Finally, the long-awaited Sea-Doo Spark X is here!

If you’ve followed the Classic Jetskis channel for some time, you’ll know that every year I make my prediction videos, call them concepts if you will, where I showcase what I’d like to see in the following year’s line up, always with the hope that Sea-Doo might see them and maybe ‘spark’ some inspiration.

And there has been one thing I’ve been banging on about for years:

Give us a faster Spark.

Sea-Doo claim they listen to their customers. Some years it hasn’t exactly felt like that… cough sand.

But this year?

I think they might have finally listened.

Introducing the New Spark X and Spark X Trixx

Yep, you read that correctly. We finally have a performance orientated Spark: the Spark X.

And better still, it’s also available with the Trixx package as the Spark X Trixx.

That’s important because one of my biggest concerns with Sea-Doo chasing more performance was that we could lose the DNA that made us fall in love with the Spark in the first place.

The lightweight, playful, slightly ridiculous nature of the Trixx is what makes it so much fun.

Thankfully, Sea-Doo haven’t forgotten that.

But the headline here has to be what’s sitting underneath it.

The Brand New 1000 ACE Engine

For 2027, Sea-Doo have introduced an entirely new engine to the Spark platform: the Rotax 1000 ACE.

And this is bigger news than just the Spark X.

The 1000 ACE replaces the 900 ACE across the entire Spark range from 2027 onwards. The 900 ACE is gone, with the new 1000 ACE now available across the familiar 60hp and 90hp models, alongside the new 110hp Spark X and Spark X Trixx.

Now, on first glance you might think:

Hang on… have Sea-Doo just taken the 900 ACE, remapped it and squeezed another 20hp out of it?

No.

And this is where things start getting interesting.

Sea-Doo have explained that the inside of this engine has been extensively redesigned. We’re talking changes to the lower crankcase and oil scavenging, pistons, cylinder head and intake system.

The outgoing 900 ACE produced 90hp, ran an 11.0:1 compression ratio and had an 8,000rpm limit.

The new 1000 ACE takes that to 110hp, a 12.5:1 compression ratio and 8,500rpm.

So this isn’t simply a factory remap with more load thrown at the existing engine. Sea-Doo have developed a new, higher displacement engine designed to give us more performance while retaining the durability and compact characteristics we’ve come to expect from the ACE platform.

As they say, there’s no replacement for displacement!

But I know what you're thinking.

Joe, forget the compression ratio. How fast does it go?

Well…

55mph.

And yes, I know.

I’ve spent years asking for a 60mph Spark, so when I first heard 110hp and 55mph during the press conference, I’ll admit my heart sank a little.

We finally got our faster Spark… but it still isn’t the 60mph Spark.

However, the more I’ve looked into what Sea-Doo have actually done here, the more I think there is a much bigger play going on.

55MPH… Is It Enough?

The Spark X has a claimed top speed of 55mph, representing around a 15% increase in top speed over the outgoing Spark.

Is that the 60mph I've been screaming for?

No.

Sea-Doo, I’m still going to keep asking.

But 55mph puts the Spark X right at the sharp end of the rec lite performance category and, on paper, slightly ahead of the 110hp Yamaha TR 1 JetBlaster's claimed top speed.

And this is where I think Sea-Doo engineering deserves some credit.

They could have tried to turbocharge the 900 ACE.

They could have listened to people like me screaming, “Put the 1630 in the Spark!”

But would that actually have made for a better Spark?

The more I think about it, probably not.

Instead, Sea-Doo have protected the Spark DNA by using an engine appropriate for the size and weight of the machine. We get more displacement, more horsepower, harder acceleration and more top speed, without dropping a massive engine into a platform that was never designed around one.

Sea-Doo say the new engine maintains the Spark's strong power to weight ratio, which is crucial.

Because I don’t just want a fast Spark.

I want a fast Spark that still feels like a Spark.

The machines I love from the '90s, particularly the 951s, are hovering around this displacement anyway. The 1000 ACE also puts Sea-Doo basically bang on with Yamaha's 1049cc TR 1.

So from that perspective, the decision starts to make a lot of sense.

But there’s another reason I’m excited about this engine.

Is This Just the Beginning?

During the press conference, I of course had to ask whether there was room for more performance from the new platform.

Christian Comtois, Head of Product Strategy, said yes.

And that got my attention.

Because while 55mph isn’t the number I ultimately wanted, the fact Sea-Doo have developed a completely new, higher displacement engine gives me a lot of hope that they are positioning the Spark platform for growth over the next two or three years.

Think about it.

For 2027, Sea-Doo are dropping a completely new engine AND a completely new hull.

From a product strategy perspective, would it really make sense to give us absolutely everything in year one?

Probably not.

Product development is a game of chess, and I think there is every possibility we'll see Sea-Doo drip feed higher horsepower Spark models over the coming years.

Maybe 120hp.

Maybe 130hp.

And eventually…

that 60mph Spark.

Obviously, that's my prediction rather than something Sea-Doo have confirmed, but the important thing is that the 1000 ACE appears to give them the runway to do it.

So no, 55mph isn't the end goal for me.

But suddenly, 60mph feels a hell of a lot closer.

Brand New Gen 2 Spark Hull

And then we get to arguably the second biggest announcement.

Sea-Doo have redesigned the Spark hull.

After 13 years, we are finally seeing what is effectively a Generation 2 Polytec Spark hull.

That’s huge.

And importantly, this isn't exclusive to the Spark X. The new hull is being introduced across the Spark range.

Again, this feels like Sea-Doo trying to find that sweet spot between adding performance and stability without engineering the fun out of the Spark.

To achieve that, Sea-Doo have redistributed the lifting strakes and extended the keel, coupled with a new ride plate, while importantly maintaining the same deadrise angle as the Gen 1 Spark hull.

Sea-Doo claim the result is sharper handling, better turning and more comfort in chop, while vitally retaining that playful Spark character.

And the changes don't stop at the hull itself.

We also have a new jet pump, intake grate, ride plate and enhanced pump system.

That's important because it shows Sea-Doo haven't simply thrown another 20hp at the Spark and called it a day.

They've looked at the entire package surrounding that additional performance.

The engine has changed.

The hull has changed.

The pump has changed.

The ride plate has changed.

This feels much more like the beginning of a second generation Spark platform than simply another yearly refresh.

Intelligent Debris Free Comes to the Spark X

Interestingly, Sea-Doo have also opted to add iDF, Intelligent Debris Free, to the 110hp Spark X and Spark X Trixx.

For anyone unfamiliar with the system, iDF allows riders to reverse the direction of the pump to help clear debris using the handlebar mounted controls.

Again, it's another indication that Sea-Doo have treated the Spark X as more than simply a horsepower upgrade.

Personally, I'm probably more excited by the extra 20hp than I am about clearing weeds out of my pump, but hey… it's there!

Finally… A Full Colourised Top Deck

Then we have something I've wanted to see for years.

For the first time ever, we have a fully colourised Spark top deck, with Sea-Doo calling the process ‘Color in Deck’.

The new Spark X arrives in Blue Mist and Coral Blast, and whatever you think about the colour combination itself, technically this is a pretty significant step forward.

BRP said exactly how they have achieved the colourised top deck is proprietary, so unfortunately that remains a secret for now.

But if I had to guess, I think there are two possibilities.

Either Sea-Doo are using virgin plastic for these components, or they've developed a way of colourising Polytec.

Personally, I lean towards the latter.

And I don't think it's necessarily a coincidence that we're seeing a grey colour first.

With the way Sea-Doo colour the raw recycled Polytec material, I imagine achieving really bright, vibrant colours could be challenging, whereas something like this flatter grey makes a lot of sense.

Again, that's my speculation rather than something BRP have confirmed.

But whichever way they've achieved it, it opens up a really exciting prospect for where Spark colours could go from here.

And not to get too far ahead of myself…

If they can colourise that central structure on the top deck, could we eventually see a colourised Polytec hull underneath in future years?

Now that would be cool.

As for the Blue Mist and Coral Blast combination itself, it reminds me of the Nardo Grey movement we've seen in the automotive world over recent years, that flat grey paired with a really powerful red/orange accent.

And surprisingly…

I kind of like it.

At the same time, if Sea-Doo had gone completely wild and made that grey another bright contrasting colour, I think it could have blown a lot of people's socks off.

Colours are always subjective.

But technically?

Hats off to Sea-Doo.

I've been hoping we'd eventually see full colourisation of the Spark top deck, and now it's finally happening.

Have Sea-Doo Finally Listened?

With all of that said, I have to give Sea-Doo props here.

For years, so many of us have been screaming for them to do something with the Spark.

More power.

More speed.

More development.

And for 2027 they've put the money into developing a new engine, new hull, new pump system, new ride plate and a colourised top deck.

This isn't another sticker kit.

This isn't a new colour and “see you next year.”

They've actually invested in the platform.

And after 13 years of the Spark, I think that's worth celebrating.

Guys, don't take this moment for granted.

We have a Spark X in the modern day.

Is it the final article in terms of what I've been asking for?

No.

Sea-Doo, it still needs to do 60mph.

I'm not letting you off that easily.

But for the first time in a long time, I feel like we're moving in exactly the right direction.

If Sea-Doo had simply given us a 110hp remapped 900 ACE and called it the Spark X, I think I'd be disappointed.

But they haven't.

They've given us a new 1000cc engine with room for growth, redesigned the hull underneath it and upgraded the supporting components around the extra performance.

And that changes how I look at the 55mph figure.

55mph isn't necessarily the destination. It could be the starting point.

If that's what Sea-Doo are doing here, then the next few years could get very interesting indeed.

For now, though, we finally have what we've been asking for:

A lighter, faster, performance orientated Spark that, importantly, still looks like it should be a Spark.

And yes…

I'll say it one more time.

Now give us 60mph.

For loads more detail on the new Spark X, Spark X Trixx and the rest of the 2027 Sea-Doo line up, head over to the Classic Jetskis YouTube channel.

Want to see the new Spark X in more detail? My full YouTube video covering the 2027 Sea-Doo Spark X, new 1000 ACE engine, Gen 2 hull and everything else announced can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj6QtWQt18E

Let me know what you think. Are you happy with 55mph, are you thinking of ordering one, or are you with me and still holding out for that 60mph Spark?

Image credit: @BRP / Sea-Doo

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