I just need to put in my 2 cents on this subject.
Its getting to the point where the bodies are so obscure that you couldn't identify it towards a real car!! Some of these bodies can be called a Mazda, Honda, Acura, Stratus or what you but they can also be called something else depending on how you paint it what decals you put on it. In other words, there's nothing distinctive about these bodies to identify it with.
Back when sedan racing started, the whole interest behind it was that it looked like real cars and that is what brought the interest back to RC racing after people got bored of onroad race cars with obscure looking TOJs (what's a TOJ??) or obsure looking oval cars that all looked like Chevy Luminas. BORING!!!
C'mon!! Bring back the realism! Bring back the excitement! Bring out cars that look like the ones we see on TV today!!! Its more fun that way and more fun for the spectators. Rather than a bunch of people looking at it and say" Wha's dat??"
If these bodies don't work well aerodymically, then make it work by adding on some enhancements but not too far that would obscure its look.
If there are licencing issues then something should be done about that. RC racing promotes the image of these cars, which is why they spend millions on race programs to further promote the image of their product. So there shouldn't be any licencing issue. For the car mfg to go after the rc mfg over this is really very petty.
Lastly, overseas mfg that backpour original molds. C'mon where are all the RTRs coming from??? So if the A Team brings over an RTR with a Proline/ Protoform style body is it made in the USA??? Certainly NOT!! And when that same mfg that the A-Team partnered with brings out its own product do they put a different body on it??? Certainly NOT!! You guys had to see that coming.
The entire American mfg industry have been shippinig out our intellectual property for years now all in the name of profit and bringing products at low competitive prices. So who is to blame?? We ALL Are
For instance, would you pay $700 - $800 for a T-Maxx?? Thats how much it would cost if it were made in the USA. A TC3/TC3 RTR, how about $500???
Allright, I'm done. Lets move forward.