Open-Road Enthusiasts Look Forward to Thrills

(NewsUSA) - With cold temperatures left in the dust, motorsport enthusiasts everywhere are unburying the carwash bucket, detailing their favorite rides and putting on driving gloves.

Gas tanks are filled, and mirrors adjusted - it's riding season again.

This year it's not just traditional warm-weather vehicles hitting the open road, though.

The latest buzz with auto and moto aficionados is the 2008 Can-Am Spyder roadster. It looks like a combination of a convertible sports car and a motorcycle, boasting a unique Y-geometry with two wheels in the front and one in the rear.

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), the manufacturer of Sea-Doo watercraft, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Can-Am ATVs and Evinrude E-Tec outboard engines introduced the Spyder roadster in 2007. This year, an all-new SE-5 transmission option is available, allowing even more enthusiasts to experience the thrill of the open road.

Truly the newest feature for the riding enthusiast, the Spyder's SE-5 transmission caters to those looking for a clutchless technology with "get on and go" convenience not found in traditional motorcycles.

The SE-5 boasts an index finger push-button shifter. It is a completely new way to cruise busy city streets or ride the road less traveled. Oh, and if you forget to downshift, the SE-5 will do it for you.

Marc Lacroix, marketing director for Spyder, has been working with the concept since its prototype stages. "The Spyder SE-5 offers advanced technology with ease of use and performance similar to what you find in today's top sports cars," says Lacroix.

The Spyder roadster is available in 35 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. It comes standard with a vehicle-stability system, including anti-lock brakes, stability control and rollover mitigation. It has a 998cc Rotax V-Twin engine and accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, topping out at 110 mph.

The units are sold through BRP's Can-Am dealer network. To learn more about the availability of the Can-Am Spyder roadster and to try it yourself, visit your local dealer or check out www.Can-Am.brp.com.