Textron Creates Havoc

By Donna Beadle

When Textron rebranded Bad Boy Buggies and Arctic Cat’s recreational vehicles to Textron Off Road Vehicles, the company said it signified their strong engineering and manufacturing legacy; and was more indicative of the level of the company’s performance, quality and innovation. The launch of the Textron Off Road Havoc X, based on the Stampede platform, signifies Textron has begun their legacy in the off-road market.

What is Havoc X? Textron Off Road’s website states, “Is it a work vehicle? A rec vehicle? Or something else entirely? Who knows. We didn’t give it a label.” We haven’t had a chance to drive Havoc X yet but given the available specs, we are led to believe it was built to take on rec-ute vehicles such as Kawasaki’s Teryx and Polaris’ GENERAL. Here are some of our first impressions.

Havoc X looks pretty impressive on paper. At the heart of the vehicle is a Textron-built 957cc SOHC twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled EFI engine boasting 100-horsepower with 67-ft-lbs. of torque. Its class-leading suspension features double A-arms with 12.8 in. of front and 12.9 in. of rear travel, fully-adjustable and rebuildable King Shocks, and front and rear swaybars for better handling. To complement the suspension, Havoc X features 14-in. cast aluminum wheels with large 28-in. ITP Ultracross tires. It also boasts a class-leading 13 in. of ground clearance which is 18-percent more than the competition.

The vehicle is bigger than both the GENERAL and Teryx in width, length and height, and has a larger towing capacity at 2,000 lbs. which makes us wonder if it leans more towards the ute side of rec-ute. But, it’s nifty 24-cu.-ft. of added storage behind the seats is not only perfect for work applications but for adventure rides, camping and hunting. And, its 600-pound dump box with the Fast-N-Latch bed accessory storage system gives ample space for larger cargo.

Havoc X’s styling screams crossover as it’s not too aggressive, yet not boxy and boring. It’s inset LED lights give that sporty feel while it’s lines remind you this vehicle has grunt. Havoc X also features full-impact, corrosion-resistant doors; a standard 4,000-lb. WARN winch; and a sharp Dynamic Gray paintjob with Lime Green accents for a more recreational feel.

The two-passenger cockpit was designed for the utmost comfort with two-tone bucket seats, tilt steering for the driver and grab bar for the passenger. The spacious cab includes 40 in. between the ROPS cage and seat for unobstructed views, and 31 in. between the instrument panel and seatback. The dash has an industry-leading 5.25 x 3.25-in. LCD display with adjustable backlighting.
Other standard features found on Havoc X include electronic power steering, On-Demand All-Wheel Drive, 2-in. receiver hitch and four-wheel, hydraulic disc brakes.

Whatever Havoc X is, we are excited to see a new entry into the UTV market and cannot wait to get our hands on one to test! Havoc X officially launches December 1, 2017 and will retail for $17,299.