Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:48:39 -0500, HK wrote:

The end of Johnson outboards?

By IBI Magazine

Reports published in the US indicate that Bombardier Recreational
Products (BRP) has ceased building Johnson branded outboards and will
build no more in 2008. This effectively puts an end to the iconic brand.
According to the reports, BRP said that it would be focusing all of its
efforts on Evinrude branded E-TEC engines. BRP indicated that it
recognised the value of the Johnson name and was evaluating if and how
it could leverage it in the future. BRP offices in Switzerland and
Belgium did not return calls when efforts were made to determine how
this move will affect Johnson dealers in Europe.

That's been a rumor for a while now - guess they are finally getting
around to pulling the trigger.

There had been talk of rebranding Johnson with new four stroke tech
and keeping Johnson's in small engines - 40 and under. Now the rumor
is that BRP might expand the ETEC line down instead of having Johnson
be a different technology, but I can't see how unless they are going
wtih different injectors and EMM system.

Don't know - it puts a hole in the BRP line at the lower end of the
horsepower range.


Speaking of horsepower, the new diesel tundra looks like it'll be an 8
liter six, developing 300+ hp. A Hino engine.