Are Rotax Planning a Successor to the MAX?
By Karting1 ~ February 7th, 2012. Filed under: Kart Racing News.
A BRP Rotax customer survey has leaked its way onto the web and it provides a remarkable insight into the mindset of Rotax and its involvement with karting. Apart from the usual questions about what kart you own, how much you spend and so on, it also asks many intriguing questions about what you would like to see in a future Rotax product.
Are Rotax planning another game changer?
The most telling question is when the user is asked to rank Rotax’s next possible product offerings in order of importance. The options are
1. More powerful 125cc engine
2. A 125cc shifter engine
3. Less complex/more customer friendly/improved Rotax FR 125 Max
4. A more environment friendly engine concept (4stroke, Electric)
The user is then asked to describe why they chose that engine concept. After that the user is asked to create their perfect engine. There are a variety of options that include displacement (<100 to 250cc), fuel preparation (carburettors or fuel injection), gear system (paddle/stick shift or fixed gear), and drive system (belt/chain/direct). A rumour that has done the rounds is that a 150cc fuel injected engine is on the cards, but nothing concrete from Rotax has surfaced. That engine could certainly be created with the options Rotax provided. As of yet however, any chance of a new product under development has been denied.
The survey is long and extensive and different answers lead to different questions
Another intriguing insight is how Rotax ask user’s opinion on the current MAX engine revealing they are aware of karter’s current complaints about its design. One common complaint is that it isn’t a ‘proper race engine’. The user is asked to use a slider to express their opinion on whether the Rotax is either an ‘old/unprofessional design’ or a nice ‘race engine design’. Others include asking how important power/weight ratio and throttle response is.
The extensiveness of the survey suggests Rotax are extremely serious about future karting developments which include not just engine design, but driver training programs, and chassis design as well.
Whether this manifests itself into a new product is not yet known. Possibilities range from nothing to a more powerful and refined version of the MAX to a 150cc fuel injected beast to a complete all encompassing kart/chassis/driver training program. Right now anything is possible and it is certain that rival manufacturers will be watching very carefully because Rotax have changed the face of karting twice already with their 100cc engines and then the MAX. Could another game changer be on the cards?
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