THE Australian farmer has been foremost in the mind of developers of the world’s newest utility side-by-side vehicle, the Can-Am Defender from global leaders in the motorised recreational vehicle game BRP.
The Canadian-based company launched its comprehensive new off-road machine in the US farming and hunting capital, Pike County, Illinois, last week, saying it established new standards in power and versatility.
The Can-Am brand has long established its place as the pace-setter in the performance all-terrain vehicle (ATV) market but the company has for some time recognised farmers, hunters and big property owners as the market segment offering the most growth.
However the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) – effectively a cross between a ute and an ATV – is a new beast for Can-Am and as such, the move into that market had to be well-considered, according to the engineers, marketers and product designers at BRP.
Can-Am Off-Road Global Marketing Director Philippe Normand said the company wanted to ensure it improved on what was currently available.
More than 100 farmers and hunters from around the world were visited and ‘studied’ in depth.
A large number were from Australia and what the Can-Am team found here provided solid foundations for the development of the Defender family, from the 20 per cent more torque at 4000 rpm of the HD10 model than its nearest competitor to the flip-up seat to accommodate the most discerning Kelpie.
“Australian farmers are extremely hard on their machines. They push their farm vehicles to the limit,” Mr Normand said.
He said the Defender, which seats three adults, was modelled on three pillars: Tough, Capable, Clever.
BRP leveraged its proven Rotax engine technology to create a work-focussed version of the durable V-Twin Rotax engines, specially calibrated to offer the best torque of the industry: the Rotax 50-hp 800cc HD8 or the 72-hp 976cc HD10 engines.
A new generation of transmission, PRO-TORQ, was designed specifically for the Defender, featuring a Quick Response System (QRS) that enhances low-speed riding, and delivers smoother and more responsive power delivery.
According to independent testers who put the Defender through its paces at the Illinois launch, the side-by-side can legitimately claim the label ‘workhorse’.
The Defender lineup features industry-leading towing, hauling and payload capacities, they said.
Four Defender models will be available in Australia from early next year.
Shan Goodwin travelled to Illinois as a guest of BRP.
