Can-Am has added to their side-by-side lineup and upgraded some of their existing side-by-sides for model year 2016. Most of the changes were made to the Maverick line as Can-Am is clearly targeting the more purely recreational segment of the side-by-side market for growth. Even in the mixed recreational and utility oriented Commander lineup the major change has a recreational tilt with a new hunting edition model. From a strategic point of view, this is somewhat of a contrast to other powersports manufacturers that have been trying to expand more into pure utility vehicle segments or the recreational/utility crossover vehicle segments. This is not to say others, like Polaris and Arctic Cat, aren’t continuing to pursue the purely recreational vehicle segment, they are, but at the same time making a concerted effort to break into to other segments.
The Can-Am changes continue to reflect the importance of horsepower in the pure recreational segment as they have tweaked their turbocharged 1000R Rotax engine to put out 131 hp. They are also pressing what they see as an advantage, their turbocharged engine, by adding several turbocharged models. Key additions and changes to the Can-Am side-by-side lineup include:
- Revised the 131-hp Rotax 1000R Turbo engine with larger injectors, increased boost pressure and re-calibrated the CVT.
- A new 60-inch wide model, the Maverick xc DPS 1000R, for use on narrower trails and with 12 inches of suspension travel.
- A Dynamic Steering Package (DPS) model variation is available in the Maverick DPS 1000R and Maverick MAX DPS 1000R and includes cast-aluminum wheels, Visco-Lok QE, Tri-Mode DPS and two color options.
- The Maverick 1000R TURBO and the MAX 1000R Turbo, which seats four, are powered by the revised 131 hp Rotax 1000R Turbo engine and also include:
- Front and rear FOX 2.5 PODIUM RC2 shocks with single-speed compression and preload adjustments
- 14-inch painted black cast-aluminum wheels
- 28-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
- Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo and MAX X rs 1000R Turbo models feature:
- 131-hp Rotax 1000R Turbo engine
- Longer 88 in. wheelbase
- Torsional Trailing A-arms independent rear suspension with sway bar and 16 in. of travel
- 4-point harness system
- Yoshimura exhaust
- Rear bumper
- A suspension calibration tuned in partnership with FOX
- Carbon Black & painted Can-Am Red color pattern
- MSRPs: X rs 1000R Turbo – $23,999; MAX X rs 1000R Turbo – $26,599
- Commander line adds a Mossy Oak Hunting Edition which features:
- Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo
- Gun scabbards
- Front bumper
- Aluminum skid plate
- Roof
- Half-windshield
- Bed rails
- Mudguards
- 14 inch cast aluminum wheels and Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
- 4,500 lb. Warn winch
- MSRP: $18,849
- New electronic belt drive protection for the Commander MAX models is now standard. It offers belt-spotting protection for when a driver is in high gear, but should be in low gear. The vehicle will not move and a “LOW GEAR” message will appear on the gauge, alerting the driver.
- New & updated color schemes
- Light Grey (Commander 800R base)
- Viper Red (Commander DPS 800R / 1000)
- Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo; (Commander XT 800R / 1000 and Commander MAX XT 1000, Commander Mossy Oak Hunting Edition 1000)
- Matte Black & Octane Blue; (Commander XT 800R / 1000 and Commander MAX XT 1000)
- Cognac (Commander Limited 1000)
- Light Grey (Maverick 1000R base)
- Light Grey & Can-Am Red color option (Maverick DPS 1000R and Maverick MAX DPS 1000R)
- Light Grey & Octane Blue (Maverick X xc 1000R)
- Hyper Silver, Black & Octane Blue and White, black & Can-Am Red color option (Maverick X mr 1000R)
- White, Light Grey & Manta Green (Maverick 1000R Turbo and MAX 1000R Turbo)
- Hyper Silver & Octane Blue (Maverick X ds 1000R Turbo and MAX X ds 1000R Turbo)
- Carbon Black painted & Can-Am Red (Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo and MAX X rs 1000R Turbo)