2006 Bombardiers

Like a secret government agent awaiting instructions, I jumped when the phone finally rang revealing the first step of my top-secret mission. I was to land at the Las Vegas airport at 1100 hours. Upon arrival several hours later, I was informed I would be boarding a puddle jumper heading to an undisclosed location. Along the way I was briefed on my mission: recover the stolen 2006 Bombardier lineup. I finally arrived at the classified location, which turned out to be breathtaking Lake Powell in Arizona. From here, my mission included Sea-Doo action, snowmobiling and 50 miles of ATV riding just to gather the clues needed to find the hijacked lineup. After grabbing clues from hidden locations, battling armed terrorists and negotiating deals with traitors, I finally tracked down the stolen goods and learned what's new for 2006.

Outlander 800
Amid the ATV lineup sparkled Bombardier's newest innovation, the Outlander 800. This debutant was designed to be the ultimate high-performance recreational machine and is sure to satisfy speed-craving enthusiasts. It will be available in a one-seat version or a two-seat version. Watch out, Polaris Sportsman 800, BRP (that's spy talk for Bombardier Recreational Prod-ucts) claims the true 800cc water-cooled Rotax V-twin motor makes the Outlander 800 the most powerful ATV. Even though the Out-lander 800 is putting 62 horses to the ground, the power is manageable and effective for high-performance needs and is packed full of fun and excitement. For those who enjoy tackling more extreme obstacles, four-wheel-drive can be engaged with the push of a button.

What good is all of this power if the suspension and handling cannot hang with this new monster motor? Well, BRP made huge strides by paying close attention to the way this quad handles. First of all, the Outlander 800 weighs 126 pounds less than its Polaris competitor. It also has an independent rear suspension system called TTI (Trailing Torsional Independent). The trailing-arm design, with single pivots positioned ahead of the wheels on a torsion bar, allows the wheels to travel straight up and down. This delivers constant, straightforward travel and better overall handling. Another unique handling feature is that the shock mounts are located on the upper aluminum A-arms. The company claims this helps reduce bumpsteer and enhances the ease of steering. I assure you, this machine feels more like a good sport quad than a ute.

BRP went out of its way to develop a frame design that is lightweight and strong and improves your chances of gliding over obstacles such as logs and rocks. The new frame surrounds the engine with less material and fewer welds while maintaining a high level of durability. The bottom of the quad looks literally like a snow ski. And speaking of getting over obstacles, you no longer need to pull the differential lock, as the Out-lander will do this for you automatically via a system called Visco-Lok, which delivers true all-wheel-drive. A silicone-fluid shear pump is responsible for reacting to the difference between the front-wheel speeds. Visco-Lok activates a multiplate clutch that gradually transfers torque from a spinning wheel to a wheel with traction, thus making obstacles easier to overcome.

With its slick appearance and vibrant color choices, I was impressed with the Out-lander 800's sporty look. The motor felt zippy and would loft the front end controllably when I needed to pop over small obstacles. The performance-tuned suspension setup allowed for a plush but stable ride that demanded to be pushed hard. Within seconds I had almost forgotten I was riding a 639-pound machine through treacherous conditions. With a little throttle and shifting of weight, I could send the quad sliding in any direction I wished. As I blasted through whooped-out and rough sections, it stayed planted and did not kick and buck me out of control. Overall, I would say that BRP has taken the correct steps to create one of the most phenomenal sport-utility machines in existence. The true test will be when we pit this quad against its 800cc 4x4 competitors in a shootout to determine which is the ultimate utility monster.

Outlander 800 H.O. EFI 4x4
Retail price: $8599; Camo, $8999

Engine
Type: Four-stroke, V-twin, four-valve OHC
Displacement: 800cc
Bore x stroke: 91x62mm
Cooling: Liquid-cooled
Torque: 73 Nm @ 5500 rpm
Carburetion: EFI; 46mm throttle body, two Siemens VDO injectors
Starting: Electric

Drivetrain
Drive system: Shaft, 2x4/4x4 with Visco-Lok front differential
Transmission: CVT with high/low range, reverse
Frame: SST

Suspension (Type/Travel)
Front: Double A-arms, forged-aluminum upper arm/8.0 in.
Rear: TTI (independent)/9.0 in.

Tires
Front: 26x8-12; rear: 26x10-12

Brakes
Front: Dual inboard hydraulic discs
Rear: Inboard hydraulic disc

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 51.0 in.
Claimed dry weight: 639 lb
Ground clearance: 12.0 in.
Length/width/height: 86.0/46.0/45.0 in.
Seat height: 34.5 in.
Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
Load Capacity
Front/rear rack capacity: 100/200 lb
Hitch tongue/towing capacity: NA/1300 lb

Electrical

Taillight: Yes, prewired for winch
Headlight: Dual 35-watt fender-mounted
DC outlet: Lighter type in console, standard connector in back (15A)
Instrumentation: Multifunction gauge featuring fuel gauge, speedometer, tachometer, odometer, hourmeter, tripmeter, gear position, 4x4 indicator; diagnostics, auto shutoff, antitheft D.E.S.S. (digital encoded security system)

XT package: Warn 2.5 CI winch, aggressive Carlisle ACT radial tires, heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, hand guards; $9399; Camo, $9799

Colors: Green, red, yellow; Advantage Timber Camouflage

Outlander 400 Makeover
BRP did not quit with the Outlander 800, as its engineers have been busy with a makeover of the already popular Out-lander 400 series. The Outlander 400 H.O. earned second place in our 4x4 400 shootout (June '05), so what's new about this machine? For starters, it received new bodywork, which greatly enhances its look. Another great improvement over the 2005 model is the racks and bumper. The steel racks have gained a beefier look while adding plenty of functionality, as they now hold 10 percent more load capacity; BRP claims it is safe to strap on 100 pounds of cargo on the front as well as 200 pounds in the rear of this quad. The steel racks extend down over the front of the quad, creating a wicked front bumper to help protect the front of the quad's exterior. Also, for those who enjoy a little nighttime fun, the Out-lander is now outfitted with a lighting system that is 35 percent brighter than its predecessor.

The coolest and most innovative new addition to the 400 is the digital gauge cluster. In addition to the usual indicator lights it now has a highly visible digital display that shows all of the important information at a quick glance. The new gauge displays an easy-to-read speedometer, gear position, 2x4 or 4x4 mode, a tripmeter, engine lights and a high/low-beam indicator, all packaged in a way that reminds me of what you might find in today's sport luxury cars. Overall, it appears that BRP has continued down the right path for developing some of today's top sport-utility quads, and the company claims that it will continue in this direction over the upcoming years.

Outlander 400 H.O.
Retail price: $6199; Camo, $6599

Engine
Type: Four-stroke, single, four-valve OHC
Displacement: 400cc
Bore x stroke: 91x61.5mm
Cooling: Liquid-cooled
Torque: 32 Nm @ 5500 rpm
Carburetion: EFI; Mikuni BSR 33mm
Starting: Electric with auxiliary recoil

Drivetrain
Drive system: Shaft, 2x4/4x4 with Visco-Lok front differential
Transmission: CVT with high/low range, reverse
Frame: SST

Suspension (Type/Travel)
Front: McPherson/7.0 in.
Rear: TTI (independent)/8.0 in.

Tires
Front: 25x8-12; rear: 25x10-12

Brakes
Front: Dual inboard hydraulic discs
Rear: Inboard hydraulic disc

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 49.0 in.
Claimed dry weight: 592 lb
Ground clearance: 9.3 in.
Length/width/height: 86.0/46.0/45.0 in.
Seat height: 35.0 in.
Fuel capacity: 4.2 gal.

Load Capacity
Front/rear rack capacity: 90/175 lb
Hitch tongue/towing capacity: NA/1100 lb

Electrical
Taillight: Yes, prewired for winch
Headlight: Dual 30-watt fender-mounted
DC outlet: Lighter type in console, standard connector in back (15A)
Instrumentation: Digital gauge featuring fuel gauge, speedometer, odometer, hourmeter, tripmeter; gear position, 4x4 indicator

XT package: Warn 2.5 CI winch, aggressive-tread Carlisle ACT radial tires, heavy-duty front and rear bumpers, hand guards; $6999; Camo, $7399

Colors: Green, red, yellow; Advantage Timber Camouflage