New Engines, New Suspensions, New Skis, Plus More?
Continued development of new technology drives the fast-paced snowmobile industry and is what keeps Ski-Doo at the front of the pack. For 2021 Ski-Doo Ski-Doo leaps even further ahead of the industry with two new engines, two new suspensions, two new skis, plus more!
Ski-Doo just recently released their latest creation, the first-ever OEM-produced 2-stroke turbo charged engine. Continuing their leadership of the snowmobile industry, the all-new Rotax 850 E-TEC Turbo is already impressing deep snow riders at elevation with the power, consistency and seamless performance. With the aid of the Rotax-built turbocharger, deep-snow riders no longer have to worry about power-robbing elevation as they’ll have full use of the 850 E-TEC’s 165 horsepower all the way up to 8,000 feet and continue from there with a constant 40-horse advantage to climb their way to the top. This package delivers instant throttle response with no turbo lag, perfect calibration at all altitudes and a factory warranty for peace of mind.
Ski-Doo already has the best riding sleds in terms of suspension compliance and comfort, but now they get even better with a new rMotion X rear suspension, RAS X front suspension AND two new skis – the Pilot X and Pilot TX. When Ski-Doo first introduced their rMotion rear suspension it set the industry standard for comfort and capability. For Model Year 2021, they’re pulling away from the competition again with the new rMotion X rear suspension, RAS X front suspension and Pilot X ski combination. This next level of snowmobile suspensions and handling will have MXZ and Renegade spring buyers seeing the dreaded moguls melt away, tight corners get even easier and vision blurring washboard chatter simply disappear. It’s the NEW industry standard in comfort and performance, without compromise.
One feature that Ski-Doo has been getting requests for has been a full-color display. Lucky us, 2021 is the year! The large panoramic 7.8-inch wide-screen LCD color display from Ski-Doo is fully app-enabled and offers riders ways to get all the info they could possibly want at their fingertips, including GPS with U.S. and Canadian trail data, music, helmet-to-helmet communication, and more.
Even if your sled doesn’t have the new digital display you can still get in on the action with the new “BRP GO!” app for your mobile phone. The free “BRP GO!” app works as a stand-alone navigation and social riding map (even when not mirrored in the Large Panoramic 7.8-inch display). Use it to find your way with US and Canadian trail data and track your friends throughout the day. It features full navigation with itinerary planning and points of interest. It works off line, but does need network coverage to track your friends. Perhaps the best part is it’s free and is both Android and iOS compatible.
But wait – wasn’t there a second new engine? Yes! Ski-Doo is introducing a new 600-cc 2-stroke engine in what could be called the “value” category to replace the carbureted 600 and 550 fan-cooled engines, which are now gone. This new 600cc two-stroke powerplant brings updated ride and ease of ownership to the value segment. The Rotax 600 EFI engine offers a lightweight 2-stroke fuel-injected option in the 600cc class with improved fuel and oil usage over the previous 600 Carb and 550 Fan engine options it replaces, while keeping industry-leading reliability. Run quality, ease of operation and start-up all improve the rider experience. The introduction also marks the end of the carbureted engine era for Ski-Doo snowmobiles.
Utility riders can be some of the most demanding in the industry as they require the utmost mobility and functionality from their sleds. Ski-Doo engineers recognized that and have brought the full benefits of the REV Gen 4 platform to the complete utility lineup as the Skandic, Expedition SWT and Tundra models have made the conversion to Gen 4. Accommodating everything from a 16- to a 24-inch-wide track, it brings the advantages of centralized mass and an open cockpit design to allow these riders to get where they need to go with the most maneuverability and easy handling in any conditions.
With the new 600 EFI available in the Trail, Crossover and Utility segments, these new offerings will complete the transition of the full Ski-Doo product line into the renowned REV Gen 4 platform. The move brings all the handling benefits of its open cockpit design and centralized mass.
Ski-Doo’s pursuit of the perfect day on snow is never-ending, and today’s riders enjoy nearly the same when it comes to accessorizing and personalizing their ride. With more accessories and riding gear than ever, including BRP-exclusive LinQ accessories, Ski-Doo riders can find exactly what they need to create their perfect day on snow. Some highlights of what’s new this year:
- LinQ Sleigh
- E LinQ connector
- Cell Phone Holder
- LinQ Deep Snow Pro Bag
- Seat Storage Box
It’s hard to catch an industry leader when they’re a constantly moving target. Ski-Doo is keeping their hand on the throttle and pressing hard to maintain, and even lengthen, their lead. By continually improving technologies, options and choices, it makes it even more difficult for the competition to gain ground. 2021 again demonstrates why Ski-Doo is the current leader in the snowmobile industry, and why they will continue to be.
2021 Ski-Doo Technology
For 2021 Ski-Doo aims to create unparalleled riding experiences that will leave riders awestruck, satisfied and inspired. BRP continues to develop technologies that customers highly value by delivering industry-defining performance, ease of use and value to snowmobilers around the world.
With the ever-present goal of creating a better ride in mind, BRP engineering teams set out to shatter traditional snowmobile industry standards with ground-breaking innovations. The world’s first factory-designed and built 2-stroke turbocharged engine will have deep-snow riders exploring mountains like never before. Trail riders will have new suspensions that set new benchmarks for comfort, control and ride quality. Plus, a host of other new features reinforce Ski-Doo as a true leader in every segment of the industry.
New Suspensions, New Skis
Today’s riders are continuing to push themselves and their sleds in every way possible, from high-performance missions through rough moguls to the long-distance exploration capabilities, and they expect to do it in comfort and control. The new rMotion X rear suspension and RAS X front suspension with new Pilot X skis are a rider’s new friends for whatever the trail has instore.
rMotion X
The current reference point in snowmobile rear suspensions is the rMotion, but the new rMotion X takes the rider-revered bump absorption capabilities of the rMotion to the next level. Every centimeter of the rear skid was scrutinized to increase capability and comfort, reduce weight, refine geometry and give riders more options than ever before. Developing a suspension this complex and packaging it within a snowmobile takes both innovative thinking and a huge commitment.
Boasting a five pound (2.2 kg) weight reduction, the lighter weight suspension reduces the unsprung mass for an even more compliant ride. Revised geometery and a longer rear shock increases travel by a full inch (2.2 cm) with a longer stroke to spread out the impact forces of a bump. All rMotion suspensions, including this new X version, use the best matched length shocks for different track length versions rather than a one size fits all approach – assuring the best level of bump performance.
The front arm of the rMotion X rear suspension is now slightly longer. By extending the length of the front arm, engineers reduced the angle that forces are transferred into the chassis, creating the ideal weight transfer back and forth. In doing so, the RAS X front end and Pilot X skis grip every corner at the perfect time for a rider to aggressively attack any line.
RAS X Front Suspension
Developed in conjunciton with the rMotion X to optimize chassis dynamics, the RAS X front suspension brings even greater capability to the Ski-Doo front end. With new a-arms bringing the ski stance to 43 inches wide, an additional nearly half-inch (10+ mm) of travel plus the changes from the rMotion X, it tracks true through the harshest terrain and holds a line in the tightest corners with precision.
New Pilot Skis
The new Pilot X and Pilot TX skis features a new look, new proflie and deeper and longer keel
Combined, the rMotion X and RAS X suspensions plus Pilot X skis have been optimized for the REV Gen4 platform to offer sharp tracking and consistent cornering bite over any trail conditions. Performance riders can ride with confidence knowing the ideal weight transfer will have the skis biting at exactly the right time to attack corners and they’ll notice the improved bite and flatter, more stable feel immediately. Upon exiting the apex and getting back on the gas, the optimized transfer moves rearward to take over for superior transfer and traction, giving riders pure corner-to-corner perfection.
Rotax 600 EFI
In order to provide great value, the entry level new sled buyers have been mostly offered older sled designs and technology. In Model Year 2021, BRP is welcoming those riders with a new option – the industry’s premium snowmoible platform in the REV Gen4 and an advanced fuel-injected 600cc 2-stroke engine in the new Rotax 600 EFI that’s based on the Rotax 600R E-TEC.
Powerful, efficient and – most of all – user-friendly, the Rotax 600 EFI delivers 85 horsepower of excitement-driving power and does so at a value-oriented pricepoint. The electronic fuel delivery system creates an ease of ownership that didn’t exist with carberuted sleds. With the electronic fuel system, fuel and oil is more precisely deliverd for a cleaner, more efficient engine that leads to less impact to a rider’s pocketbook.
It’s a turnkey adventure for those who simply want to enjoy the ride. Riders can gas, oil and go with peace of mind knowing they’ve got advanced engine features like plasma-coated cylinders, proven crankshaft technology and a sophisticated ECM that delivers thrilling performance and smart efficiency.
With easy starting, better performance and better economy it all adds up to more fun and a better ownership experience for the buyer who wants to ride without burdening their wallet.
The introduction of the Rotax 600 EFI marks the end of carbureted engines in Ski-Doo snowmobiles – all 2021 models use E-TEC or EFI fuel delivery for a better riding and ownership experience.
7.8-inch Digital Display
At BRP, adventure is by design. Nothing speaks truer to that principle than designing the smallest of details to fit that mantra. Enter the Large Panoramic 7.8-inch digital display – a full color Bluetooth-enabled gauge with GPS, music, helmet communication app compatability and more. Mapping capabilities can include turn-by-turn guidance on all official state and provincial trail systems where available in North America. Additional app compatability ups the fun factor with better rider communication, tunes and enhanced rider information.
Industry-first factory-built 2-stroke turbo
Altitude has always been a barrier to power production. For decades, some snowmobilers have looked to aftermarket companies to help compensate for power loss due to altitude in the form of turbochargers and superchargers. But those kits often have compromises – the biggest being the elimination of factory warranties. For 2021 those who desire higher power output at high altitudes can do so with a factory-built machine at their Ski-Doo dealer thanks to the new Rotax 850 E-TEC Turbo – the world’s first factory-produced 2-stroke turbo engine – that comes complete with a full factory warranty.
Designed specifically for the 850 E-TEC entirely by Rotax, the new turbo ensures full use of the 850 E-TEC’s 165 horsepower all the way up to 8000 feet and then maintains a significant 40-horsepower advantage over normally aspirated engines from 8000 feet to the top of any mountain – giving Ski-Doo riders the ability to continue to outclimb the competition all the way to the top.
When designing the new 850 E-TEC Turbo engine, four key factors were front and center for Rotax engineers to ensure optimal consumer satisfaction: Responsive power delivery with no lag, durability, light weight and seamless integration into the responsive REV Gen4 platform.
Optimizing power at minimal boost was critical for both throttle response and longevity. An intake with a short-track bypass tract keeps throttle response crisp and quick, while the streamlined exhaust system minimizes backpressure.
An electronically controlled wastegate maintains consistent boost pressure and delivers it precisely as needed to ensure the dynamic performance characteristics of the 850 E-TEC are never lost.
The in-house Rotax design advantages are immediately felt when riders experience how flawlessly the turbo package performs from idle to wide open throttle and how it integrates with the rest of the snowmobile. The compact turbine and compressor are ideally fitted within the REV Gen4 chassis. The lightweight material along with a patented lightweight continuous oiling system and optimized down pipe are laid out to ensure the entire powerpack stays centrally balanced within the frame.
It’s all wrapped in a new one-piece lightweight hood and unique side panels with strategically placed venting for optimal cooling of critical power-producing components, and sleek, sexy styling.
Drive Belt Monitoring System
Found on 850 E-TEC and 850 E-TEC Turbo deep snow machines, the new Drive Belt Monitoring System alerts riders in two ways of potential drive belt issues before they happen.
The first uses sophisticated algorithms to detect severe duty cycles based on vehicle speed, RPM profile and torque for over one minute. In this case the message “BELT OVERLOAD” will appear on the gauge and there will be a beep every 15 seconds – the message disappears if the duty cycle changes. If the condition is detected for over 10 minutes the beep occurs every 10 seconds and doesn’t disappear until the engine is shut down.
The second is by temperature of the CVT system near the belt. If the temperature reaches a critical threshold a warning on the gauge appears “BELT OVERHEAT” with a beep every 10 seconds and will disappear when the temperature drops below the threshold (75 degrees C). Riders can also display and monitor drive belt temperature on their gauge in the same manner as engine temperature, RPM and speed.
In both scenarios engine performance is not altered in any way – the system is meant to warn riders of potential issues before they happen.
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