2016 Models

[adubs916]

Don't think we will see any new "all Yamaha made" sled for some time, may be ever. After reading the latest from Chris Reid these statements by Arctic Cat in a Powersports Business article; my glass is half-empty.

"Snowmobiles – Snowmobile sales in the fiscal 2015 third quarter totaled $81.5 million versus $118.1 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the timing of OEM shipments, which moved to the 2015 first and second quarters.

Commented Metz: “We are very pleased with our continued OEM snowmobile partnership. Sales of Arctic Cat’s snowmobiles and the parts, garments and accessories business have grown under this partnership and contributed to our operating income. We see long-term potential from this and other future OEM and strategic alliances.”

For the 2015 model year, Arctic Cat introduced 15 new snowmobiles, including the expanded model offering of Arctic Cat’s first designed and built 2-stroke snowmobile engine, the 6000 C-TEC2. Since its introduction, sales of this powerful, lightweight and fuel-efficient engine have more than doubled for fiscal 2015. The 6000 C-TEC2 engine contributed to SuperTrax Magazine naming Arctic Cat’s ZR 6000 LXR as the winner of its Best-in-Class 600."


Seems most Yamaha guys have a sled that currently fits their wants as far as motor/hp is concerned except for the 100-115 hp class, in which interests me. With many folks on here like to throw out "Yamaha is a motor company first" I think is BS and a lame excuse for not reacting/building machines and that customers are asking for in a timely fashion. I also think it is BS because Yamaha does have what seems to be so many great new engines they are putting in their bikes and a perfect example is the triple 847cc and the twin 689cc. If either of these motors or the Phazer 500 does not show up in new Cat clothes for MY 2016 I will be amazed. If they do, lets home they find a way to put the battery under the hood and use a Yamaha wiring harness/mapping.

 

[thor452]

what are the 6 strokes intake compression (skip) power (skip) exhaust?

 

[DGZRT]

http://www.google.com/patents/US4924823

Patent for 6 stroke engine

 

[MikeWalters]

408lbs?? Impressive
http://www.polaris.com/en-us/snowmobiles/2016-axys

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

Maybe for everything in picture lol

 

[OVR4D]

Is it just me, or do those rails look extremely thin? The marketing materials says they use FEA in their designing process, but man those rails look like a weak point.

I also noticed that their track design only allows the track to be clipped every third window. I hope that's not a trend with other tracks. Seems like a cost savings design rather than a quality improvement. They're really pinching pennies if they're trying to save money on clips.

Lots to look over with that sled IMO, will have to give it an up-close inspection when the sneak peek shows come to town.

 

[MikeWalters]

They're really pinching pennies if they're trying to save money on clips.

Im sure its a weight savings. They would be shedding ounces anywhere they can to get the 408lb claim.

 

[yukon yamaha]

I wanna see the utility side of things get caught up a bit. Efi Viking please

 

[Redtailshark]

I think it's safe to say that we might be better looking to Cat rather than Yamaha to see what new upgrades are coming our way.

 

[farmerschiferl]

the viper chassis and engine are the only one being shared between cat and yamaha

 

[Redtailshark]

the viper chassis and engine are the only one being shared between cat and yamaha

True, but those are very significant parts of the sled and the viper chassis makes up about 50% of yamaha models and seems to be expanding.

I was assume that Cat will have some chassis upgrades.....which will effect 50% of the Yamaha models.

That leaves you with the Apex (10 year run), vector/venture, and nytro/phazer. All of these platforms are pretty old.

So the possible scenarios become:

1. Cat upgrades on viper models and older platforms get BNG ( God I hope not).

2. Cat upgrades on viper and Yamaha replaces old platform(s) with ground up new model(s).

3. Cat upgrades on viper and Yamaha expands the viper chassis into other models ( I don't see this for the vector/venture/apex because it is too aggressive for that consumer market, but likely the nytro/phazer)

I think 1 or 3 is likely the answer. I can't see the Apex sticking around another year. If history tells us anything, (EX: vector in old RX1 chassis) they drindle the old chassis' for a couple years after they convert and then drop them. This is where the comments of "they need t use up their extra parts/unsold units" comes in.

Just my take.......3 more weeks.

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

The viper was the nytro replacement. They stopped making them as a 2014 model. I see them expanding the agreement to replace the phazer and sadly idk if a apex replacement is in works or not. Vector motor is very similar to nytro so I can see that change coming aswell. Not sure if they are waiting on new motors to expand lines or not. Time for some new blood to keep people buying or they will still be trying to sell the same old stuff

 

[farmerschiferl]

I'd like to see the phazer replacement

 

[Grimm]

I'd like to see the phazer replacement

Might be the sled called "Sidewinder"...Phazer motor in the Viper chassis.

 

[fxnytrortxkid]

Sure hope they do something about the phazer motor lol. It's ok but it's really about 15-20hp short