2018 Ski-Doo MXZ Blizzard 850 E-TEC

Walk into a Ski-Doo dealer right now and tell them you’re looking for a brand new 2018 Ski-Doo Gen 4 REV with the new 850 engine. If you are east of the Missouri River, they’re going to have three choices for you – a Renegade Adrenaline 850 (137”), an MXZ TNT 850, or the new for 2018 MXZ Blizzard 850.

Responsive, Precise, and Powerful.

Most snowmobilers are now familiar with how Ski-Doo offers two levels of performance and suspension packages for you to choose from, but here’s the deal – there are two levels in the Spring, and then two more levels in the Fall. The high-end models with the premium shock packages are only offered in the Spring, the MX Z X-RS and MX Z X. In-season buyers get to choose from the MX Z TNT and the MX Z Blizzard, offering even more features and performance over the TNT.

The heart of every Ski-Doo MXZ sled is racing. Testing and refinement of features in the toughest conditions, from tight, brutal snocross tracks to the unrelenting pounding of cross-country races like the Iron Dog have resulted in the MXZ becoming the premier sled for surgically dissecting nasty, cratered out serpentine trails. And as so many know, there simply is no equal to the fabulous ride quality and bump performance of the legendary rMotion rear suspension.

With the 4th Generation REV platform and Rotax 850 E-TEC engine, MXZ sleds redefine this kind of fun and performance on the trails. They’re designed to slay tight corners and devour nasty moguls with their narrow ergonomics, centralized masses, far-forward riding position, responsive power and, of course, industry-best suspensions.

The new 2018 MXZ Blizzard with 850 E-TEC engine reflects the heritage of its namesake sled, packing state-of-the-art performance technology. It is for experienced riders who ride bumps, want great capability and handling plus added traction and adjustability.

There-in lies the main difference between the Blizzard and TNT variations. Traction and adjustability. It adds even more precision with standard Pilot TS adjustable skis and Ice Ripper XT track. Just a turn of a knob dials in ski bite and steering effort with the darting-free skis; the embedded studs of the Ice Ripper XT ensure solid bite in icy corners.

One more advantage over the MX Z TNT is the addition of the Multi-function analog/digital gauge cluster. Normally reserved for the X-package sleds, the Blizzard gets the “fancy” gauge pack, while some X-sleds (Backcountry X) do not get the premium gauge for 2018. Go figure.

The Blizzard is as close as you can get to an X-package sled in the Fall. For the slightly higher price tag ($250 more than the X-package) you don’t get the rebound adjustability on the front skis shocks, nor do you get the adjustability on the rear shock of the X-package, and the handlebars are slightly lower as well. The X-package comes with racing brake pads and a lower windshield than the Blizzard, which means you don’t have to spend extra to get a functional windshield on the Blizzard. So the question begs to be asked; why is the Blizzard $250 more than the MXZ X 850? Pre-order vs. dealer stock. If you buy in the Spring your sled is built to order. In-season stocking models like the Blizzard actually cost more for the dealer to have on hand than a built-for-you machine. Crazy, huh? Think of it as a pre-order discount for Spring buyers. This doesn’t diminish the Blizzard in any respect, it just demonstrates the benefits of signing up early instead of waiting until Fall when supply and demand economics come into play.

It’s all wrapped in a heritage color scheme, updated with vibrant Sunburst Yellow. The 2018 Ski-Doo MXZ Blizzard 850 E-TEC sells for $13,649.

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