What does Yamaha have in mind for 2020?
2019 for Yamaha has brought back to life the name of a legend, the SRX. The Sidewinder SRX was added to the Yamaha line-up in 2019. At Yamaha, this is the only good news for fans of the brand.
Update !!! Yamaha has launched the 2020 snowmobiles lineup on March 5th — Click here to know more.
Indeed, the best way to describe the 2019 Yamaha snowmobile fleet is “Rationalization.” Of the thirty or so models present in 2018, only 12 survived, including five spring models (Snowcheck) and two models for children or young teenagers. As if that wasn’t enough, the Japanese manufacturer has also kept production down to a minimum.
The idea behind this is to allow Yamaha dealers to liquidate 2018, 2017, and previous non-current models. The rarity created this way will strengthen the value of used models. I was able to see it when I visited some showrooms at Yamaha dealerships.
According to the opinion of the people of Yamaha, if this strategy succeeds in achieving its objectives, Yamaha should be back in strength by 2020 with a much more complete offer. They also suggested that there would be new models available on the menu!
But what can we expect in 2020?
For high-performance snowmobiles, no significant changes are to be expected. However, the Sidewinder line-up may see some models come back such as R-TX and possibly S-TX.
The medium-power trail model segment (120-140 HP) could see the introduction of an entirely new model. This new family would be built on a new chassis and equipped with a new 4-stroke engine. The objective would be to replace the Vector line-up. We could also see one or two models of the Viper range come back even though this platform has already had its time.
Yamaha has never really replaced the Phaser family as an entry-level model, and that’s a shame. This is a significant deficiency in their fleet, as many dealers could tell you. So, it should not be surprising to see a completely new model, possibly on the same platform as the hypothetical new mid-power family I just mentioned. Yamaha could, therefore, present us a new engine whose power would be in the 75-110 HP range. This would be the logical choice for young snowmobilers who have learned on the SnoScoot.
In 2020, we expect to see the SR Venture back. This model was introduced in 2018 before being withdrawn from the line-up in 2019. Could the RS Venture come back? It’s hard to say, but since the chassis is so old, we might be ready for something else. In short, we should see a Touring model in the 2020 line-up at Yamaha.
For utility snowmobiles, the VK540 is expected to stay there. Indeed, even if its look is quite old, also if its technologies are not up to date, it is a model that sells very well among those who are looking for mechanical simplicity. This model is popular in northern areas where people often must repair their snowmobiles. The return of the VK Professional II is not so sure, in my opinion.
The last segment is the mountain models. One model should certainly make a comeback: The Sidewinder M-TX 153.
To stand out in this type of snowmobile, we won’t hide… Yamaha should offer one or two-stroke engines. But as we know, the manufacturer has been using four-stroke snowmobiles for the past 15 years or so. Will Yamaha ever question this orientation? The real question is, is it already done? It seems so… And I’m not talking about the VK540.
Let’s Have a Look at the Transporter 600
While browsing the Internet, we can find a Yamaha model available in Europe that is equipped with a 600cc two-stroke engine. You read it right: two strokes! This model is named the Transporter 600.
This utility model is equipped with a 600cc engine manufactured by Arctic Cat (600 C-TEC2). It appears to be a “Yamaha” version of the Norseman 6000.
So, we may wonder if Yamaha will offer this model and possibly other 2-stroke motorized snowmobiles in Canada in 2020. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait very long since the 2020 range should be unveiled in February or March. We will then see if the people of Yamaha can surprise us!
Have a good season!
