HSR-Benelli breaking new ground
> 02/25/2008
HSR-Benelli breaking new ground
Austrian company developing US strategy and sales structure
In 2007, the
company formerly known as Hydrospace acquired Italian engine builders
Benelli Motori. After changing its name to HSR-Benelli in October, the
company began a significant rebranding process.
HSR-Benelli promised that its customers would see a number of different
PWC models powered by Benelli Motori engines. At the Paris International
Boat Show in December, the newly named company delivered on its word
and revealed an entirely new series of personal watercraft.
Known for race-proven, one-person stand-up watercraft, HSR-Benelli
changed gears with a new line of runabouts dubbed Series R. Four different
three-seaters make up the Series R line, but it’s the Race Edition
that has caught people’s attention.
Powered by an industry-first six-cylinder, 4-stroke engine, the Race
Edition pumps out an incredible 2,196cc and a whopping 342 horsepower.
To put that in perspective, of the four major PWC manufacturers, Sea-Doo
currently leads the way with two vehicles that produce 255 hp.
The HSR-Benelli Series R Prestige also runs off the same V6, 4-stroke,
2,196cc power plant, but churns out a slightly more modest 278 hp.
For customers not looking for all-out power, the Naked Edition and Pro
Edition are both powered by a 4-stroke, 1,098cc engine. The Naked Edition
provides 142 hp, while the Pro Edition offers 172 hp.
With a new engine builder, a new name and a line of new vehicles in
tow, the next step for HSR-Benelli is distribution. When the company
was still known as Hydrospace, Riva Motorsports of Pompano Beach, Fla.
was the exclusive US distributor and operated as Hydrospace USA. Late
in 2007, however, HSR-Benelli took over control of US distribution.
When asked by PersonalWatercraft.com, the company would not discuss
the specifics of its North American business strategy, but said it is
planning a sales and after-sales structure. Once HSR-Benelli develops
a dealer network, it will be interesting to see if the Series R Race
Edition will be allowed to be sold in the United States.
Personal Watercraft manufactures have a voluntary gentleman’s
agreement with the US Coast Guard to not produce a stock vehicle that
will exceed 65 mph. With so much horsepower, the Race Edition may need
a limiter to restrict the top speed like those found on some motorcycles.
