Rotax: Difference between revisions

For the former British component manufacturer, see Lucas Industries plc.

BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known simply as Rotax, is an Austrian engine manufacturer. In addition it is an international market leader in the development and production of 4-stroke and advanced 2-stroke engines for Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) products (Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, Can-Am quads and roadsters) as well as for motorcycles, karts, ultra light and light aircraft. Over the past 50 years, the company has developed more than 350 engine models for recreational products and has produced more than six million engines.

History

The company was founded in 1920 in Dresden, Germany as ROTAX-WERK AG. In 1930 it was taken over by Fichtel & Sachs AG and transferred its operations to Schweinfurt, Germany.

Operations were moved to Wels, Austria in 1943 and finally to Gunskirchen in 1947. In 1959, Rotax merged with the Vienna-based Lohner-Werke, a manufacturer of car and railway wagon bodies. In 1970 Lohner-Rotax was bought by Bombardier Inc. The former Bombardier Inc. branch BRP, now an independent company, uses Rotax engines in its motorcycles, personal water craft, and snowmobiles.

The company constructed only two-stroke engines until 1982, when it started building four-stroke engines and aircraft engines. Other important dates include 1962, when a Rotax engine was first installed in a snowmobile and 1989, when Rotax received Type Certification for its 912 A aircraft engine.

In 2008 Rotax started manufacturing the 1125 cc Helicon liquid-cooled, four-stroke, fuel-injected 72˚ V-Twin for the Buell Motorcycle Company.

Products

Snowmobile engines

Today's applications include 2- and 4-stroke, 1- to 3-cylinder engines with displacements between 270 and 1500 cc and a performance range of 27 to 150 horsepower (110 kW) in regular serial execution.

• Engine Type 1304
• Engine Type 995 SDI
• Engine Type 793 HO
• Engine Type 593 SDI
• Engine Type 593 HO
• Engine Type 593
• Engine Type 552
• Engine Type 810
• Engine Type 453
• Engine Type 440
• Engine Type 377
• Engine Type 277

Marine engines

BRP-Rotax started the worldwide trend of PWCs to 4-stroke engines with the unveiling of their 4-TEC watercraft engines. Today's marines include 2- and 4-stroke engines in 2- and 3-cylinder inline configurations, covering a range between 130 and 255 hp (190 kW).

• Engine Type 1503 SC IC
• Engine Type 1503 SC
• Engine Type 1503 NA
• Engine Type 1503 DT
• Engine Type 947 DI

ATV engines

Lliquid-cooled, 1- and 2-cylinder, 4-stroke engines are designed specifically for ATV applications. They cover a range between 400 and 800 cc and come either with gearboxes - with foot-lever shifting - or with CVTs (continuous variable transmissions); the 810 is now used in snowmobile applications as well.

• Engine Type 810
• Engine Type 660
• Engine Type 654 DS
• Engine Type 490
• Engine Type 400

Motorcycle engines

The 1125 cc Helicon engine developed for Buell is a lightweight, fast-revving, big-bore, short-stroke engine with a broad power curve peaking at 146 hp (109 kW) near the 10,500 rpm redline.

The twin-cylinder, 139 horsepower (104 kW) V990, is light and compact, sporting magnesium cylinder head and clutch covers.

The Type 122 & 123 engines were single cylinder 125 cc engines as used in Aprilia AF1 / RS125 models. These were high revving, high power units using an exhaust valve system called Rave to increase peak power whilst retaining low end torque.

• Engine Type 1125R - Buell Motorcycle Company
• Engine Type V990
• Engine Type 804
• Engine Type 654
• Engine Type 122 - 22 kW (Successor to the 123 engine)
• Engine Type 122 - 11 kW (as 22 kW engine, though restricted by removal of RAVE Power valve).
• Engine Type 123

Kart engines

Rotax began designing kart engines 25 years ago. The 2-stroke engines continue to transform the world of karting, from the 125 MAX to the 125 MAX direct drive.

• KART RM1
• Engine Type FR125 MAX DD2
• Engine Type FR125 MAX
• Engine Type FR125 JUNIOR MAX
• Engine Type FR125 MINI MAX

Industrial engines

• Engine Type Rotax 185 - fire fighting water pump engine also used as an aircraft engine

Aircraft engines

Rotax is the world's leading supplier of aircraft engines for ultra-light and lightweight aircraft. Rotax aircraft engines offer 2- and 4-stroke technology.

• Engine Type Rotax 914 F/UL
• Engine Type Rotax 912 S/ULS
• Engine Type Rotax 912 A/F/UL
• Engine Type Rotax 618 UL - no longer in production
• Engine Type Rotax 582 UL
• Engine Type Rotax 532 UL - no longer in production
• Engine Type Rotax 503 UL
• Engine Type Rotax 447 UL
• Engine Type Rotax 377 - no longer in production
• Engine Type Rotax 277 - no longer in production

External links

• Official Website
• Rotax Aircraft Engines
• List of Rotax engines applied to new-build aircraft