Bombardier to Offer Line of Four-Stroke Engines Under Legendary Johnson Brand; Pursuing Its Goal of Always Being More Environmentally-Responsible

    STURTEVANT, Wis.--Nov. 8, 2001--Bombardier Recreational Products, a leading provider of recreational marine products, announces it will expand its current Johnson outboard engine line with the addition of several new models featuring state-of-the-art four-stroke technology. The Johnson outboard line currently includes two-stroke outboards ranging from 3.5 horsepower to 175 horsepower. With today's announcement, the Johnson line will incorporate several new four-stroke models ranging from 6 to 70 horsepower.
    "Dynamics in the global marine marketplace require a convergence of technologies, such as cleaner ones, to meet the demands and lifestyles of today's boating enthusiasts," said Roch Lambert, Vice President and General Manager of Bombardier's Boats and Outboard Engines division. "We already offer a diverse line of outboards designed to enhance today's boating lifestyle. Pursuing our efforts of always being more environmentally responsible, we now propose, with the addition of four-stroke engines, a broader line of outboards equipped with a range of technologies that will enable us to extend our reach across our entire global distribution system. Our dealers, boat builders, consumers and other stakeholders will benefit from the expanded Johnson outboard lineup."
    The initial four-stroke offering consists of 6, 8, 9.9, 15, 40, 50, 60, and 70-horsepower models. The phased product roll-out is expected to begin just after the new year, hitting the showrooms just in time for the boat show season. Some of these new models will be produced by Suzuki to Bombardier's demanding quality standards under a recently secured supply agreement.
    "This supply agreement will soon lead to a complete line of Johnson branded four-stroke engines available worldwide," Lambert continued. "The new Johnson four-stroke engines perfectly complement our Evinrude two-stroke Ficht(R) lineup, providing us with a wide range of environmentally-friendly outboard engines. Moving ahead, we will be positioned to bring to the consumer a variety of innovative and technologically advanced products that offer the durability, quality, reliability and on-water excitement boaters demand."

    Bombardier Recreational Products designs, develops, builds, distributes and markets Ski-Doo(R) and Lynx(R) snowmobiles, snowgrooming equipment and multi-purpose tracked vehicles, Bombardier(R) all-terrain vehicles, Sea-Doo(R) watercraft and sport boats, Bombardier Fish Hawk(TM) fishing boats as well as the Evinrude(R) and Johnson(R) outboard marine engines and the Ficht Ram Injection(R) technology. Snowmobiles, ATVs, watercraft and some sport boats are powered by Rotax(R) engines that are designed and built by Bombardier-Rotax GmbH, which also builds motors for motorcycles, scooters, karts and aircraft.
    Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion Cdn.

    (R),(TM) Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.