EVINRUDE E-TEC G2 OUTBOARD ENGINES

The innovative new Evinrude E-TEC G2 is far from just a redesigned outboard.

When BRP brought together staff, dealers and media for its global reveal of a new Evinrude engine is was dubbed “the next generation of outboard engines”. With a launch comparable to a new Apple iPhone release, it was clear the Canadian company wasn’t messing around.

The innovative new Evinrude E-TEC G2 is far from just a redesigned outboard. Ranging from the 200hp HO to the 300hp RAVE, the main new features include a 5-5-5 warranty (five years on the engine, five years on corrosion and a five-year/500 hours without any dealer-scheduled maintenance), a fully integrated oil reservoir, automatic trimming with the i-Trim system and inbuilt power steering. This last feature lets you adjust the level of wheel resistance from the helm and on the fly.

DESIGN

The brief for the E-TEC designers was to “create an outboard that was identifiable 100 yards away at dusk.” So yep, they certainly nailed that one.

Almost arrogant in its design, the E-TEC G2 smashes all preconceived ideas about what an outboard should look like. BRP describes it as “audacious” and it’s certainly on the money – the G2 looks like the future ... and I love it.

Match it with the extensive custom colour palette and you’ve got an outboard that’ll have little kids (and big kids like me) looking like stunned mullets with dropped jaws when an E-TEC G2 comes cruising past.

Currently BRP has five different side-panel colours available: white, blue, black, grey and red, with 14 different Evinrude swoosh colours too – mix and match them as you like and you’ve got hundreds of different combinations.

Additionally, partnered boatbuilders will be offered a range of “Hero Colours” which are fully customisable colour configurations, suited to the manufacturer’s boat decal designs.

One example of this feature is the Aussie-built Quintrex Trident that was on the water – all the way over in Milwuakee. It had a radical green paintjob with a colour-matched E-TEC G2 250 on the back (see our video from the local Quintrex launch).

PERFORMANCE

As stated, Evinrude hasn’t only made a few cosmetic changes to its current outboard – it has re-engineered this thing from the inside out. Still standing firm on its “two-strokes are better than four-strokes” mantra, these outboards boast some insane (and previously unheard of) numbers.

According to BRP, the E-TEC G2 “...produces up to 75 per cent fewer total regulated emissions, with 15 per cent better fuel efficiency and 20 per cent more torque than leading four-stroke engines.”

Yep. You read that right. BRP claim these new direct-injection two-stroke outboards are cleaner-running, more fuel-efficient and have more torque than the four-stokes in their class.

So how did they do it? Well, they studied the original E-TEC’s thermodynamics and by using Computational Fluid Dynamics were able to build the E-TEC G2 engine block specifically for direct injection technology. This new PurePower Combustion process is what delivers all that torque. Match that with the precisely mixed 14:1 air-to-fuel ratio and you’ve got better fuel efficiency than before too.

HANDLING

Although we were only offered limited testing of the new engines, I was able to pick up a few things during my short time on the water. I experienced the G2 outboards on a 35 Scarab Offshore with triple 300hps, as well as the Quintrex 690 Trident with a single 250hp.

First impressions? I immediately noticed they’re distinctively less smoky than their predecessors but still have that great E-TEC purr. The new Clean Rigging feature also gives back vital transom space in the splash well by incorporating the steering, wiring and fuel lines into one neat casing tube that doesn’t move at all when turning the outboard. That means no more twists, tangles and snags when going from one steering lock to another.

As previously mentioned, the power steering is now built into the engine and comes as standard across the range. I really love how you can actually adjust the feedback level of the power steering from the helm on the easy-to-use ICON touch display.

Although I did like the idea behind the new automated i-Trim system too, I did feel like the technology is still in its infancy and I’d personally prefer to be trimming the engine manually, as conditions are always changing on the water.

EVINRUDE E-TEC G2 FUEL CONSUMPTION

* Fuel-burn data supplied by the author and combined for the triple 300hp E-TEC G2.

THE VERDICT

Performance-wise, the motors are super torquey out of the hole and in the mid-to-high range they’re extra responsive, so much so that they push you back into the seat when you push the throttle(s) flat. Despite spending just a short time on the water with the new Evinrude E-TEC G2, it was truly exciting to finally see something so different in the outboard world. Whether BRP will be able to sway dedicated big four-stroke owners over to two-stroke technology is anyone’s guess. But if the performance numbers are all spot on and the price is right, then I can’t see why not.

BRP hasn’t given any indication of its retail prices just yet, but I think it’s safe to say customers could expect something of a price jump due to so many new inbuilt features.

From a Gen Y’s perspective though, the Gen 2 is by far the best-looking outboard I’ve ever seen to date – and I can’t wait to really put one through its paces in an extended test. 

Visit chooseyouretec.com for more information.

EVINRUDE E-TEC G2 SPECIFICATIONS

TYPE Direct injection V6 two-stroke outboard

HP RANGE 200, 225, 250, 300

DISPLACEMENT 3.4lt

GEAR RATIO 1.85:1

WOT RANGE 5400 to 6000rpm

WEIGHT 244 to 263kg (depending on HP)