.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad
Power for comfort

New line of snowmobiles more fuel-efficient

Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Hay River (Oct 22/01) - They're faster, easier to drive and more comfortable than ever.

Like the latest cars, snowmobiles scoot along using the same internal combustion technology they've always had. But some of this year's models boast new features like suspensions that adjust to terrain, and reverse modes that change the direction of the motor.



Snowmobile mechanic Eric Wood on one of this year's line of snowmobiles. - Dave Sullivan/NNSL photo


"The most ground-breaking advent is four-strokes," says Richard Birch, manager of a Hay River Polaris and Arctic Cat dealership.

Four-stroke motors are more fuel-efficient and much quieter. But this new feature comes with a price as there is a significant drop in power. Still, "they make wonderful cruising machines," Birch said.

Other high-tech changes standard on many of the latest models include liquid cooling systems and "throttle position sensors," which make engines run more efficiently.

As for speed, a typical racing model can outrun cars, and is able to top 150 kilometres an hour.

Snowmobile mechanic Eric Wood recalls seeing a recent television documentary in which a snowmobile out-raced a police cruiser on a quarter-mile pavement strip.

Wood says a drive for speed began in the mid-1980s, but the upper end of speed of the envelope may be levelling off. "Lately they've been putting a lot more emphasis on convenience and comfort," says Birch.

The snowmobile market is broken down into demographic groups -- younger buyers who prefer fast and light sports models, and older folks who like more luxury. The average cost this year is between $8,000 and $9,000.

Birch says that's a bargain considering the bigger motors and innovations in recent years. Sticker prices haven't risen much, especially in proportion with car price increases.