The Can-Am Commander is a side-by-side vehicle introduced in 2010, the first of its kind from Can-Am. The Commander 1000 came with an 85 hp Rotax 1000 V-twin and a dual-level cargo box, and for 2011 a second model, the Commander 800R, joined the range.
Can-Am Commander at a glance
| Class | side-by-side vehicle (UTV) |
|---|---|
| Maker | Can-Am, a Bombardier Recreational Products brand |
| Introduced | 2010, Can-Am’s first side-by-side |
| 2011 models | Commander 1000, 85 hp (63 kW); Commander 800R, 71 hp (53 kW) |
| Commander 1000 engine | Rotax 1000 V-twin |
| Cargo | dual-level cargo box |
| Commander X MR | engine air intake positioned higher |
| 2022 Commander XT-P | Fox suspension, 15-inch wheels, 30-inch tyres |
based on one source: there is no separate Wikipedia article on the Commander, so the English article on the Can-Am Off-Road range was used and only its Commander facts are repeated here.
History of the Can-Am Commander
Launch
In 2010 Can-Am introduced the Commander, its first side-by-side vehicle. The Can-Am Commander 1000 featured an 85-hp Rotax 1000 V-twin engine and a dual-level cargo box. The product range was extended for 2011, when BRP offered two Commander models: the Commander 1000 with 85 hp (63 kW) and the Commander 800R with 71 hp (53 kW). Two years after the Commander, Can-Am announced another side-by-side vehicle, the 2013 Maverick.
The X MR
The Commander X MR has its engine air intake positioned higher to prevent water and dirt from getting inside, a detail aimed at riding in wet and muddy conditions. In the range the Commander sits among a broader Can-Am side-by-side family that also includes the sportier Maverick and the work-focused Defender.
The 2022 Commander XT-P
The 2022 Commander XT-P model was equipped with Fox suspension, 15-inch wheels and 30-inch tyres, a specification aimed at rougher terrain than the standard car.
Design and features
- Dual-level cargo box: the Commander 1000 was launched with a cargo box divided into two levels.
- Rotax V-twin: the flagship Commander 1000 used the 1000 cc Rotax V-twin with 85 hp.
- Raised intake: the Commander X MR put the engine air intake higher to keep water and dirt out.
- Long-travel specification: the 2022 XT-P added Fox suspension, 15-inch wheels and 30-inch tyres.
Can-Am Commander versions
- Commander 1000: the original model, with 85 hp (63 kW) from the Rotax 1000 V-twin.
- Commander 800R: the second model of 2011, with 71 hp (53 kW).
- Commander X MR: the version with a raised engine air intake.
- Commander XT-P (2022): Fox suspension, 15-inch wheels and 30-inch tyres.
The Commander is the side-by-side member of the Can-Am family, alongside the Outlander and Renegade ATVs, the DS and the Spyder. More in the Can-Am collection.
Sources
- Can-Am Off-Road, English Wikipedia: Commander launch, models, X MR, 2022 XT-P
