Textron Off Road 2018 Wildcat XX Reviews

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The 2018 Wildcat XX from Textron Off Road

The Wildcat XX has plenty of horsepower but emphasizes the suspension and handling.

While not fancy, the Wildcat XX cockpit is ergonomic and roomy and includes a customizable dash.

The 2018 Wildcat XX is Textron Off Road’s first totally new UTV for the high-end sport market since they acquired Arctic Cat. The vehicle was developed with input from Robby Gordon, Todd Romano and Speed Energy and is designed to be able to go from showroom to racing without making major changes. The interesting aspect about the Wildcat XX development is that in the middle of ongoing horsepower wars Textron decided to emphasize the suspension and handling of the vehicle rather than the horsepower. The approach is straight out of their partnership with Robby Gordon and is based on the simple idea that after a certain point the limiting factor for driving fast in challenging terrain is the suspension and handling and not the horsepower. However, the Wildcat XX still packs plenty of horsepower.

The 64″ wide Wildcat XX is powered by a 125 hp, 998cc naturally aspirated EFI engine based on Yamaha’s 3-cylinder engine used in the YXZ, and features 18″ of front and rear suspension travel. The suspension is designed to maintain the same track width throughout the travel to improve handling, cornering and stability through corners and rough terrain. The front suspension has dual A-arms with unequal lengths, a sway bar and FOX 2.5 PODIUM QS3 shocks with compression adjustment. The rear suspension has a rear trailing arm, rear sway bar and FOX 2.5 PODIUM QS3 shocks with compression adjustment and bottom-out control. Wildcat XX has 14″ of ground clearance.

Additional features include:

30″ CST Behemoth tires on 15″ aluminum KMC wheels
EPS
2WD/4WD with 4WD lock and front locking differential
Team Rapid Response clutches and CVT
Full doors
Intrusion bars
Full skidplate
Halogen high/low headlights with LED accents
Dual LCD gauge
Contoured bucket seats
4 gal. glove box
300 lbs cargo box that can fit a 32″ spare
Oversized bearings
Forged aluminum front knuckle and double shear suspension components
Pre-wired for accessories

The Wildcat XX is available in Lime Green, Satin Charcoal Metallic or Horizon Blue (optional) and has an MSRP of $20,499. Turbocharged and 4-seat versions are being planned.

Most of the following test drives were in the rocky desert environs of Barstow, California. In general the reviews are all very positive. The suspension and handling is the standout feature of the vehicle enabling precise, high speed driving through corners and whoops. The steering is precise and there is no shock fade after a hard day of riding.

The power delivery is considered smooth throughout the range and with plenty of low range performance for rock crawling. The power plant while not turbocharged is viewed as more than adequate for all types of driving conditions, though dune riders may be jealous of their turbocharged buddies. The durability of suspension components, modular frame design and easy access to the innards of the vehicle is expected to make servicing and repairs easier.

Other positives noted include nicely thought out pre-wiring for accessors, good doors, durably built and a roomy and ergonomic cockpit. In terms of drawbacks, vehicle entry can be tricky, and some may find the seatbelt positioning uncomfortable and the seats too firm. The look of the vehicle is likely to receive mixed reviews and some may want more steering feel.

Given the pricing and overall tenor of the vehicle reviews, the Wildcat XX is likely to be a success for Textron Off Road.

UTVGuide.net Test Drive and Rock Crawling Video

No shock fade after extensive hard driving
Kickback free steering
Steering may be too light for some
“…precise control over the vehicle at insane speeds over rough terrain”
Seating provides “…more secure feel than a RZR without the detriment to forward visibility that the X3 creates by placing its seats so low.”
Rattle free
Smooth operating doors and easy to use
Large cab with plenty of leg room and comfortable layout
Easy access to clutch, engine and electronics for maintenance and repair
“The engine is peppy, there is minimal body roll, and the car is incredibly agile.”
“Low-speed maneuverability is great…”
Quick and precise steering
“The car tracks straight, flies flat, and handles like a dream, never feeling tippy or overworked.”
Built for durability
Plenty fast for most driving but will likely lag behind turbocharged models on dunes

UTV Planet Test Drive

“It is leaps and bounds better than any Wildcat machine before it and its better than several other manufacturers machines available today. It’s really impressive.”
Plenty of power despite not being turbo-charged
Best suspension system of any Wildcat
Comfortable large cab and dead pedal placement
Angled center console makes for easier gauge access and visuals
The Wildcat XX look produces a love or hate reaction
“It is the best Wildcat ever produced. It blows every previous Cat away in terms of comfort, ability and durability.”

ATV.com Test Drive

Not completely sold on the look
Slightly difficult to enter because of angled bodywork
Incredibly easy to service from a racing point of view
Smooth power delivery through RPM range
“Seems to get up on top of the ridges and dance along with control and little effort.”

ATVillustrated.com Test Drive

Built like a racing vehicle
Roomy and ergonomic cockpit including flat-bottomed steering wheel, non-rattling hand holds and center console and “huge” glove box
Sturdy well-operating doors
Modular three-section frame for easy repair and servicing
Hanging engine on rubber mounts isolates engine from frame impacts
Fan fins cast into CVT pulleys improves airflows and minimized belt issues
Top speed of 75 mph
Can corner at high speeds easily
Quick turning but some might want more feel
“Floats like a desert car”
Responsive CVT
“No need for turbo. It’s not about horsepower, it’s about handling.”
“Suspension and handling on the Wildcat XX is phenomenal.”
“On the trail the Wildcat XX is VERY, VERY predictable and confidence inspiring. More so than any performance Side x Side we’ve ever driven.”

Harrison Power Sports – In-depth Vehicle walkthrough video

Larger A-arms
Double shear mountings for strength and durability
Rack and pinion with EPS rather than old Wildcat slide steering
All tires are the same size
No-tool access to reach belts and battery and remove bed
Lot of heat shields
Covered alternator
Race approved and race ready roll cage
Excellent pre-wiring and electronics

Ruthless Motor Sports – Video walk around and pros and cons after driving in Sand Hollow,, UT and Testing Low Range

Liked

Can’t say enough about the suspension. Very impressive.
No fading after 100 miles of different types of riding
Tracks through whoops (at 74 mph) and corners
Low range is impressive for rock crawling and low speed driving
Power steering is on point
Well over 100 miles from full tank
Felt fast and throttle responsive. Does not need to be a turbo

Didn’t like

Tie-rods not good enough structurally for rock crawling
Many people sat in the vehicle and didn’t like the seatbelts which sat low and irritated up high
Seats are a little bit firm

Polaris Issues Massive RZR XP 1000 Recall

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The Polaris 2014 RZR XP 1000 in Pearl Black is one of the models being recalled.

Polaris has once again had to issue a major recall of over 100,000 side-by-sides. The recall involves approximately 107,000 model year 2014 to 2018 RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP 4 1000 vehicles. The exhaust silence can fatigue and crack leading to too much heat for the heat shield to manage which in turn lead to components melting or fire. Consumers should immediately stop riding the affected vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer for a free repair. The following recall information is from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Name of product: Model Year 2014-2018 Polaris RZR XP 1000

Hazard: If the exhaust silencer fatigues and cracks, the heat shield may not manage heat, which may lead to melting of nearby components or fire.

Remedy: Repair

Recall date: April 2, 2018

Units: About 107,000

Recall Details

Description:
This recall involves Model Year 2014-18 Polaris RZR XP 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). The ROVs have “POLARIS” stamped on the front and back grilles, and “Polaris,” “RZR,” “1000,” & “XP” stickers on the side panels. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can be found on the right rear frame of the vehicle, to the rear of the engine. See CPSC.gov for specific model numbers.

Remedy:
Consumers should immediately stop riding the affected vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer for a free repair.

Incidents/Injuries: Polaris has received 30 reports of cracked exhaust silencers, including 3 reports of fire. No injuries have been reported.

Sold At: Polaris dealers nationwide since December 2013.

Manufacturer(s): Polaris Industries, Inc., of Minn.

Importer(s): Polaris Industries, Inc., of Minn.

Distributor(s): Polaris Industries, Inc., of Minn.

Manufactured In: United States and Mexico

Recall number: 18-133

Consumer Contact: Polaris at 800-765-2747 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.polaris.com and click on “Off Road Safety Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information. In addition, check your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the “Product Safety Recalls” page to see if your vehicle is included in any recalls. Polaris is contacting all known affected consumers directly.

SVR’s Take: This is yet another massive recall for Polaris. The company was just starting to rebound from the previous rounds of RZR and Ranger recalls. Some of these models pre-date the company’s efforts to implement a new quality system and add personnel to address issues while others are from after that effort. It appears that either the silencer component was either poorly made or not designed robustly enough to perform the task. In some ways this recall may be worse the prior ones since the management has taken steps to remedy the quality issues but they yet again have a large recall. The Polaris brand will likely take a hit from this. Occasionally the company provides some brand metrics in their presentations to analysts and it will be interesting to hear what the management says about the recall in the next earnings call.

JLG Unveils UTVs for Rental Market

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The new JLG 615G UTV developed by JLG and Textron for the rental market.

The three person JLG 315G UTV for the construction and event site rental markets.

JLG, a leading manufacturer of telehandlers, booms and aerial work platforms is entering the utility vehicle market, or at least a very specific slice of it. The 3-passenger JLG 315G and six-passenger JLG 615G UTVs were developed for the rental market. The company knows this space well from products like aerial work platforms, which is predominantly a rental market. The UTVs were developed in partnership with Textron Specialized Vehicles and based on an Arctic Cat vehicle platform. (In 2003 JLG had acquired a telehandler business from Textron.)

JLG reasons that they can better serve the rental market since they already have relationships with rental companies, and, therefore, can simplify inventory management and more easily provide parts and service. In addition, the UTVs were designed for the construction and event sites that rental companies serve. Durability, reliability and safety are important equipment requirements for these end-use applications where renters rather than owners can abuse them. Some of the key features designed with this in mind include:

Front bumper
Boot guards
Steel braided cables
Skid plates
Dupont surlyn hood
Beefed up braking system and axles engineered by JLG parent company Oshkosh
1,000 lbs dump bed that can accommodate a full skid
25 gal. under-hood storage
Contoured seats with extra shoulder room and individual headrests
Generous room for exit/egress

Other specs include:

45 hp, 695cc four-valve, single cylinder gas engine with fuel injection
Engine braking system
Electric shift-on-the-fly 2/4WD with 4WD Lock
Duramatic CVT transmission
4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes
26” tires
10” of suspension travel
10” of ground clearance
1,500 lbs. towing capacity

In the future diesel versions are expected to be available.

Learn more: Compactequip.com and JLG.com

SVR’s Take: This seems like a smart way for JLG to enter the UTV market, though I think this product introduction is primarily about the company exploiting their existing distribution channel and relationships than a strong interest in entering the UTV market as a whole. This is a simple add-on to their existing product offerings and Textron is doing the heavy lifting on the product development and manufacturing end. For Textron this is another way to target the commercial segment. They already have partnerships with Caterpillar and Toro via Arctic Cat for this segment. These UTVs is another way to utilize partnerships to expand their distribution channels for commercial markets without having to develop a specific network of commercial dealers. A quick check of the leading rental companies indicate that John Deere, Kubota, Bobcat and Club Car vehicles are currently available in the rental space. Polaris has a partnership with Bobcat to develop utility vehicles. Bobcat already provides a range of equipment to the rental market.

Marc Cesare, Smallvehicleresource.com

Planned Development Communities As Incubators For Future Mobility

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The new Eli Zero NEV from Eli Electric Vehicles is expected to reach market in late 2018 and is positioned as an urban transportation solution and future mobility concept.

My colleague Stephen Metzger recently wrote a piece on how gated communities could serve as an excellent incubator for testing future mobility systems. These systems include on-demand vehicles, self-driving and autonomous driving technology, ride-sharing systems, and new public transport options. Future mobility concepts typically feature electric vehicles being used in urban environments. He argues that the urban environment presents a myriad of obstacles and complexities for future mobility to overcome and solve, but gated communities offer a simpler but still useful testing ground for future mobility concepts.

Some of the advantages for gated communities include:

A better planned transportation environment into which mobility concepts can more easily be introduced
Population already using or conditioned to small, electric vehicles like golf cars and LSVs
Portion of the population that cannot drive themselves and could benefit from greater mobility

The article concludes with some examples of new small, electric vehicles with an eye towards future mobility that are entering or trying to break into the market.

Learn more: Smallvehicleresource.com

U.S. Marines Testing Nikola Electric UTV

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The Nikola Reckless UTV on test by the US Marines.

The US Marines are testing modified versions of the Nikola NZT electric UTV. Named the Nikola Reckless UTV after a decorated Korean War military horse, Sgt. Reckless, the vehicle can be outfitted with a range of weaponry including a 7.62mm machine gun, 12.7 mm gun, 40 mm MK19 automatic grenade launcher or Javelin anti-tank guided missiles. The four-person vehicle includes an “an infra-red beam that can be used with night vision and a remote weapons system machine gun that can be controlled by a joystick anywhere in the vehicle. It’s light enough to go on a MV-22 osprey,” according to Andy Christian, Nikola’s Director of Defense. The company invested $500,000 to build four prototypes and the production military model will cost around $85,000.

The consumer version of the Nikola NZT can be configured several different ways depending on the number of motors and the size of the battery pack, which is available in 75Wh, 100Wh and 125 Wh. The most powerful four motor configuration delivers 555 hp and 4,900 ft-lbs of torque. The base model starts at $28,900. Learn more: OCRegister.com

SVR’s Take: Given the high price of the Nikola NZT, Nikola Motors is smart to target the military market that can afford the cost of such a cutting edge vehicle. Electric vehicles fit into the US military’s ongoing efforts to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Special forces in particular already make widespread use of UTVs and ATVs. An electric UTV offers several advantages that could be critical in a combat zone including reduced noise, greater acceleration and reduced maintenance. I would imagine the biggest concerns would be the range of the vehicle, charging time and what options are available for re-charging the vehicle in a combat zone.

This effort puts Nikola Motors in direct competition with Polaris Industries which has a growing defense business that is largely based on military versions of their gas-powered RZR UTVs and their ATVs. It will be interesting to see if this draws any response from Polaris. They offer an electric Ranger and have a host of non-off-road electric vehicles like GEM, Taylor-Dunn and Goupil, but they have not put much emphasis on electric UTVs based on their consumer facing websites and marketing material.

Marc Cesare, SVR

Mahindra Reveals Roxor Turbodiesel UTVs

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The new Mahindra Roxor utility vehicle powered by a 62 hp urbo diesel.

The Mahindra Roxor LE adds features like a winch, soft top, LED light bar and more.

Mahindra, a well-known auto and tractor manufacturer, revealed two new turbodiesel powered utility vehicles, the Roxor and Roxor LE. The 152cc engine puts out 62 hp at 3,200 rpm and 144 ft lbs of torque at 1,400 rpm. The retro styled exterior is reminiscent of a classic Jeep and is married to a boxed steel frame. The Roxor seats two, has a top speed of 45 mph and 9″ of ground clearance. Both models are targeting recreational users. The vehicles are assembled in Mahindra’s Auburn Hills, Michigan plant. Other key specs include:

3,490 lbs towing capacity
349 lbs cargo capacity
5 speed transmission
Selectable 2WD/4WD
Rigid leaf spring front suspension with stabilizer bar
Leaf spring rear suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers
Hydraulic front disc and rear drum brakes
Hydraulic power steering
Halogen headlights
Underseat storage
Available in Carbon Black, Classic White, Fire Orange or Tahoe Blue
MSRP: $15,499

The Roxor LE adds the following features:

Bestop Bikini soft top
Warn 8,000 lb. winch
HD front bumper with mounting plate and HD battery
40″ KC HiLites Light Bar
BF Goodrich KO2 radial off-road tiers
MTX AM/FM bluetooth sound bar
Side and rearview mirrors
ROPS mounted grab handles

The MSRP for this limited edition model is $18,899. Company marketing material indicates a Dune Edition will be coming later in California.

A marketing program to support the new vehicles will be launched this Spring and the vehicles will be available from over 240 Mahindra powersports dealers in the US.

Learn more: Roxoroffroad.com

SVR’s Take: I think the very Jeep-like look could prove popular, although not everyone may want a diesel powered UTV. The styling really sets the vehicle apart in a market where there are plenty of options and more seem to materialize every day. If it proves popular I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the larger players in the market come out with similar styling.

This is another example of an agricultural equipment company more aggressively moving into the UTV market to take advantage of their existing distribution channel. However, Mahindra appears to be putting more resources in the most by designing and manufacturing the vehicles themselves, and establishing dedicated new facilities in the US.

A quick perusal of their dealer network shows a large number of agricultural and power equipment dealers. The diesel powertrain makes the UTV a natural fit on farms. The company may have difficulty reaching beyond the farm and large area home owner market, which are a primary target given Mahindra’s popularity in the tractor market. It would appear that this vehicle could have wider appeal beyond these segments, but Mahindra may have to be creative in developing dealers or partnerships to expand the reach of their current distribution channel.

Marc Cesare, SVR

Kubota Updates UTV Lineup

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The new Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick utility vehicle, gas-powered and with a 40 mph top speed.

Over the last few months Kubota has unveiled two significant model additions to their utility vehicle lineup that will be available at dealers in the first part of 2018. The first reveal was the all new RTV-XG850 Sidekick. The Sidekick is a gas powered UTV being marketed as fast, strong and agile with a 48 hp engine, 40 mph top speed, a CVT with centrifugal clutch and speed sensitive electronic power steering.

Kubota is clearly trying to expand their more work-oriented customer base with the faster, crossover oriented Sidekick. However, the RTV-XG850 still maintains solid work specs with a 15.2 cu. ft. and 1,000 lb. capacity steel cargo box and a 2,000 lb. towing capacity. The cargo box has an optional electric hydraulic lift.

Additional features of the Sidekick designed to widen the vehicle’s appeal include:

Improved ergonomics with a new digital display, steering wheel and shift knob
LED headlights
Green and Black color options beyond the traditional Kubota Orange and RealTree AP Camo choices
Sidekick specific accessories including a premium audio system, sports roof, alloy wheels and bed extender

Other key specs and features of the Sidekick include:

Selectable 2WD/4WD with limited slip front differential
4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes
Front and rear independent suspension
9″/8.5″ of front/rear suspension travel
9.8″ of ground clearance
Tilt steering
Front guard (standard on Worksite and Special variations)
Optional spray-on bed liner

The Sidekick will come in three different variations: General Purpose, Worksite and Special. The Special comes with a front guard, alloy wheels, tilt steering and spray-on bed liner standard. The Worksite comes with the front guard and tilt steering standard. The General Purpose does not come standard with any of these options. The Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick will be available at dealers in Spring 2018. A quick internet search shows pricing in the $13,000 to $14,500 range.

The other addition to the Kubota UTV lineup is an updated version of the RTV-X1120, a heavy duty work-oriented utility vehicle. The updated model comes with a significantly lower price tag compared to the older version, $13,999 compared to approximately $16,000.

The RTV-X1120 is powered by a 24.8 hp diesel engine and has a Variable Hydro Transmission, a top speed of 29 mph and 4WD with limited-slip front differential and foot operated rear differential lock. Kubota aimed to improve ergonomics and styling with new shoulder restraints, ergonomic 60:40 split bucket seats, digital display, easily accessible parking brake and under seat storage compartments.

Additional key features and specs include:

Hydraulic power steering
Steel cargo box with optional hydraulic lift
Front and rear standard 2″ hitch receivers
1,300 lb. towing capacity
Optional machine-polished alloy or black alloy wheels
Optional spray-on bed liner
Colors: Kubota Orange or RealTree AP Camo

The RTV-X1120 will be available in General Purpose, Worksite and Deluxe configurations with a starting base price of $13,999 The new RTV-X1120 models will be available at Kubota dealerships in February 2018.

Learn more: Kubotausa.com

SVR’s Take: The work and multi-purpose use segment of the UTV market has become more competitive over the last several years as manufacturers have identified the segments as key growth areas. No doubt Kubota has felt the encroachment of this competition on their traditional customer segments of farm, ranch, large area home owners and construction. This has come from larger brands such as Can-Am with their new Defender line, Honda with their expanding Pioneer line and market leader Polaris with their dominant Ranger line, as well as from smaller brands like the value oriented and expanding Cub Cadet Challenger line and the likes of Toro and New Holland that have partnered with larger UTV manufacturers to develop vehicles to sell under their own brands. The most recent in the latter category is the construction oriented Caterpillar.

As the pace of new model development in the UTV market has increased in the last five years, one could argue that Kubota has been at the slower end of the scale among the large manufacturers. The Sidekick in particular may be an indication that Kubota will be accelerating their product development moving forward with an eye towards expanding their appeal. A key difficulty for Kubota in growing their customer base will be how to reach new customers with their existing farm and construction oriented dealership network. They may look to add new types of dealers or partner with other companies to reach new distribution channels.

Marc Cesare, SmallVehicleResource.com

Cushman Introduces New Hauler 800 and 800X Utility Vehicles

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The new Cushman Hauler 800X from Textron Specialized Vehicles.

The new Cushman Hauler 800 from Textron Specialized Vehicles.

Cushman, a brand under the Textron Specialized Vehicles umbrella, recently announced new, upgraded versions of their Hauler 800 and 800X utility vehicles. Each vehicle comes in an electric powered or gas powered variant. The electric powered models feature a 48-Volt AC powertrain with a 4.4 hp motor, six 8-volt deep cycle batteries, DC PowerWise QE charger and 235 amp AC controller. The gas powered models feature a 13.5 hp Kawasaki, 4-cycle, 401cc engine.

“Customer research guided the design of the Cushman Hauler, and the new Hauler 800 and 800X provides an excellent go-to, light-duty utility option in our lineup,” said John Collins, Vice President, Consumer for Textron Specialized Vehicles. “A customizable bed, functional dash storage, and increased visibility allow the operator to be more organized and productive on the work site.” New options for the Hauler 800 and 800X include:

A floor mount attachment that enables you to transport and secure small equipment in the passenger area of the vehicle
An independent radio clip that has been ergonomically designed for easy reach
Glove box mat package to prevent movement of items in storage compartments

Additional key specs common for the vehicles include:

Seating for two
8.4 cu ft of cargo deck capacity
Headlights
Brushguard
Optional bed divider
Welded Steel w/ E-Shield e-coat plus DuraShield™ Powder Coat

Some of the key differences between the Hauler 800 and the 800X include:

The Hauler 800 has slightly more cargo bed capacity at 400 lbs vs. 325 lbs and more towing capacity with 900 lbs vs. 500 lbs
The Hauler 800X has a faster top speed of 16.5 mph vs. 14.5 mph
The Hauler 800X has more ground clearance: 5.5″ vs. 4.3″

The Hauler 800 and 800X are available in Patriot Blue and Forest Green.

Learn more: Cushman.com

SVR’s Take: While the changes to the Hauler 800 and 800X are not drastic, they are very focused on the application specific needs of end users. These types of changes are indicative of how competitive the work side of the utility vehicle market has become as manufacturers tailor their vehicle offerings to specific sub-segments of the market. They are accomplishing this by adding new work specific features and offering a wider range of options and accessories for specific applications. In some cases, they are providing a pre-packaged set of options and features for certain end-use applications. This is often in the context of segment specific marketing efforts. For example, Club Car has identified certain market verticals they are strategically targeting, and Cushman is using different marketing material for commercial and golf segments for these Hauler 800 and 800X models. These approaches demonstrate the functionality and versatility of utility vehicles that serve as a common work platform which can relatively easily be customized for a wide range of work environments and applications. Marc Cesare, SmallVehicleResource.com

Textron Reports Q4 2017 Earnings

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The lithium powered Freedom RXV ELiTE helped drive E-Z-GO sales at Textron.

Textron, manufacturer of Arctic Cat and Textron Off Road utility vehicles, E-Z-GO golf cars and other small, task-oriented vehicles recently reported Q4 2017 financial results. Revenues in the quarter were $4.0 billion, up 5% from the fourth quarter of 2016. Textron segment profit in the quarter was $360 million, down $31 million from the fourth quarter of 2016. For the year revenue increased to $14.2 billion up from $13.8 billion. Textron also produces Bell helicopters, Citation jets and various military systems and products. Textron is forecasting 2018 revenues of approximately $14.6 billion, up 3% percent from the prior year.

The following are some of the highlights of the earnings call and presentation related to small, task-oriented vehicles.

Industrial revenues, which includes Arctic Cat, E-Z-GO and other Specialized Vehicles, were $1.1 billion for the quarter, up 20% largely related to the recent Arctic Cat acquisition.
Industrial segment profit was up $10 million from the fourth quarter of 2016 due to favorable performance.
E-Z-GO sales increased led by the new lithium powered ELiTE golf car which has seen over 21,000 units delivered
In December the new Havoc X side-by-side was introduced

Guidance for 2018

At industrial, we’re expecting growth in each of our businesses resulting in projected segment revenue of about $4.7 billion and a margin of about 8%.

Learn More: Seekingalpha.com (Earnings Call Transcript)

Polaris Q4 2017 Earnings

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Marc Cesare

The 2018 Polaris Ranger XP 1000 EPS helped drive sales for the quarter and the year.

Polaris Industries reported quarterly revenue of $1.431 billion and annual revenue of $5.429 billion, representing increases of 18% and 20% respectively compared to last year. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter increased 25% driven by higher volume, lower promotional spend and operating expense leverage. For the year a 39% increase in earnings per share was driven by a combination of increased volume, an improvement in gross margins and a lower tax rate.

The following are highlights of the earnings call related to small, task-oriented vehicles.

ORV sales increased 14% in Q4 and 9% for the year
Average ORV selling price was up 4% for the quarter
ORV retail was up for the year but down for the 4th quarter as retail unit sales of Off-Road Vehicles were down just under 1%
Ranger sales were up for the quarter with strong demand for the new Ranger XP 1000 lineup
RZR sales declined for the quarter driven by “tapped demand and limited product availability”
For the quarter the ramp up of Ranger and RZR production was slower than expected in part attributed to the new quality initiative. This manifested as a production issue with a four-wheel drive component on the Ranger XP 1000, which was originally not up to the company’s quality standard.
Continued roll out RFM inventory and ordering system for side-by-sides and should be fully optimized by the second quarter
North American industry side-by-side growth was strong in Q4 but ATVs down.
Utility side of ORV is expected to grow but there is stiff competition on the RZR side which will not grow as much as competition increases
Agriculture markets were down in the fourth quarter and oil markets were up slightly, but there was no “substantial shift” in buying patterns.
In the side-by-side market decreased pricing is offset somewhat by decreased promotional costs and there is some commodity pricing pressures
Australia was a strong market as buyers switch from ATVs to UTVs
Global Adjacent Markets sales increased 19% in the fourth quarter, driven by strong growth in Aixam and Goupil, as well as continued strong sales growth in Government and Defense
For the year Global Adjacent Markets revenue reached almost $400 million including PG&A
Average selling price for Adjacent Markets increasing 14% for the quarter
For the full year Global Adjacent Markets sales increased 16% with all business lines growing
In Europe there is strong demand for small, inner-city delivery vehicles including electrics and that demand is increasing in the US as well
“More autonomous activities with both the military and Taylor-Dunn platforms than anywhere else in the company”