The powertrain aspect of off-road vehicle sales is extremely important to the big manufacturing companies. It is a major marketing argument for which several million dollars are invested each year in research and development. Today, a wide variety of engines are available to consumers when purchasing a snowmobile. Two-cylinder, three-cylinder, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, turbocharged or naturally aspirated engines are just a few examples of what is currently available on the market. Some nice new models will be available in 2023 to broaden the range of options. Let’s take a closer look at the 4-stroke engines you can choose from next year.
Polaris
First, a big news this year from Polaris is the return of a 4-stroke engine in the snowmobiles. Several years ago, the company had abandoned this type of engine to offer only 2-strokes. The ProStar S4 is now available to consumers. A big 1000cc twin-cylinder mill that develops about 100hp. It will be available in the Indy XC and Adventure, Voyageur and Titan models. It will be in direct competition with BRP’s atmospheric ACE and EFI machines.
Polaris continues its offer for the youngest riders with its 120cc engine that will be available in the Indy 120 2023. No information on the strength of this engine, but we can expect 4hp.
Arctic Cat
From Arctic Cat, we can’t ignore the famous C-TEC 4 9000-Series that will be available in the ZR Thundercat and RIOT 9000. Designed for power and speed enthusiasts, the 200hp DOCH (dual overhead cam) three-cylinder engine has nothing to envy to its competitors.
The C-TEC4 7000-Series is also very popular with performance enthusiasts who want to keep a nice balance with stability and fuel economy. The 1049cc, 135 horsepower, three-cylinder engine is available in the ZR 7000 and Pantera 7000, and will undoubtedly remain an excellent choice for the recreational snowmobiler.
Arctic Cat still offers two youth-class engines that have proven themselves over the years. The entry level with the 4hp 120 in the ZR 120 or for more performance and sensation, the 9hp 200 available in the ZR 200.
Yamaha
At Yamaha, for 2023, the engine offering is pretty much the same as 2022. The three-cylinder Genesis is still available in two versions, naturally aspirated and turbocharged. For the turbo, the high-performance 200-hp 998cc is the option of choice for those looking for performance and a strong feeling on the trail. The naturally-aspirated 1049cc option with 135 hp remains an interesting choice for consumers who like both driving pleasure and fuel economy and for whom performance is not the primary criterion.
Children are also well represented at Yamaha with two machines available. The 123cc 120 fits into the SRX 120r and offers a 4hp performance. On the other hand, the 192cc Snoscoot 200 offers 9hp.
Ski-Doo
It’s fair to say that Ski-Doo has the widest variety of 4-stroke engines available. For starters, the naturally aspirated ACE class offers a nice balance between fuel economy and driving pleasure. The 60hp 600 ACE is perfect for the beginner or the person looking for a safe ride with no surprises. While the 900 ACE offers a more imposing performance while remaining predictable with its 95hp. Both offer low fuel consumption.
In the turbocharged ACE family, Ski-Doo offers a choice of two excellent engines. The first is the 900 turbo, which produces 130 horsepower and is therefore positioned in the performance class, while being well balanced between acceleration and control. For the thrill seekers, they have the option of the 900 turbo R with 180hp. A lot of calibration work has been done to maximize the performance and efficiency of this engine. Now available in several models in 2023, it will no doubt be very popular with snowmobilers.
For 2023, Ski-Doo is bringing back the 123cc 120 with 4hp and the 192cc 200 with 9hp. The youngest will be able to discover the passion of snowmobiling at a young age and become part of the great Ski-Doo family.
Always more ecological and more powerful, the engine remains an important component of a vehicle. No doubt that the companies will continue to develop and improve their machines with the ultimate goal of giving us better sensations while promoting sustainable development and the environment. This is a great challenge for them!
