Ski-Doo® Delivers a new Kid on the Block Bombardier Offers Limited Edition Kids’ Snowmobile for 1998
Wausau, Wis. (August 11, 1997) – Kids across North America finally have more to look forward to this winter than snowballs and Santa Claus. Bombardier announced that it will produce a limited number of 1998 Mini Z* snowmobiles for kids ages 6-12. Suggested retail price is $1,599 U.S., $1,999 CDN.
The machine features a four-stroke, four horsepower single-cylinder engine and full suspensions – monoarm-type in the rear and trailing arm set-up in the front. Top speed of the Mini Z sled is eight mph. Styling is true Ski-Doo, with a blazing yellow MX Z color, CK3† – inspired hood/bellypan combination and big league details like styled idler wheels and a sleek black racing windshield cowling.
“Who said that only adults could enjoy piloting a Ski-Doo snowmobile? Nobody. That’s why we built the Mini Z,” said Dave Thompson, Ski-Doo North American public relations manager. “The long-awaited Mini Z is just what our customers and dealers have been asking for – a way for snowmobilers to share the fun and exhilaration of the sport with their kids on a state-of-the-art, yellow, children’s sled.”
Kids will ride in comfort, because of its real suspension travel – a class-heading six inches of torsion-spring damping in the rear and 1.2 inches of rubber damping up front. Fuel capacity is ½ US gallon. The mini Z sled is a true lightweight at only 159 pounds and is brought to a stop with a mechanical drum brake. A safety tether cord and handlebar engine cut-out switch are standard.
The Mini Z meets all Snowmobile Safety Certification Committee (SSCC) criteria for a machine intended for kids aged 6-12. It also meets all kids sled racing rules.
* ® Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or affiliates.
† Patent pending
SEA-DOO®, SKI-DOO®, ROTAX®, CELEBRITY® are registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or its affiliates. GTX is a trademark of Castrol Limited, used under license. © 1997 Bombardier Inc. *Trademarks and ® Registered Trademarks of Bombardier in the U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office and in other countries. All rights reserved.
The Summit Is Below
Super Ski-Doo Summit 670 Stomps the 700s.
"This sled is a home run. The competition won't know what hit them."—Chris Ruske, Ski-Doo project coordinator, research and development.
In response to customer demands for a cutting edge mountain sled with all-out performance, Ski-Doo has added the Summit x 670 to its 1998 line-up of snowmobiles. This new sled features jaw-dropping performance enhancements, a 20-pound weight reduction and a sleigh-load of added-value features for mountain powder riding.
"We reengineered the stock 670 using proven components from the MX Zx, Grand Touring SE, and other models, to create a whole new class of mountain sled," said Alain Brunelle, president of Bombardier's snowmobile division. "It's not just a sport-performance model with a long track. No other sled in any manufacturer's line-up is so close to a custom sled."
The Summit x 670 has a huge list of improvements, but one of the biggest is under the hood. The Rotax engine in the Summit x model features new pistons, new cylinders, new cylinder heads, a new rotary valves and a new intake manifold. The tuned pipe and muffler also have been revised for increased performance.
Recent testing of the new model in Steamboat Springs, Colo. left Ski-Doo engineers grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Yes, there are about 10 additional horses over the Summit 670, but it's how this horsepower is used that makes this machine exhilarating to drive—we've really outdone ourselves this time," added Ruske. "In hillclimbing tests, we're 14 km faster. In acceleration tests—it tries to yank your arms off. And in head-to-head testing, the Summit x 670 stomped the much ballyhooed 700s out of the hole and up the hill. This thing is in a class all by itself."
Ruske also said little things enhanced the whole Summit x 670 experience: "The battery-less DPM (Digital Performance Management system) kept the engine performing crisply, no matter the elevation change—especially in the warm conditions we're dealing with in testing. The combination of lighter all-around weight and MX Zx skis made handling and cornering easier and more precise than ever.
"And the no-slip running boards, stock mountain grab handle, improved ski loop, MX Zx seat-tank combination and 22-degree footrests made sidehilling and powder maneuvering a real pleasure...you don't fight the weight—heck, you don't even feel it. These are features you can't buy anywhere else—at any price."
The sled's radical look will also grab attention. The combination of sapphire blue cab, silvery steel tunnel and yellow trailing arms gives the Summit x 670 a custom, "extreme" appearance.
"We can't wait to see what racers like Mark Thompson will do with this machine on the circuit this winter," said Brunelle. "But until then, we'll settle for blazing blue and yellow highmarks set by our consumers. Why do you think we call it a Summit?"
SEA-DOO®, SKI-DOO®, ROTAX®, CELEBRITY® are registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. and/or its affiliates. GTX is a trademark of Castrol Limited, used under license. © 1997 Bombardier Inc. *Trademarks and ® Registered Trademarks of Bombardier in the U.S. Patent and Trademarks Office and in other countries. All rights reserved.
