UTV

-- The Commander 1000R (two-seat and MAX) side-by-side vehicle has received a significant update for 2018, with a power bump to 92hp (+7hp), a wider stance and larger brakes. The vehicle now features the Rotax V-Twin 1000R engine and transmission air intake system from the Can-Am Maverick 1000R. Another upgrade includes new 14-in. (35.6 cm) cast-aluminum wheels for improved dynamic handling experience. The Commander Limited package wear new FOX 2.0 QS3 Podium shocks offering tool-free adjustments to compression and…

-- For 2018 Can-Am has made their Maverick X3 even more exciting by bumping the horsepower up to 172 horsepower. That one goes by the name of X3 Turbo R. However, they also have a X3 Turbo without the "R" that has 120 horsepower. So, you have the option of fast or extremely fast. All of the X3s have a 900cc, three-cylinder, DOHC 12-valve, turbocharged engine, but the 120 hp version doesn't have an intercooler like the R. As with last year's X3s, the 2018 models come in different width options, from 64 inches to 72…

NEW MODELS FOR 2017 -- ❏ Drakart Scorpion off-road cars look like what they are—limited-production, built-to-spec, high-performance UTVs. And while it may look like Drakart is cashing in on UTV popularity, the truth is, Drakart cars came before modern UTVs. The first Drakart single-seat car was built, designed and raced in Europe from 1990 to 1997 by Alan Fricker. Fricker was fascinated by North American wide-open spaces, and the Drakart was then adapted for and made available to the North American…

— Could this be the best little UTV for young off-roaders? First of all, it’s a single-seater, which means Junior will be able to focus on driving and not distracted by a passenger. Also, it costs $1000 less than the two-seater RZR 170. The Ace 150 has a fuel-injected, 149cc, air-cooled, four-stroke motor. It is rear-drive only from an automatic CVT. There are disc brakes front and rear, with 5 inches of suspension travel at both ends. It comes with 4 speed limit settings, at 10, 15, 22 and 29 mph. This allows Junior…

More power and more suspension travel for the Textron Stampede! The Dirt Wheels crew was mightily impressed with the original Stampede 900 we tested in our December 2016 issue. It covered all of the bases for what a good utility machine is suppose to do. However, we couldn't help but wonder how much better it would suit our tastes if its sporty side was bumped up a few more notches. It seems like the guys at Textron were thinking the same thing and here is the preliminary version of what they came up with. At this point…

A roll cage for any age By the staff of Dirt Wheels 2016 was an exciting year with the release of all-new and upgraded 2017 UTV models. Polaris gave us a 168-horsepower RZR XP Turbo, a four-seat General, a much wider Ace 900 XC, more powerful Rangers and even a wider and better handling RZR S 570. Arctic Cat beefed up the suspension on its Wildcat X lineup, and Yamaha came out with a paddle-shifted YXZ1000R SS and a Special Edition model that has great new shocks. The biggest mic drop in the industry was Can-Am’s release…

The age of the UTV takeover seems to be upon us. Manufacturers are consistently producing new models with more and more available options. Yamaha just released their YXZ1000R to compete with the Polaris RZRs, Arctic Cat Wildcats and Can-Am Mavericks. Soon Honda might even jump on board in the sport UTV segment. The market is traveling in many different directions, which expand from single-seat models to six-passenger machines. There are so many new models, it’s often hard to keep up with the ever-expanding industry, but we…

CONTACTS Arctic Cat: (218) 681-9851, www.arcticcat.com Can-Am: (715) 848-4957, www.can-am.brp.com CFMoto: (888) 823-6686, www.cfmoto.com Hisun: (972) 446-0760, www.hisunmotors.com Honda: (310) 783-2000, www.powersports.honda.com John Deere: www.deere.com Kawasaki: (949) 770-0400, www.kawasaki.com Kymco: (864) 327-4744, www.kymcousa.com Pitster Pro: (801) 796-7416, www.pitsterpro.com Polaris: (888) 704-5290, www.polarisindustries.com SSR: (562) 926-2888, www.ssrmotorsports.com Yamaha: (714) 761-7300,…

CONTACTS Arctic Cat: (218) 681-9851, www.arcticcat.com Can-Am: (715) 848-4957, www.can-am.brp.com CFMoto: (888) 823-6686, www.cfmoto.com Hisun: (972) 446-0760, www.hisunmotors.com Honda: (310) 783-2000, www.powersports.honda.com John Deere: www.deere.com Kawasaki: (949) 770-0400, www.kawasaki.com Kymco: (864) 327-4744, www.kymcousa.com Pitster Pro: (801) 796-7416, www.pitsterpro.com Polaris: (888) 704-5290, www.polarisindustries.com SSR: (562) 926-2888, www.ssrmotorsports.com Yamaha: (714) 761-7300,…

For a number of years now, camouflage has been introduced on many models from ATV/UTV manufacturers. Hunters mainly use camo to hide their machines from the eyes of their prey. Camouflage is made of different colors or materials that are collaborated into a pattern to help conceal or make objects hard to see. Traversing landscapes on a brightly colored vehicle scares game away by distracting them from the natural habitat in which they reside. There are many ways to disguise your ATV or UTV other than purchasing a machine…

A couple of months back we brought you a youth ATV buyer’s guide full of offerings from the top manufacturers. This month we will look into what is offered in the way of UTV or steeringwheel-equipped off-road machines for youngsters. This time around only Polaris has a stake in the category as far as big companies go. The others are much smaller importers and are basically selling mini RZR clones with a variety of other options, some not even offered on the original kids’ RZR. You can credit Polaris for getting the youth…

4-SEAT UTV'S DOMINATE V2R DESERT RACE Over 50 UTV's lined up to do battle in this years BITD 545-mile, Vegas 2 Reno desert race. It's one of the biggest turnouts the sport has seen and less than half (22) of them finished. The course wan't terribly rough but long and dusty. Anytime, you spend 12-14 hours driving a UTV, problems will arise and the team with the least problems will come out the winner. Polaris Factory Racer Justin Lambert and co-driver Justin Sheakley in the No. 1918 Cognito Motorsports RZR 4 1000…