Can-Am Commanders launch SxS assault – ATV Equipment News
THREE racy-looking and powerful side-by-sides (SxS) have been added to one of the fastest growing sectors of the off-road vehicle market.
Canadian-based BRP Australia and its increasingly popular Can-Am brand is better known for its range of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) products.
But a timely product launch in the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown, saw the mountainous terrain act as a magnificent backdrop for ushering in the new SxS trio that will give companies like Polaris, Kubota and Kawasaki a run for their money.
The company’s general manager (Asia and Pacific), Gregoire Dupont, is buoyed by the increasingly healthy increase in annual sales of SxS across Australasia.
Planning to become a leading player down-under, he says Can-Am’s just-introduced Commanders are ideally placed to snare a leading sales position in a market that collectively amounts to more than 3,000 units across both sides of the Tasman.
Essentially, the three newcomers come with two different engine capacities, namely the 53kW (71hp) Rotax EFI and the 63kW (85hp) Rotax 1000 EFI unit.
Both sport the angular shaped styling, sturdy roll cage and CVT transmission offering impressive engine braking.
The base 800R unit probably will generate the bulk of rural interest. Naturally, it has a sparser look about it but I was interested to learn it offered the same all-important 279mm (11in) ground clearance available on its more powerful stablemates.
But don’t rule out upgrading to either of the two larger capacity units, including its mid-range XT model.
It could have appeal to pig shooters across the Top End and comes complete with a big front bumper, also a ‘must-have’ winch with a rated capacity of 1814kg (4,000lb).
All the ‘bells and whistles,’ meanwhile, are fitted to an X series Commander, in line with its status as a flagship machine.
So it was with some trepidation that I strapped myself in to an XT model, all too aware of the gut-wrenching 300m drop on sections of track that was so high I could see airliners gliding in to land far below.
Its famed Rotax engine, possibly the most powerful available in any SxS, was eagerly-awaited the driving challenge ahead.
As I gripped the steering wheel and dabbed the accelerator I immediately became aware the dry terrain was covered in loose shale.
The response was breathtaking, requiring maximum concentration at every corner but I need not have worried since my trusty Commander appeared to exhibit the nimbleness of a goat.
As the dust and occasional snow flurry fleetingly obscured portions of the track I handed over to my passenger, former rally driver Michael Guest.
His undoubted skills quickly deflated my rapidly rising ego as I realised I had been extracting less than 50 percent of the Commander’s off-road potential.
The key to harnessing its powerful engine lies with its precise steering linked to a handy 1489mm wide track – a combination that permits the vehicle to round corners as if on rails.
Can-Am Commanders come with the company’s throttle-by-wire control system that is claimed to detect unwanted ‘bounces’ on the accelerator pedal, helping to further smooth the rise. Stabilty is aided by an independent suspension system that affords a handy 25cm (10in) of travel.
Up front the designers have come up with a double A-arm independent suspension which is said to eliminate ‘diving’ under heavy braking. Glance to the rear to realise control is enhanced by a torsional trailing arm independent suspension, influenced by heavy-duty truck technology.
Later, in a more sheltered spot, I had an opportunity to look at some of the practical ideas woven in to all three models on offer from Can-Am.
The stand-out feature is the smart-looking tipping trailer, principally for its ingenious twin-level and two-door tailgate arrangement.
Opening the lower section allows gear to be slid beneath the cargo carrying area without having to lift the floor which can also be removed to handle more gear.
Obviously, the upper tailgate also drops down to release up to 272kg (600lb) of material by simply releasing either of two side-mounted handles.
Whether property owners will take advantage of the three ignition key options remains to be seen.
The idea is for the first to allow users to access full power while the second restricts the engine to 5000rpm with the third option capping travel speeds at just 40kph. It is envisaged that users will select the appropriate key for the job in hand.
Can-Am says it is not in the business of supplying attachments, noting it can offer more than 50 accessories.
By way of a tailpiece I was intrigued by Can-Am’s Air Control Suspension, as fitted to its range-topping Outlander 800 MX Ltd ATV – an initiative that allows ground clearance to be adjusted to suit individual preference.
Merely by activating an on-board compressor, anyone with a crook back can opt for a softer ride or, alternatively, stiffen the suspension to carry heavier loads.
If ever this facility were to appear on one of Can-Am’s Commanders, in my book, it would be the icing on the cake.
Meanwhile, it might be worth placing an early order, according to BRP’s Gregoire Dupont who said there already had been “a massive response” globally with an attractive-sounding three-year warranty looking to be another powerful sales incentive.
* Graham Fuller was a guest of Can-Am at its SxS launch in Queenstown. Visit www.brp.com
