Does this machine use an AC engine, or is it sourced from another manufacturer?

It is nice to see an elctric locker in the front finally.

 

i believe it is an arctic cat motor. From what ive read, the magazine said that this machine will probably make the 650 obsolite due to the 700 being so close in cc and efi and the 550 has all kinds of power from low to mid and the high end wasnt bad either. they said that without doing a test they theink the 550 will give the 650 a run for its money. I dont remember what magazine it was or maybe an article on line. Oh, the front locker has been on there since 2004 i think.

 

The locker was never electric though, it has always been a cable operated locker off the handle bar lever.

 

gotcha! miss read it.

 

( I had to edit some of this post ) !!!

I just recieved the Fall 2008 ARCTIC CAT RIDE issue a couple day's ago and AC doesn't list the 650H1 in the 09' Model Guide , they do have the Suzuki powered 500 Auto and 500 Manual in their lineup ; this is the Fall Season 09' Model Guide lineup !

366 , 250 2x4 , 150 , 90 2x4 SE / 50 2x4 , DVX 300 DVX 90 / 90 SE , DVX 50 ( I think these models are ( Kymco powered ) ; and the big boys are : 700 EFI SE , 700 EFI MUDPRO , 700 EFI , 550 EFI ( AC Powered ) 500 AUTO / 500 MANUAL ( Suzuki Powered ) , TRV 1000 EFI CRUISER , TRV EFI CRUISER , TRV 550 EFI ( AC Powered ) , TRV 400 ( Suzuki Powered ) , THUNDERCAT 1000 EFI ( AC POWERED ) Prowler Series : , PROWLER XTZ 1000 EFI , PROWLER XTX 700 EFI , PROWLER XT 650 , PROWLER 550 EFI FLATBED ( AC Powered ) .

So i think mudslinginfool is right about the 550 taking the place of the 650 H1 in the ATV class at least , AC only show's the 650 H1 used in the Prowler XT 650 ( AC Powered ) ; i stopped by my local AC Dealership a couple weeks ago and the first thing i noticed when i walked in the show room was that she now carries the Big Kymco Quads using the Kymco name brand !......

 

why are all the companies coming out with 550's?

why not 500 or 600s anymore?

 

4strokemuder i think it's not to confuse the fact that Suzuki Powered the 250 , 300 , 400 and 500 class quads for AC from 2001 till they dropped the 250 in 2004 then kept the 300 AC 2x4 , and the 400 , 500 for the 2005 / 2006 ; and now still use the the 400 and 500 Class Big AC !

Suzuki own's 20 or 30 % stock in AC , so this is the only reason i can think that they didn't go with a 500 / 600 engine for their own AC powered quads ; i didn't get a chance to ask my dealer what was or wasn't new for the 2009 AC line !.....

 

i know but polaris and yamaha have one too.

 

i kinda wondered the same thing. my thoughtswere b/c to a consumers eyes maybe,for example a:500 is not enough,a 600 is too much,so a 550 would be a good middle range? Or when testing these models they find a 550 to be the best performing engine for the machine? they obviously sell b/c people buy them so whatever the reason is,its working. remember arctic cats 454? why, b/c it sounds like i big block chevy? i dont know. them are my thoughts.

 

I think they go to a 550 because they can get a more powerfull engine into a 500 class machine, which then competes against 500 class machines in the shootouts. This only works until all the manufacturers offer 550's. Then they will inch them up until they are almost 600's to stay one step ahead of the competition. Also usually they can get this class of motor out of a larger motor they already use in another machine. I am willing to bet that the 550 AC motor is the same as the 650 with a smaller bore. (?)