The Finland-based Lynx brand is taking a much bigger swing at the North American snowmobile market for model year 2026.
Lynx is bringing more machines across the Atlantic Ocean for next winter. They include the new-to-us, segment-defining Commander sport-utility crossover lineup.
The brand is also majorly renewing its Shredder mountain lineup, renovating the Rave RE trail sleds with a new front end, reviving the Brutal deep-snow crossovers with chassis, gauge and brake upgrades and polishing Xterrain trail crossovers with luxury features.
This is arguably the biggest year of change since Lynx first made landfall in North America for model year 2022. We’ll go from shortest-to-longest through the lineup.
Lynx Rave RE models
New for model year 2026 in the Lynx Rave RE lineup is new front suspension geometry. Plus the 2025 Rave GLS designation disappears but the option of the 850 Turbo R engine does not.
The new-to-Lynx LFS-R front suspension geometry on Lynx Rave RE models will look/sound familiar to Ski-Doo loyalists. Technically it closely mirrors the RAS RX package found on most MXZ models for 2025. (And more models for 2026.) Lynx officials, though, say the difference in ergonomics, skis and rear suspensions make its interaction with the so-equipped Rave RE models different than MXZs.
Talking specs here, the spindle on the 2026 Lynx Rave RE models is 26 mm taller, the upper A-arm matches that, while the lower A-arm is mounted 11 mm higher. Plus, the shocks are more tilted and the sway bar linkage is updated – just like on Ski-Doo’s MXZs for 2025. All of this reduces body roll by 20 percent, Lynx officials said.
Otherwise, the Rave RE models return with the quick-transferring PPS3 rear suspension, beefy KYB Pro 46 HLCR Kashima shocks and ergonomics that place the rider higher and a bid deeper on the chassis than Ski-Doos. The Rave RE will be available with the Rotax 600R E-TEC, 850 E-TEC or 850 E-TEC Turbo R for 2026.
Lynx Xterrain Crossovers
The level of change on the Lynx Xterrain RE models is more limited for model year 2026. These sleds benefit from the quicker reacting four-piston Brembo brake caliper and adjustable brake lever that was introduced elsewhere for 2025. It also has a heated seat for 2006.
Otherwise, an Xterrain is a machine with a 15- by 146-inch track, reinforced and uncoupled PPS3 rear suspension, and a trail-width LFS+ front suspension. It’s found in the Radien2 platform. Track lug options vary between 850, 850 Turbo R and 900 ACE Turbo R engine packages.
Lynx Commanders
Lynx has been building Commander sport/utility crossovers for the Scandinavian market since model year 2009 but the sleds are coming to North America for the first time in 2026.
As it turns out, the wide-tracked vehicle described as a “monster pickup truck of snowmobiles” has become Lynx’s best-selling sled overseas. The brand is now looking to make a dent in the market on this side of the pond with this ultra-capable crossover.
Hannu Haerkoenen from Lynx said the Commander is a “crossover between a trail sled and off-trail sled, so you could consider it a 50/50 crossover in that sense. But on the other hand, it’s also a crossover between a utility sled and a sport sled.” Later he added, “It’s the number one choice for snowmobilers with zero tolerance for limitations. It’s very powerful, it’s very fast, and it’s incredibly versatile.”
Breaking it down, the high-end Commander RE model available here will be in the most-modern Radien2 wide platform. It’ll be powered by the 180 HP, four-stroke 900 ACE Turbo R engine. Power will be sent to a 20- by 154- by 1.75-inch PowderMax track.
An EasyRide+ rear suspension (new to North Americans in the Brutal RE last year) and LFS+ front suspension with new arched lower A-arms come standard. Wide Blade DS+ skis are set at a 39-inch stance. KYB Pro shocks are found all around, with a 36-mm bore on the front dampers and 46 mm on the rear pair.
It’ll come with a heated seat and Multi-LinQ plate atop the tunnel. A high/low/neutral/reverse gearbox further reflects is multi-use nature. Other quality features include the 10.25-inch digital display, flip-up snow flap and four-piston brake caliper.
Lynx Brutals
The Brutal lineup from Lynx had previously been described as a sort of extreme crossover machine, but Lynx officials stressed that these machines are deep-snow crossovers, not trail/off-trail/utility crossovers like the Commanders.
Like model year 2025, the Lynx Brutal RE lineup has two different versions – one with a 20-inch-side track and the other with a 16-incher. It’s the 20-incher that gets the big changes for 2026.
The wide Brutal RE moves to the more modern Radien2 chassis platform for 2026, giving it a brighter headlight, more modern gauge and an extra motor mount on the two-stroker. It also has a new, flip-up snowflap. Plus, all Brutals will now come with the four-piston brake caliper and adjustable brake lever.
The 20-incher is available with either a naturally aspirated 850 E-TEC two-stroke twin or a 900 ACE Turbo R four-stroke triple, plus an EasyRide+ rear suspension surrounded by a 20- by 154- by 2.35-inch track. The 16-wide is only available with the big boosted thumper. Its PPS3 skid is wrapped by a 16- by 154- by 2.5-inch PowderMax.
Lynx Shredders
The Shredder DS gets several updates it shares with select Ski-Doo Summit machines for 2026, but it also gets a few updates exclusive to itself.
Like within the Summit lineup, a shorter and more tapered tunnel, more compact heat exchangers, slim snowflap, light-turning twin-link steering, new spindles and a smaller seat all strip weight (between 5 and 11 pounds, depending on the model) from Lynx’s Shredder DS. The changes are also alleged to increase nimbleness and control. Shredder DS models keep their 34-inch stance, whereas RE models stay at 36-inches between the ski centers.
Exclusive to Lynx, though, are revised ergonomics. That’s reflected in new and higher running boards with more snow clearance and a shorter handlebar riser.
Functionally, the sled also gets new PPS3-DS rear suspension geometry with a shallower front attack angle, repositioned arms and new calibrations. DS models also get lightened rails while the RE models get more reinforcements. There’s even a new Blade DSS ski that’s 10 mm narrower (0.4 inches) and 250 grams (0.55 pounds) lighter.
Overall, BRP’s Pascal Vincent said, “The ride is totally different. It’s an all-new Shredder. For those who have ridden the Shredder in the past, you will feel the drastic difference.”
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