Suzuki Aims at Repower with New 70-, 80-, 90-, 100-hp OBs

A leader in 4-stroke outboard technology, Suzuki is now in “Generation II.”

“These new motors clearly demonstrate our factory’s commitment to
constant improvement and innovation, even when we’re already ahead of the competition,” says Larry Vandiver, Marketing Director for Suzuki Marine. “Our goal was to develop quicker, smaller and lighter four-cylinder outboards, while expanding our offerings in this important segment of the boating market."

The DF100 is the only 100-hp outboard motor in its class and the DF80 is the first such horsepower in the Suzuki line up. The company is targeting for re-power a variety of vessels, including small center consoles and runabouts, flats boats, bay boats, pontoon boats and a range of aluminum boats.

70-, 80-, 90-hp

To make these new motors lighter and more compact, Suzuki engineers began with a new 91.7 cu. in. inline four-cylinder Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) powerhead with four valves per cylinder. By incorporating an offset drive shaft and a two-stage gear reduction, Suzuki engineers moved the engine’s center of gravity forward and reduced the overall dimensions of the outboard.

The new DF90, for example, is almost three inches shorter than Suzuki’s previous 90-hp 4-stroke, and more than nine inches shorter than some competitive 90hp models. This is an important consideration on boats with limited transom clearance, such as flats boats with poling platforms. This compact design means the new DF70, DF80 and DF90 will look better, fit better and balance better on a wide range of popular craft, says the company.

Lighter Weight 90-hp

A new lightweight cowl and lower unit help trim these motors down to a target weight of around 341 lbs. — making Suzuki’s new DF90 the lightest 4-stroke outboard in its power class.

All four of the engines have a 2.59:1 final drive ratio, delivering low-end muscle and top-end performance on a wide range of fresh and saltwater boats. This is intended to improve “hole-shot” performance, something that all makers of 4-strokes are working on.

How Much More Fuel-Efficient?

Suzuki’s multi-point sequential electronic fuel injection and solid-state ignition combine to optimize fuel efficiency across the performance range. The new outboards also incorporate Suzuki’s new Lean Burn Control Technology — a feature that predicts fuel needs according to operating conditions and allows the engine to operate on a very lean air-fuel ratio. The company says that this will provide a significant improvement in fuel economy — especially at cruising speeds — but we have yet to test any of the units, so as far as we’re concerned the jury is still out on this.