New generation Defender HD11
The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.
While ATVs have lost some of their market share to side by sides or UTV’s, they remain the vehicle of choice for those with difficult terrain on tight tracks.
Canadian manufacturer Can-Am claims to be pushing boundaries with the all-new, medium engine displacement, Can-Am Outlander ATV utility models, offering more performance, comfort, storage and reliability for the category, while remaining competitively priced.
For the New Zealand farmer, the new Can-Am Outlander PRO comes with a range of updates and improvements that began on our shores over 5 years ago when the Can-Am Global ATV product team visited New Zealand to gather insights and local input from farmers, service centres and dealerships – focusing on high quality, reliability, and durability to get the job done day in, day out on farm
A new tubular steel chassis design derived from the Can-Am Maverick X3 platform is said to be 35% or 18kg lighter, while a front and rear arched A-Arm suspension configuration has given the new Outlander PRO and Outlander PRO XU class-leading suspension travel and ground clearance. Both models are equipped with 9.75” of front suspension travel with twin tube shocks and 10.25” also featuring twin tube shocks at the rear. PRO models feature stiffer suspension tuning to allow for working conditions and heavier payloads, with chassis and suspension combining to offer up to 13” of ground clearance.
Other detail changes within the chassis geometry help deliver increased knee room and wider, more spacious floorboards that improve handling and increase stability and combine with a thicker, more durable seat for increased rider comfort.
An all-new rear facing 650cc single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected Rotax engine delivers 40 and 50hp respectively from the PRO HD5 and Pro HD 7 models. The Outlander PRO HD5 and HD7 machines are equipped with a new pDrive primary CVT transmission that also features work calibration along with Extra L/H/N/ R/P gearing, with selectable 2WD/4WD with Visco-Lok†, Visco-Lok† QE or Visco-4Lok with auto-locking front differential drivetrain offered according to the packages.
Controlled descents are taken care of by the Intelligent Engine Braking function, while the PRO XU versions get an engine management key offering Work, Standard and Sport modes. Things are safely brought to a stop via twin discs up front and a single disc brake assembly at the rear. Both PRO and PRO XU versions feature 26-inch wheel equipment, the former in steel and the latter utilising cast aluminium construction.
![]() |
---|
A new tubular steel chassis design derived from the Can-Am Maverick X3 platform said to be 35% or 18kg lighter. |
At the business end of the machines, the range offers an industry leading 748kg towing capacity, complemented by front and rear racks offering a rating of 54 and 109kg respectively.
The Outlander PRO comes standard with multiple storage capabilities, including new 1-gallon integrated glove box compartment and 4.5 inch instrument display, while selected models also feature a magnetic phone mount and USB port to keep riders’ devices charged while they are on the go. Utilising the LinQ attachment system, 125 options are available for the front cargo area, the handlebar and control area and the rear cargo platform. These include the likes of heated grips and windshields, gun or chainsaw racks, winches, lighting options and HD skid plates.
All machines are offered with a 3-year unlimited km warranty on the engine and drivetrain, with a one-year coverage on the remaining areas of the machine.
Visit www.can-am.brp.com/off-road/nz/
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…