rumor mill 2010

Soon we'll start receiving calls, e-mails, and cell phone pictures of new sleds that you've spied out on the trails. But we'll have been sworn to secrecy by the Big 4 about what WE've actually seen or been shown.
However, prior to taking our oath we're not above stirring the rumor pot a bit, so here are a few things that we've heard on the bench-racing circuit and from our spies in the field!

Polaris - Has something dramatically new up its sleeves, and a main focus could be a new suspension system. The IQ is starting to feel a little dated and we've felt its suspension has been pushed about as far as it can go. In fact, we thought the 2008 models handled a bit better than some of the 2009s. In any case, a new suspension could be in order.
We also are curious to see if Polaris unveils a Direct Injection engine system in one or more models for 2010. We know that Polaris has DI technology and have heard from several sources close to Polaris that we could see this used in a sled soon.

Arctic Cat - Seems to be taking its "fastest sleds in the world" moniker seriously and we might see a new 800cc engine soon, one that will perform as well as the 1000, making it (a low volume product) unnecessary in the future. A new 600cc engine is also a possibility. Plus, look for Cat to shave even more weight for 2010. Will its Sno Pro race sled chassis make it into a production sled in 2010? We bet that's a year off, but ... !

Ski-Doo - No doubt Ski-Doo will further expand its lineup in the XP or related chassis and rumor mongers say a turbo is possible for the 4-TEC, but we will most likely see an aftermarket version first. A factory turbo may be wishful thinking, but we do expect more low-end power out of the 4-stroke. Another highly possible future endeavor is an 800cc E-TEC engine. Keep watching our Web site for the latest new product news!

(Special correspondent Stephen W. Clark sends us the following in-depth look at where Yamaha's other motorsports expertise is likely leading its snowmobile technology!)

Yamaha - Yamaha has flooded the snowmobile market with a tsunami of new technology the past few years. By analyzing when, what and how it has brought technologies into the snowmobile market, we're able to predict what we may see from Yamaha in 2010, or beyond.
A perfect example of Yamaha introducing new technology into snowmobiling was its launching of the RX-1 in 2003. Yamaha stuck its neck out and built a 4-stroke sled when the market was married to the 2-stroke. Yamaha released the RX-1 the same year that Arctic Cat launched the Firecat and Ski-Doo expanded its REV line.
Yamaha engineers are good at adapting technology and manufacturing derived from other product lines, like motorcycles and ATVs, to snowmobiles. The RX-1, featuring a 4-stroke engine and Deltabox chassis, has DNA from its R1 sport motorcycle. This wasn't new for Yamaha. It has been adapting cycle technology to snowmobiles since 1968 when it produced its first sled; the SL350. Like the RX-1 and many other Yamahas, that '68 SL350 used an engine based on a motorcycle engine.
If we follow Yamaha's fairly predictable trend of introducing a new sled model each year, it's a pretty safe bet we'll see yet another new model for 2010. Will the Apex be replaced? A 3-cylinder may be a better fit for a snowmobile than a 4-cylinder because triples are lighter and better balanced. Yamaha has both a 3- and 4-cylinder engine available, so putting a 3-cylinder into Apex would be doable. That said, Yamaha has more 4-cylinder technology just because 4-cylinder engines are a staple in sport motorcycles.
Given Yamaha's movement away from 5-valve technology on multi-cylinder engines, any new sled engine will likely feature 4 valves per cylinder. Yamaha returned to the 4-valve per cylinder format probably because any horsepower advantage gained from the extra valve was not greater than the horsepower loss that came from more mass in the valvetrain and loss in compression.
Yamaha's Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) or fly-by-wire throttle technology will likely debut in a sled soon. Yamaha has been using this technology for several years on the R6 motorcycle and recently the R1. YCC-T means there is no cable opening and closing the throttle bodies, instead they are electronically controlled. This has several benefits, probably the biggest being that the computer can control the throttle bodies to meet different riding conditions.
YCC-T allows Yamaha to offer variable throttle control too, which gives the rider the option of switchable throttle characteristics for different riding situations. Different throttle modes may not have as much of an application on the snow as it does on dirt and street, but Yamaha could use it on sleds.
In addition Yamaha also has new air intake systems. It recently released Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) technology on motorcycles. YCC-I varies the intake tract length for excellent cylinder filling and a broader power band.
A new Yamaha sled will almost certainly use a CF die-cast frame as well. Yamaha has been using this on snowmobiles since the RX-1 and has increased its use across its product lines. CF die-cast frame manufacturing allows Yamaha to build complex and contoured frames that are strong, light and rigid.
If Yamaha decides to use a 4-cylinder engine in a new sled it may also feature a new firing order that its engineers have just launched in the R1 sport bike. This technology is called Crossplane Crankshaft Technology (CCT) and is sometimes referred to as Big Bang. CCT is a unique order of firing four pistons that makes the engine run smoother, it does this by using a crankshaft that fires the pistons at 270°- 180°- 90°- 180° as opposed to other 4-cylinder engines where the two outer and two inner pistons move in pairs at 180° intervals. CCT overcomes the inherent fluctuation in inertial torque with each revolution, and peaky torque characteristics, so torque continues to build smoothly for awesome power and traction.
Finally, any new Yamaha sled will have the latest in EPA compliant emissions controls. The EPA is in the first phase of its Exhaust Emission Standards plan that all sleds must meet. The second phase begins in 2010 and the third in 2012.
These rules force sledmakers to comply with EPA rules or face heavy penalties. Although the word emission strikes fear in the hearts of many motorheads who think it synonymous with less power, Yamaha and the other OEMs are working hard to not only make their machines cleaner, but also produce strong horsepower with emissions equipment installed.
A cleaner snowmobile is not a bad thing, but the relationship between the 4-stroke portion of the snowmobile industry and the EPA hasn't changed as the EPA says "there is still a fundamental need for time to pass to allow us to assess the success of 4-stroke engine technology in the marketplace. This is an important aspect of the assessment we need to conduct with regard to 2012 and later model year emission standards."