HSR-Benelli Introduces Three More Stand-Up Latecomers
Dec. 28, 2007
By Kevin Shaw
It’s been a long time since any manufacturer has stirred up this much hoopla in the watercraft racing community. HSR-Benelli’s success in racing has been met with a swarm of controversy. Recent documents cited that only 19 turbocharged S4 stand-ups were registered at the Department of Motor Vehicles for 2007; unless used explicitly for racing, this news leaves many to question where exactly the other 81 boats needed to meet IJSBA homologation rules are.
This, compounded with Italian engine builder Benelli Motors’ recent acquisition of the brand, and its nearly nonexistent corporate presence at this past World Finals raises as many eyebrows as it does queries. Personal Watercraft Illustrated was first watercraft publication to feature HSR-Benelli’s latest coup d’état, a selection of wickedly designed high-performance runabouts, the Series-R group, the mightiest of the selection boasting 342 horsepower in our 2008 Buyer’s Guide in our January/February 08 issue.
Now, the dark horse boat builder is stirring up the pot by introducing four additional stand-ups. Undoubtedly designed to enter and ultimately dominate the stock classes in nearly every degree, these stand-ups are broken into two types, two which share the S4 hull and 4-stroke powerplant and two – known as the Series-S - brandishing a new hull and powered by a Benelli-built 3-cylinder 4-stroke, the strongest of which roars with 162 horses!
Additionally, HSR-Benelli will be introducing another Series-S high performance stand-up in 2009 called the Series-S Naked Edition. The Naked Edition will be a stripped-down version of its more intense brethren, featuring a detuned 3-cylinder Benelli plant making a more competitive 100 horses while using the latest hull design. We’ll have to wait and see if HSR-Benelli is able to meet with the EJSBA’s newly raised homologation standards as well as those of the APBA and IJSBA. This could spell an outright landslide for HSR-Benelli!
HSR-BENELLI
HSR-Benelli S4 110HP
List Price: TBA
Color: Silver/Orange/Black
Dimensions & Capacity
Claimed Dry Weight: 369.6 lbs
Length: 91.6 in
Width: 29.6 in
Max Rider Capacity: 1
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