BOREAL H

01

Context / Brief

The snowmobile market is a $2.7 billion industry growing at 8% annually, yet its vehicle formats have barely evolved in three decades. All existing machines force a binary choice: the exposure and performance of a snowmobile, or the protection and utility of a UTV. Neither solves extreme winter terrain.

BOREAL H is a personal concept developed for Can-Am (BRP), the world's second-largest powersport manufacturer with 28% global market share. The project proposes a third category: a three-track hybrid vehicle that operates where conventional machines give up, without sacrificing the dynamic riding experience that defines the Can-Am DNA.

The target spans two worlds: recreational riders pushing into deep backcountry, and professionals operating in remote snow terrain such as ski patrol, mountain rescue, forestry, and cold-climate logistics. A single platform, two use modes, one powertrain that adapts.

0B$

Global snowmobile market · 2025

0%

Annual market growth rate

0%

BRP global market share · powersports

0M

Registered snowmobiles in the USA alone

02

Concept / Direction

Moodboard

Essential

Sculptural

Structural

A strong, protective cockpit layout combines structural clarity with a connected display hub for intuitive control on the move.

BOREAL H draws its visual language from three primary references: the compressed aggression of backcountry UTV, the mechanical precision of track-driven military utility vehicles, and the ergonomic radicalism of alpine sports equipment. Nothing superfluous.

The form language is built around three principles. Angular: every surface break is deliberate, reflecting load paths and aerodynamic intent. Sharp: edges are tools: they define shadow lines, channel airflow, and signal the vehicle's performance orientation. Taut: surfaces are stretched between hard points, communicating structural tension without visual noise.

Angular Sharp Taut surfaces Compressed Mechanical

The CMF reinforces the brief: matte black as the dominant skin that absorbs light and refuses ornamentation, punctuated by Can-Am yellow #FFD000 reserved exclusively for active safety elements, grip zones, and functional highlights. Colour as communication, not decoration.

03

Ideation / Sketches

Panoramic Ideation Sheet

Front View

Side View

3/4 View

Rear 3/4 View

04

Vehicle Architecture

Architecture Render

01
3-Track Drive System Two front independently steered tracks + one central rear track. Enhanced traction and directional control on all snow conditions.
02
Front + Rear Winch Integrated dual winch system, 4500 lbs front / 3000 lbs rear. Deployed without leaving the cab.
03
Cargo Bed + Modular Rack Rear flat bed with integrated tie-down system. 200 kg payload capacity. Tool-free side panel removal.
04
Hybrid Powertrain Bay ICE engine + electric motor mounted in tandem. Battery pack under floor for optimised centre of gravity.
05
Enclosed Cab · ROPS Full UTV-style enclosed cockpit with integrated ROPS structure. Heated windshield, side window defrost.

⚙

ICE Engine

999cc Rotax turbo triple · 240 hp · Low-end torque optimised for snow traction

⚡

Electric Motor

55 kW axial flux · Instant torque · Regenerative braking system

▦

Battery Pack

12 kWh LFP · Under-floor mount · Cold-optimised BMS · 40 km EV range

◈

Combined Output

315 hp combined · 470 Nm · Selectable all-track torque vectoring

Drive Modes

EV

Electric only · Silent operation · Camp & approach

Hybrid

Combined power · Auto torque split · Trail cruising

Snow

Soft track engagement · Max traction · Deep powder

Crawl

Low-speed precision · Hill descent control · Technical terrain

Sport

Full power · Sharpened steering · Track surface only

Track suspension · spring travel study

Triangular track unit · isometric

Powertrain Layout

05

Interior / Cockpit

The cockpit is designed around a single constraint: everything must be operable with thick winter gloves. This single design rule drives every decision: button size, control reach, surface texture, toggle travel distance, and HMI interaction model.

The seating system uses a low-slung bucket configuration with integrated lumbar support and shoulder bolsters. Seat heating is a primary feature, not an option. Entry and exit are designed for layered winter clothing without contortion.

Design Principle

"Everything accessible with gloves on", all controls are sized for a minimum 40 mm fingertip contact area, spaced at least 28 mm apart, with tactile differentiation between function groups.

The cabin structure integrates a ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System) as a visible design element: the internal roll cage becomes the backbone of the interior architecture, with utility attachment points built into its nodes.

Storage is distributed rather than centralised: door pockets, console tunnel, and a modular floor tray system accommodate gear organisation across long expeditions without a single large bin that becomes unusable when buried under equipment.

Seat · Design

Multi-view exploration

Line study

Volume exploration

Colour study

Surface breakdown · CMF split

Panel decomposition

Final render · matte black / bronze

Profile view

Cockpit · Assembled

Full cockpit · seats, wheel & console integrated

06

Dashboard / UX · UI

Steering Wheel · Design

Front proportion study

Hub ideation · BRP

Hub detail

Steering wheel · finalised

Dashboard · Console

Concept · UI zones & data feed

Multi-angle ideation

Drive mode layout

Console line study · front

Console line study · 3/4

Console detail

Console render · perspective

Console render · driver view

HMI · Screens

Instrument cluster · eyes-forward primary screen

Central HMI · drive modes & settings

01

Eyes Forward

Critical data (speed, mode, battery/fuel level) are displayed in the instrument cluster directly in the driver's primary sightline · no head-down interaction for moving-state information.

02

Glove-First Input

Physical controls dominate for all critical functions. The central touchscreen is reserved for secondary functions (navigation, media, settings) accessed only when stationary. No swipe-based mode switching while driving.

03

Mode Visibility

Active drive mode is always visible via a dedicated illuminated indicator ring on the cluster, colour-coded by mode category. No confirmation dialogs for mode switches; feedback is immediate and physical.

07

Final Renders

#111111

#FFD000

#2A2A28

#F0EDE8

Matte black dominant for light absorption and anti-glare in snow environments. Can-Am yellow reserved for safety zones, grip surfaces, and active indicators. Off-white for interior trim and labelling.