Can-Am Just Presented These Two Extreme Side-by-Side Concepts, Says It Will Never Make Them

The handful of companies that play in the side-by-side and ATV industry are a bit more pragmatic than carmakers, and they don’t usually waste any time making concepts just to see how people react - they dive straight in with whatever they envision. That’s why what Canadian brand Can-Am did this week was a bit of a surprise.

What did it do? Well, aside from updating a lot of its product lines (more on that in a bit), it also presented two concept side-by-side vehicles it says it will never produce, but certainly impress: a six-wheel race support vehicle, and something that can only be likened to a light show on wheels.

I’ll start with the six-wheeler, something called the Defender Prerunner. Built on the Defender platform with six wheels that is already making the rounds in the world, this design was inspired by the company’s experience in racing, more specifically by the support vehicles that keep the racers going in the harshest of conditions.

Mechanically the same as the vehicle it is based on, this concept rides on 35-inch wheels and features a trophy-truck-inspired LinQ bed where it can carry tools and parts. Its cabin, capable of holding four people, is equipped with Sparco seats.

The Can-Am Maverick R XRay is the second concept presented this week by the company, and the purpose of this one is a bit more confusing. Can-Am describes it as the embodiment of the Glamis riding culture, the infamous California off-road community, and what makes it special is the way it integrates lighting solutions.

More specifically, the ride’s industry-first exoskeleton structure integrates lighting solutions and translucent, backlit panels. These can be used, technically, to ensure communication between dune riders, as the lights can be programmed to display various lighting patterns.

The XRay is built on the Maverick R platform, which hasn’t been modified in any other way, mechanically speaking. In comes in a two-wheel drive configuration, is fitted with an active roof spoiler, and rocks Sparco seats as well. Putting power to the ground are paddle tires.

As said, none of these two vehicles are intended for production, but they kind of act as a sort of preview of things to come. The Canadian company promised, as it presented these two concepts, that it will reveal major off-road products every six months for the next four years.

This week, it pulled the veils off several 2027 model year vehicles, but it’s unclear whether these are part of the product offensive the company has mentioned: the Defender XU, Defender HD10, Maverick R, Maverick Sport, Maverick Trail, and the Outlander X mr. We’ll have a closer look at all of these in the coming days, so stay tuned for more.