So, what’s the new Rotax ACE 900 with iTC like to drive? According to SnowTech magazine editor Kevin Beilke, “This sled will change the way you think of 4-strokes, and will change the way you think a snowmobile should be. Ski-Doo has just changed the rules, yet again”.
SnowTech magazine editor Kevin Beilke has put more than 3,200 miles on a prototype 2014 Renegade model powered by the new Rotax ACE 900 engine with iTC (intelligent Throttle Control). Below are excerpts from a recent email to Ski-Doo to communicate his impressions of the sled so far:
Favorite sled – whatever it is, is has the rMotion rear suspension.
That is the best, no contest. I thought it was our 800 E-TEC Renegade
X, or maybe the 600 E-TEC MX Z X, but we just got a 2014 prototype
Renegade 900 ACE 4-stroke. This sled is amazing. On paper it says it
has only 90 HP, but on the snow it pulls great with a wide torque band
and it is so smooth, so tractable, so quiet, easy to ride, gets like
20+ MPG, and off trail it will go anywhere. It is the first 4-stroke
that isn’t nose heavy. It just blows my mind at how good it runs, and
is actually a very fast sled up to 80 mph, then it is done. Maybe 90
on hardpack. It pulls hard out of the corners but doesn’t spin the track.
You hear more track noise than the engine, you would swear it is an
electric snowmobile.
Everyone that rides it says it is the Lexus of snowmobiles. It just
plain works. Puts all other 4-strokes to shame. Only the 600 & 800
E-TECs are even close, or a 1200 4-TEC. Or maybe the 600 ACE,
but that just doesn’t have quite enough power. The 900 does. Forget HP,
it is all about the torque. This is usable power, even in two feet of fresh
lake effect snow it goes and goes. No trenching, it just goes. You will not
believe what this sled is capable of.
Best sled we have ever had, if I dare make that claim. I must
be nuts, but it is that impressive. The ride quality from the 2014
rMotion is unmatched, rough trails are a total non-issue. Got the sled
last wednesday, already have 1,600 miles on it. And it burns 87 octane fuel,
that’s 50 cents a gallon less than premium right now. This sled will change the
way you think of 4-strokes, and will change the way you think a snowmobile should be.
Ski-Doo has just changed the rules, yet again.