Nitro· Ten T· LST
Website: losi.com |Brands like Losi
Popularity 4.5/10
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7
Mugen Seiki
Gas-powered on-road and off-road cars from Japan, favoured by club racers for their carbon chassis.
Website: mugenseiki.com |Brands like Mugen Seiki
Popularity 3.2/10
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8
Redcat Racing
Budget-friendly nitro buggies and trucks, often sold as ready-to-run kits with glow engines.
Top products: Shockwave
Website: redcatracing.com |Brands like Redcat Racing
Popularity 3.1/10
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9
Thunder Tiger
Taiwanese manufacturer with decades of nitro car kits, particularly 1/10 touring cars and scale replicas.
Top products: TS4N
Popularity 3.0/10
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10
TYCO
Tyco makes HO scale slot cars and track sets for home racing, and vintage Tyco models are now sought by collectors. Many of its sets still circulate on resale and auction sites, often with original bodies and track pieces. Buyers...
Website: tycois.com |Brands like TYCO
Popularity 2.9/10
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11
Tekno
Touring car chassis specialist offering electric and nitro models, popular with club racers on carpet and asphalt.
Website: teknorc.com |Brands like Tekno
Popularity 2.6/10
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12
Serpent
Serpent builds 1/10 and 1/8 nitro touring cars and buggies in Germany, sold as both kits and ready-to-run models.
Top products: 950· 750· Impulse 4WD
Website: serpent.com |Brands like Serpent
Popularity 2.5/10
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13
CEN
Compact range of nitro racing cars, often chosen by drivers who want a simple, focused lineup.
Top products: SP1 GP· CT5· CT4-S
Website: cenracingusa.com |Brands like CEN
Popularity 2.4/10
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14
XRAY
Racing-grade chassis for 1/10 touring cars and buggies, popular with competitive drivers on carpet and asphalt.
Website: xrayfootwear.com |Brands like XRAY
Popularity 2.4/10
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15
Hot Bodies
Long-running nitro buggy brand that also sells bodies, exhausts and carbon parts for racing setups.
Website: hotbodiesracing.com |Brands like Hot Bodies
Popularity 2.1/10
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16
HoBao
Nitro buggy maker from China, with Hyper 7 models and dedicated spare-parts support for owners.
Top products: Hyper 7
Website: shopatron.com |Brands like HoBao
Popularity 2.1/10
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17
Nikko
Nikko builds radio control cars and trucks, including scale models, buggies, drift cars and off-road trucks. Many of its toys are sold as ready-to-run kits, and the brand has a long history in hobby RC vehicles. Its Pro Trucks line...
Popularity 1.8/10
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18
HSP
Chinese maker of nitro trucks, buggies and touring cars, with its own VX18 engines and parts.
Top products: VX18 Engine· Nitro 4WD Touring Car
Website: hspracing.com |Brands like HSP
Popularity 1.7/10
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19
Hong Nor
Remote control items are in-demand, and Hong Nor is a renowned manufacturer and distributor of leading quality remote-control racing cars and accessories. The modern-age brand establishes a high standard with the latest design tools, innovative parts, and faster models for...
Website: hongnor-racing.com |Brands like Hong Nor
Popularity 1.7/10
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20
Smartech
Smartech is a multi-purpose brand dealing with various kinds of technical and electronic products. Their primary vision is to use highly advanced technologies to manufacture innovative products to make people's life easy and comfortable. From stand fans to mobile air...
Website: smartech.ee |Brands like Smartech
Popularity 1.4/10
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21
O.S.
O.S., founded by Shigeo Ogawa in 1936, is a leading manufacturer of model engines and live steam locomotives. The brand developed the world’s first model rotary engine, and the most recent innovation includes an electronic fuel injection system engine. O.S....
Popularity 1.3/10
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22
Novarossi
Novarossi Marine USA is the authorized North American importer for Novarossi World, the world's top supplier of RC motors, situated in Italy. Novarossi is a company that develops, builds, and sells models in over 70 countries worldwide. It has a...
Website: novarossi.us |Brands like Novarossi
Popularity 1.2/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyosho | rc.kyosho.com | /KyoshoCorpRC | kyosho_rc_models_official | – | kyoshomovie |
| Traxxas | traxxas.com | – | – | – | – |
| HPI | hpiracing.com | /OfficialHPI | – | @officialhpi | OfficialHPI |
| Team Associated | associatedelectrics.com | /TeamAssociated | teamassociatedrc | @Team_Associated | TeamAssociatedRC |
| Tamiya | tamiyausa.com | – | – | – | – |
| Losi | losi.com | /Losi | – | – | – |
| Mugen Seiki | mugenseiki.com | /mugenseikijapan | – | – | – |
| Redcat Racing | redcatracing.com | /RedcatRacing | redcatracing | @redcatracing | redcatracing |
| TYCO | tycois.com | /tycois | – | @Tyco_IS | Tyco Integrated Security |
RC Nitro Cars Buying Guide
Remote-controlled (RC) nitro cars are an adrenaline-fueled hobby that allows you to take control of miniature versions of real-life cars. With their speed, noise, and agility, they are an excellent source of entertainment for both kids and adults alike. However, buying the right nitro car for your needs can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to the hobby. In this buying guide, we provide a comprehensive overview of RC nitro cars so that you can make an informed decision.
What is an RC Nitro Car?
An RC nitro car is a remote-controlled car that runs on nitro fuel. Nitro RC cars are different from electric RC cars, which run on battery power. The use of nitro fuel makes these cars more powerful, faster, and louder than electric RC cars. Nitro cars are usually higher performance and can reach top speeds of over 100 mph, depending on the model.
Types of RC Nitro Cars
There are three primary types of RC nitro cars to choose from:
On-Road Cars
On-road nitro cars are designed for racing on flat, smooth surfaces, such as paved or concrete tracks. These cars are typically lighter and faster than other types of nitro cars, and they feature slick, low-profile tires that provide maximum traction. On-road cars come in two sub-types:
- Touring Cars: Designed for high-speed performance and optimal handling, touring cars are popular among professional and competitive racers.
- Drift Cars: Drift cars are specialized cars designed for drifting, a style of racing that involves controlled oversteering at high speeds.
Off-Road Cars
Off-road nitro cars are designed for use on rough, uneven terrain, such as dirt, gravel, or grass. These cars are typically heavier and have larger, more rugged tires that provide excellent traction on loose surfaces. Off-road cars come in two sub-types:
- Buggies: Buggies are off-road vehicles that have a buggy-style body and are designed for maneuverability and speed over rough terrain.
- Trucks: Off-road trucks are larger and heavier than buggies, and they are designed for maximum durability and performance over extreme terrain.
Monster Trucks
Monster trucks are a specialized sub-type of off-road truck that are designed for extreme off-road use. These trucks have very large, heavily treaded tires that allow them to traverse over obstacles such as rocks, logs, and mud. Monster trucks are typically more rugged and feature an impressive suspension system that allows them to absorb impacts and jumps with ease.
Factors to Consider when Buying an RC Nitro Car
When shopping for an RC nitro car, there are several factors to consider to ensure that you purchase a model that meets your needs and preferences:
- Speed: Consider how fast you want your RC nitro car to go. It's important to note that different types of RC nitro cars have different top speeds, with on-road cars being faster than off-road and monster trucks.
- Terrain: Consider where you will be driving your RC nitro car most often. This will help you determine whether an on-road, off-road, or monster truck is the best choice for you.
- Size: Nitro cars come in different sizes, from small and portable to large and powerful. Consider where you will be storing your car, as well as your level of experience with RC cars when choosing a size.
- Price: RC nitro cars can range in price from less than $100 to several thousand dollars. Establishing a budget before shopping can help you narrow down your options and find a car that fits both your needs and your wallet.
- Brand: Consider the brand of nitro car you are purchasing, as some brands are known for their quality and reliability, while others may be less dependable.
Conclusion
Purchasing an RC nitro car can be an excellent investment in your personal entertainment and leisure activities. With their speed, maneuverability, and power, RC nitro cars provide hours of fun for both adults and children. However, it's important to consider the factors outlined in this guide to ensure that you purchase a model that meets your needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for an on-road, off-road, or monster truck RC nitro car, there's a model out there that will provide the speed and performance that you're looking for.
