As our May ATV/UTV update issue was going to press, Can-Am was introducing its 2015 line-up to the media and the BRP dealer network. While we could hint at some of the big happenings, including two brand new Outlanders and the re-introduction of the Outlander 800R X model, we didn’t have the space to squeeze in more specifics on the new ATVs and UTVs coming to market from Quebec.
“The launch of the new 2015 Outlander L line of ATVs is a significant and sensible decision for BRP,” explains Chris Dawson, VP of BRP’s Global Sales & Consumer Experience. “It can be challenging to maintain premium positioning with a truly superior product in the price competitive mid-range category, but our engineering and design teams have done an outstanding job creating the affordable, class-leading Outlander L family of Can-Am ATVs.”
The price is right! Can-Am’s new Outlander L 450 comes in with an MSRP of $6,399, under the Honda Rancher 420 ES among other competitors, despite having more horsepower, greater suspension travel and a full 5-year warranty. Ditto for the larger Outlander L 500 with a starting MSRP of $6,999 compared to Honda’s Foreman 475 4×4 ES. However the price point doesn’t mean BRP skimped on the Outlanders.
According to Dawson, the new 2015 Outlander L 450 and L 500 ATVs include Can-Am’s “DNA” of industry-leading performance, precision-engineered handling and a rider-focused design – they just happen to represent the most affordable Can-Am ATVs in this class to date. The Outlander L models come with either a purpose-built 38-hp liquid-cooled, single-cylinder Rotax 450 four-stroke or the established 46-hp liquid-cooled, SOHC Rotax V-Twin 500 engine.
When it comes time to work, Can-Am’s 6×6 platform is ready to tackle any tough job. Powered by either 650cc or 1000cc Rotax V-Twin, the Outlander 6x6s offer class-leading performance, while still incorporating consumer-friendly features, such as selectable six-wheel-drive, multi-purpose dump box, 1,650-pound towing capacity, CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with a new granny gear in low range, Double Torsional Trailing Arm Independent (TTI2) rear suspension and Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering.
The revamped Outlander 800R X returns to the lineup after a hiatus, featuring the one-up SST G2 chassis and the proven tire-and-wheel package from the flagship Outlander 1000 X. Along with the new ATVs, BRP also introduced five new optional color schemes for the 2015 ATV line-up.
Can-Am’s SxS models get six new colorways and several enhancements. For example, the 2015 Maverick 1000R X now gets fully adjustable FOX piggyback shocks and the new lower granny-gear. WARN’s 4,500-pound ProVantage winch is now standard on all XT models. New cast-aluminum wheels were redesigned on both the Commander DPS and Commander XT platforms, while the Commander XT-P platform has updated beadlock wheels.
Heading into the 2015 model year, Can-Am was already the leader in big bore ATV sales, but the Outlander L 450 and L 500 should help them carve into the mid-range market as well. They were also a strong No. 2 in the burgeoning SxS business and the upgrades to the Maverick and Commander platforms could put them into the driver’s seat for this category in 2015.
