As we wrote about in February, we are expecting Yamaha to come out with a pure Sport Side-by-Side in the relatively near future. We’ve been hunting hard for information to back up our thoughts and a recent trademark filing by Yamaha has thrown a little more fuel on the fire.

On April 9, 2015 Yamaha trademarked the name YXZ SS. While it doesn’t seem like much, we think it could be the name of the vehicle we’ve been waiting for. Let us explain why.

Production of the new Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec Side-by-Side vehicle is in full swing this month at Yamaha’s U.S. factory in Newnan, Ga. Yamaha dealers are receiving units this month.

The all-new Wolverine R-Spec sets a new standard in off-road capability and class-leading comfort. It is designed and engineered for exploring extreme terrain and features an all-new nimble chassis with a compact design, look and feel. The Wolverine’s comfortable and secure cab has seating for two, and its injection-molded composite fixed-position cargo bed is both lightweight and durable for long, rough rides.

Kawasaki IMG Motorsports drivers Sara Price and Erica Sacks accepted one of the toughest challenges in all of motorsport when they entered the 2015 Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. Dubbed the #TeryxGirls, Price and Sachs signed up to navigate through Northern Africa in their Kawasaki Teryx while plotting their course on maps from the 1960’s.

The #TeryxGirls were one of 158 teams competing from 13 different countries and are the first U.S. based team to compete in the Quad/Moto/SSV class at the rally. After a roller coaster trip though the desert, the #TeryxGirls finished seventh in their class and collected the prize for highest finishing first time competitors in their class.

Yamaha Viking VI owners in Canada have been issued a recall notice on models with steel wheels.

According to Transport Canada, the rear wheel nuts could potentially loosen over time due to an incorrect taper specification of the steel rear wheel where the wheel nuts contact the inner wheel panel.

Yamaha is giving away a new Wolverine R-Spec UTV in Hunter Green through a sweepstakes with the 2015 National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day. You can enter to win at www.yamahaoutdoors.com/nhfday.

This is the eighth year Yamaha is sponsoring NHF Day. The sweepstakes will be promoted online and at NHF Day events nationwide. Outdoorsmen and women, 18 years-of-age or older, can enter to win by simply registering online through the end of October 2015.

Yamaha has launched a new Wolverine R-Spec Build Your Own (BYO) website providing customers the opportunity to personalize and accessorize their vehicle online and see what it looks like before purchasing.

On YamahaWolverine.com, you’ll find more than 35 accessories for the Wolverine R-Spec, which was unveiled in January and is scheduled for production this month. Wolverines are being delivered directly to Yamaha dealers across the country throughout the spring from Yamaha’s U.S. manufacturing plant in Newnan, Ga.

Yamaha was awarded the 2015 FinOvation Award from Farm Industry News magazine for its Viking VI Side-by-Side Utility vehicle. The FinOvation Award is designed to celebrate the spirit of innovation and recognize new products that have received the most interest from Farm Industry News readers.

This is the second consecutive year Yamaha has received the award. In 2014, the premier Viking model that introduced the first true three-person seating capacity in a SxS vehicle earned a FinOvation Award.

Team Kawasaki IMG Motorsports is just weeks away from their debut in the 25th Annual Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles in Morocco Africa, an all female race that doesn’t reward speed, rather a team’s skill at navigating the shortest distance point to point (without the aid of GPS).

Team Kawasaki IMG Motorsports will be challenged with plotting their route using only maps, a plotter and a compass on an unmarked course that can take longer than sunrise to sunset to reach the goal checkpoints in the day. Each morning they will receive their map along with a coordinate or distance and heading to checkpoint 1 and once there they will receive a “Road Book” containing geographic coordinates and or headings and distance of the day’s checkpoints and last checkpoint of the day being their Bivouac where they do all they can to recover and prepare for the next day. The course is completely off-road and redesigned each year, making this rally not just physically exhausting but also mentally taxing.

BRP has introduced three new Can-Am off-road vehicle models intended to assist law enforcement and security professionals to carry out their duties.

Yamaha Outdoors has been a longtime partner and supporter of National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), an annual celebration of outdoorsmen and women and the important contributions they make to the environment and economy. To help raise awareness and excitement for NHF Day in 2014, Yamaha donated a Viking Side-by-Side – a new high in the level of support for the day’s events and participants.

Dorothy Jones of Blanks, La., was randomly selected as the winner. An avid hunter, Jones will soon be enjoying the class-leading comfort and superior off-road capability offered by her new 2014 Viking.

Team Kawasaki IMG Motorsports will support the first ever ‘American Side X Side Team’ to race in the 2015, 25th Anniversary, Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles. Sara Price and Erica Sacks will be tackling one of the toughest All-Female Sporting events on the planet in a factory supported Kawasaki Teryx Side X Side built by IMG Motorsports.

The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles is a nine-day race located in Morocco, Africa where approximately 160 teams and 300 competitors come together to tackle the terrain without the help of GPS. Using nothing but outdated maps, teams are forced to navigate through the incredibly tough terrain with nothing but a compass and their will to succeed. This navigational challenge will be a true test for the Kawasaki IMG Motorsports team. They will navigate with the goal of traveling the shortest distance from Point A to Point B, ranging anywhere from 700 miles to 3,000 miles.

Bobcat has unveiled its 2015 four-wheel drive 3400 and 3400XL Utility vehicles, which boast improved suspension systems, industry-leading payload and towing, faster travel speeds and more integrated accessories.

Both the 3400 and 3400XL models have a sealed constant velocity transmission and are available with two engine configurations: a 40-horsepower (570 cc) gas engine or a 24-horsepower (1120 cc) diesel engine. The gas and diesel engines provide operators with greater performance – up to 40 mph with a dealer-installed kit.

The King of the Hammers is known as the toughest off-road race in the world, and this year, the person who conquers the course will go home with a brand-new, 2015 RZR XP 1000 EPS.

As part of Polaris RZR being the official side-by-side of the race, Polaris sweetened the deal by offering up a RZR XP 1000 EPS to the Pro Class side-by-side winner. Last year, 26 side-by-sides would vie for “The Hammer” with five-time Hammers Winner Mitch Guthrie winning in his RZR XP 1000 EPS.

Christmas shopping just got easier for Yamaha riders and their families. For the first time, Yamaha is giving consumers the ability to purchase its apparel and accessories at a single online destination.

Yamaha Parts and Accessories, a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., has launched a new e-commerce website – ShopYamaha.com.

Can-Am Maverick Side-by-Side racers competed at the 2014 Tecate SCORE International Baja 1000 race on the Baja Peninsula, tallying one Class 19 podium and the overall season championship. Racing solo, Marc Burnett (Burnett Motorsports / Can-Am / Monster) finished the endurance race in sixth to secure BRP / Can-Am its first ever SCORE Baja 1000 season class Side-by-Side title. Desert Toyz / Can-Am’s Cory Sappington also had a solid race, earning a third-place podium finish at this year’s gruelling 1,275-mile contest held in Mexico.

(Photo courtesy Vincent Knakal // UTVUnderground.com)

This year’s point-to-point Baja 1000 was 1,275 miles of brutal terrain testing both machine and driver. Polaris RZR went into the race as the defending champion, and the Scrambler XP 1000 made a maiden voyage with Team UXC racing at the helm.

Nineteen side-by-sides, including 13 RZRs, started the race and eight side-by-sides, six being RZRs, managed to finish. First-time Baja 1000 driver of record, Johnny Angal of UTV Inc., and his drivers Brian Bush, Branden Sims and Justin Quinn, in their No. 1919 RZR XP 4 1000 won the grueling race. Jagged X in the No. 1932 with drivers Matt Parks, Brandon Schueler and Craig Scanlon took second.

Mahindra USA announced it is teaming up with Intimidator Inc. to manufacturer an all-new line of Utility vehicles, the Mahindra mPACT XTV.

The mPACT XTV rollout will begin with six models available through Mahindra’s dealer network beginning in early 2015. Mahindra dealers were given a sneak preview of the new utility vehicles at Mahindra’s Regional Dealer Meetings in October.

ATV, Side-by-Side and Snowmobile enthusiasts take note – Polaris is giving away six different amazing prize packages.

Now through December 31, Polaris is hosting the Ultimate Garage Giveaway. To enter consumers need to head to their local dealership to get a code to enter at www.polaris.com/ultimategarage to win one of six Polaris garages. The garages include one vehicle, one youth vehicle and garage accessories. Among the accessories are a Polaris P1000i Generator, Polaris-branded toolbox, and a Polaris light.

American Honda and the Consumer Product Safety Commission followed Transport Canada’s lead and issued a recall notice for the Honda Pioneer due to a fire hazard.

According to the recall notice, vegetation and debris can accumulate on the middle skid plate and make contact with the vehicle’s exhaust system. Dried debris can ignite, resulting in smoke or fire.

While news of Honda’s rumored Pioneer 1100 stole the show at the 2014 AIMExpo, there is another large displacement Side-by-Side in the works.

Massimo Motor unveiled a prototype at the show of its 1200 Series UTV, which will be powered by a 1200, four-cylinder engine. That would be a larger displacement engine than anything offered from one of the major manufacturers and the only four-cylinder mill in the industry. We are told the engine will produce 88 horsepower.

Honda may be on the verge of producing the largest displacement Side-by-Side in the industry.

While we cannot state for certain that anything is imminent, somebody in the know let it slip that a Pioneer 1100 is on the horizon.

By tweaking three existing models, Polaris has added three more machines to its 2015 off-road lineup – the Ranger Crew 900-6, ACE 570 SP and RZR 170 EFI.

To accommodate multi-passenger customers who are looking to haul more people, Polaris has built the new Ranger Crew 900-6. This UTV has all the same features as the Ranger Crew 900 with an additional seating space in the front row. This was accomplished by replacing the center console and bumps overall capacity to six.

Polaris Defense has announced the launch of the DAGOR ultra-light combat vehicle, which can be seen for the first time at the 2014 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting, in Washington, D.C., Oct. 13-15.

This is the same vehicle we told you about in July after seeing some patent documents.

Transport Canada has issued a recall notice for the 2014 Honda Pioneer due to a potential fire hazard.

According to the recall notice, mud and vegetation debris could collect on the center skid plate and eventually contact the exhaust system. This could potentially result in the dried vegetation igniting and causing a fire.

Arctic Cat, cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a recall notice for Wildcat Trail and Wildcat Trail XT Side-by-Sides. According to the recall notice, oil can leak from the oil cooler lines, posing a fire hazard.

This recall affects approximately 5,600 units, all 2014 models with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) 000001 through 316232. The VIN is located on the frame tube near the driver’s side front wheel.

Both the 2015 Polaris Ranger Diesel and Ranger Crew Diesel Side-by-Sides are being powered by Kohler Engines’ 1028cc KDW1103.

“We’re excited to partner with Polaris on the rollout of their new diesel utility vehicles,” says Jeff Wilke, product manager for Kohler Engines. “Our KDW1003 is ideally suited for this type of application due to its overhead cam that was designed with automotive characteristics, as well as an advanced fuel-injection system that delivers smooth, quiet power and enhanced fuel efficiency of a diesel engine. Plus, we’re able to provide a high output 110 amp alternator to drive more accessories, which will be a key feature for users.”

If you own or plan to buy a new Yamaha Viking VI, you’d be wise to check out Yamaha’s new “Build Your Own” (BYO) site at YamahaViking.com. This site gives customers the ability to see what their machine might look like outfitted with a variety of accessories.

Yamaha currently has more than 50 accessories for the Viking VI. The new 2015 Viking VI model was announced in June 2014 and production is now in full swing with vehicles being delivered to dealers across the country.

HMF is now offering its Swamp slip-on exhaust for the Yamaha Viking, offering a bit more performance from Yamaha’s Utility Side-by-Side.

Discuss this at our Yamaha Viking Forum.

In addition to any performance boost, HMF says the Swamp slip-on ($399.95) sheds two to three pounds compared to the stock system. Sound levels are claimed to be just one or to decibels higher than the stock unit with a deeper tone. However, for those looking for a bit more bark (and power), HMF’s Swamp XL (Extra Loud) is also available for $369.95.

Polaris has donated a customized pink RZR XP 1000 to the American Cancer Society as part of its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.

“Too many of us have been affected by cancer, whether through a personal battle or an afflicted neighbor, co-worker or family member,” says Scott Wine, Polaris’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The American Cancer Society works tirelessly toward the eradication of this dreaded disease, and we hope that, through this donation, we can help them raise the funds needed to continue this noble fight.”

Among Polaris‘ many new and updated 2015 models, perhaps most shocking is the 50-inch RZR 900.

Polaris took the off-road world by storm in the 2008 model year with the industry’s first Sport-specific UTV – the RZR. Its name was later changed to the RZR 800, but outside of some minor tweaks, it was essentially the same machine for seven model years. It’s the machine that helped move Polaris to the top of the sales charts and created the Sport Side-by-Side market. To call it a success is a wild understatement.

Polaris’ trusty 760cc Inline Twin has been given the boot for 2015 – not just in the RZR, but throughout Polaris’ ATV and UTV lineup. The RZR 900 is powered by the ProStar 900, which we first saw in the 2011 RZR XP 900. While the bump in displacement may seem relatively minor on paper (a gain of 115 cubic centimeters), in reality it translates to a near 50% horsepower increase – the RZR 800 produced 53.2 horsepower compared to a claimed 75 ponies from the new RZR 900 – and 15% bump in torque. That seems like a direct shot across the bow of Arctic Cat and its 50-inch offering – the Wildcat Trail.

Kawasaki, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a recall for 2012-13 Kawasaki Teryx4 UTVs.

According to the recall notice, either of the front tires could deflect a foreign object (like a stick or rock) into the left or right floorboard. This could result in the object breaking through the floorboard and protruding into the foot rest area of the vehicle and, which could potentially lead to injury. Kawasaki has received four reports of debris breaking through the floorboards, including two reports of injuries to riders’ toes and thighs.

Polaris is swinging for the fences again for the 2015 model year with its biggest off-road lineup ever. New and updated vehicles can be found throughout the RZR, Ranger and Sportsman families.

Polaris RZR Lineup

While Polaris announced a power boost in its 2015 RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP 4 1000 a few weeks ago, that was just a taste test of the changes to the RZR lineup for 2015.

The Polaris RZR was the only 50-inch Sport Side-by-Side in the industry for years before the Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail showed up last year with nearly 10 more horsepower. Polaris has answered that challenge with the new 2015 RZR 900 ($12,799), which features a 75 hp ProStar 900 engine. The new ProStar powerplant offers more than 40 percent more horsepower and 15 percent more torque than the previous RZR 800 models.

While the competition does its best to play catch-up and eat into Polaris’ dominance of the Side-by-Side market, the Minnesota-based manufacturer continues to push forward and change the way we think of UTVs. The latest example can be found in some patent documents we dug up for an innovative-looking four-seat Utility Side-by-Side.

We don’t have a name for this machine yet, but it strikes a brutish pose that looks like it could be used on the jobsite or a military base. Most notable is the cargo bed, which opens up in the cab, where long items can be housed in a center tunnel between the seats. This would seem ideal for carrying lumber, ladders, or a myriad of military tools. This UTV looks like a cargo mover above all else.

Kymco enters the 2015 model year with 32 off-road models, including four versions of the all-new midsized UXV 450i side-by-side vehicle and a UXV 500i outfitted with a 5kW generator sure to help operators with a variety of utility applications and chores. Also on the list of new vehicles are four EPS models in the MXU Series ATV line and two newly designed Youth Quads in the Mongoose 90S and 70S.

Polaris has given the RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP 4 1000 a power boost for the 2015 model year. Each model now produces a claimed 110 horsepower – up from 107 horsepower when they were introduced last year.

Read our 2014 Polaris RZR XP 1000 Review

“As always, RZR has been the leader of recreational side-by-sides due to their ultimate combination of power, suspension and agility,” says Craig Scanlon, general manager of Polaris Side-by-Side Vehicles. “Even though we just launched the RZR XP 1000 and XP 4 1000 last year, we’re always looking to improve upon every aspect of our vehicles’ performance.”

Polaris continues to push the envelope with its latest creation – the Ranger Crew with integrated HIPPO Multipower System (MPS). According to Polaris, at the flip of a switch, this system allows operators to power hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and welding equipment directly from the vehicle’s diesel engine.

With its $56,999 price tag, the Ranger Crew with HIPPO MPS is not for everybody. However, it continues Polaris’ expansion into non-traditional markets.

“Operators in the rail, municipal, construction, oil and gas, rental, utilities and mining industries as well as the military already consider the proven HIPPO MPS indispensable and this all-in-one solution increases their flexibility and mobility even more,” Polaris says in a release.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2013 Polaris Ranger XP 900 + Video

Polaris has upgraded its flagship Ranger XP for 2015 with a 13% power increase. As well, Polaris has made modest changes to the 2015 Ranger 900 CREW.

“The Ranger XP 900 is one of the most sought after vehicles in the line due to its wide range of capabilities that benefit recreational riders, hunters and farmers,” says Craig Scanlon, general manager for Polaris Side-by-Side Vehicles. “Adding more power to the 2015 RANGER XP 900 increases the vehicle’s versatility so it can not only play harder but work harder.”

2013 Polaris Ranger XP 900 Review + Video

Introduced for Model Year 2013, the original Ranger XP 900 saw the ProStar 900 engine make its way to Polaris’ Utility Side-by-Side family. It also featured an all-new chassis, newly restyled cockpit, more suspension, new flip-up seat storage, Pro-Fit cab system and a larger gas tank.