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Motorcycles

Can-Am Spyder goes turbo with new concept vehicle

By Ben Coxworth
February 19, 2016
Can-Am Spyder goes turbo with new concept vehicle
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt sits on the Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept Vehicle
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt sits on the Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept Vehicle
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt sits on the Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept Vehicle
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt sits on the Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept Vehicle

Love it or hate it, Bombardier Recreational Products' Can-Am Spyder Roadster is definitely a unique vehicle. Recently, however, BRP introduced a one-off model that's a little more unique than all the others – the Can-Am Spyder F3 Turbo Concept Vehicle.

Unveiled this Thursday at Florida's Daytona International Speedway, the F3 Turbo was on hand to help kick off BRP's sponsorship of the upcoming Can-Am NASCAR racing season.

The vehicle features a 150-hp, 1,330-cc turbocharged and intercooled Rotax engine. That powerplant takes the F3 Turbo from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.3 seconds and does a quarter-mile (0.4 km) in 12.3 seconds.

There's also a Sport mode, which allows for controlled rear tire drifts when engaged.

"BRP's Rotax engineers challenged themselves to develop a turbo version of the Can-Am Spyder F3 engine, which resulted in this high-performance vehicle," says Rénald Plante, director, Can-Am Spyder engineering. "This concept showcases the advantages of a Y-frame design, such as a lower center of gravity, the ability to drift, and superb tire grip during aggressive cornering."

There are no plans to bring the F3 Turbo to production.

Source: BRP

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MotorcyclesCan Am SpyderBRPTrikeTurbo
9 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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9 comments
mhpr262
if these things could lean they might actually be worth looking at. Right now they just manage to combine all the disadvantages of both car and motorcycle and none of the advantages.
DOC HOLLYWOOD
I wonder what a racing series involving three wheelers (exclusively) would look like.(?)
GuzziGriso79
So let's finally make the Spyder look and perform incredibly badass but not put it into production. I guess Can Am doesn't like money and is fine with having the Spyder relegated to the senior community and being disdained by motorcyclists everywhere.
Daishi
@mhpr262 I've never driven a Spyder to see what it's like in corners at speed but I've driven snowmobiles and ATV's to know it's still possible to corner at speed without 2 wheels. 2 wheeled motorcycles are pretty unforgiving when it comes to things like tar strips, painted lines, gravel, puddles and other obstacles in the real world that aren't seen on race tracks.
I think it would be a good platform for an electric motorcycle because the battery could sit at the bottom like a skateboard platform used with electric cars.
RussByler
Why bother if they aren't going into production. Who cares? That and 150 hp is puny for a turbo rig.
Wolf0579
I'm sorry, but I'd rather be dead, than be caught riding one of those silly adult tricycles. If you want to be a motorcyclist, get a motorcycle.
Mirmillion
Wonder what the coefficient of drag is for this thing (with rider)? 150 HP to the wheel is pretty good but where does it make that power (and the peakiness of turbo boost is a "learning experience" in most cases i.e., or does the rider have to hang on and hope the thing won't over-steer and/or high-side? That said, I'm pretty sure I, closed course, could beat any two wheeled superbike to whistler on one of these. As Daishi says, the tar strips alone would give my competitor(s) the willies and slow them down considerably. One mistake and it's cliff or ocean...with time on the way down for a few drags on a Clint Eastwood cigar.
Martin Hone
There are race series for 3-wheeled motorcycles. But they are called sidecars..............
unklmurray
I don't care what you "Naysayers" Have to say, the guy who would rather be dead,you already are even if these are adult tricycles they are fun,and that is what it is all about.....Having fun....I want two one that I can destroy and one for practical use........LOL :-)