Can-Am Shows Off Two Concept Builds That Are Freaking Wild!

If you love the smell of dust, diesel, and dominance, keep reading. Can-Am just unveiled two concept side-by-sides that have zero plans for production but every intention of blowing your mind. The Defender Prerunner and the Maverick R XRay aren’t just show pieces, they’re a statement about where the brand is headed next.

And here’s what’s really exciting: this isn’t just a one-and-done reveal. Can-Am is locking in a promise to drop major off-road product news every six months for the next four years. That’s a steady stream of new machines, new tech, and new reasons to keep checking back.

These concepts made their debut at Can-Am’s 2027 dealer show, which lines up perfectly with that four-year commitment to steady product news. It’s a signal that dealers and hardcore fans are getting an early look at where the brand’s design language is headed, even if these exact builds never reach a showroom floor.

Why Can-Am Is Doubling Down on Off-Road Innovation

This move is bigger than two cool concept trucks. It’s Can-Am putting a stake in the ground about where the brand wants to be in the powersports world.

According to Sandy Scullion, President, Powersports, at BRP, “At BRP, we thrive on innovation and ambitious goals. Our efforts are sharply focused on becoming the number one brand in off-road and the OEM of choice for dealers around the globe. In order to be a great partner to our dealers, it is critical that we continue to deliver industry-leading products. The Defender Prerunner & Maverick R XRay are a testament to our innovative DNA and creative excellence.”

Now that’s not just marketing talk. That’s a company telling dealers, riders, and competitors exactly what’s coming.

Alain Massicotte, SSV Director of Design and Innovation at BRP, put it a different way, framing these builds as a creative playground rather than a strict product roadmap.

“Both of these vehicles encapsulate our design philosophy of innovative product architecture, functionality and emotional appeal,” he said. “For our team, these vehicles are far more than a design exercise. They are an opportunity to reimagine two of our most iconic nameplates, both practically and aesthetically, while exploring the realm of possibilities for the evolution of Can-Am DNA. This is also a great way to spark conversations with our most engaged customer community.”

Defender Prerunner: Built for the Chaos of Race Support

Anyone who’s watched King of the Hammers knows races aren’t just won by the driver out front. They’re won in the pits. A fast tire change. The right tool within arm’s reach. A chase vehicle that can actually keep up. That’s exactly the gap the Defender Prerunner is built to fill.

Riding on the Defender platform in a 6×6 configuration, this thing has an absolutely imposing stance. We’re talking 35-inch tires that can chew through nearly any terrain, a trophy-truck-style LinQ bed for hauling tools and spare parts, and a four-seat cab kitted out with premium Sparco seats built for the abuse of race day. It also rolls with a full windshield and windows, so it looks less like a stripped-down buggy and more like a purpose-built support rig ready to run all day.

This isn’t a vehicle designed for a showroom floor. It’s designed for the desert, the chase truck circuit, and the moments when a race lives or dies on how fast your crew can move.

Maverick R XRay: A Light Show Built for the Dunes

If the Defender Prerunner is about muscle, the Maverick R XRay is about presence. Inspired by the custom sand rail culture out of Glamis, this concept takes the Maverick R, already known as one of the most powerful UTVs on the market, and turns it into something that looks like it drove straight out of a sci-fi movie once the sun sets.

The “XRay” name isn’t just for show either. The vehicle’s door panels are translucent, exposing the custom exoskeleton structure underneath the same way an actual X-ray reveals what’s under the surface. It’s built on the Maverick R platform with a custom 2-wheel drive setup, an active roof spoiler, premium Sparco seats, and paddle tires made for pure sand performance.

But the lighting is the real showstopper. Once it gets dark, the backlit panels glow yellow, then flash red under braking, and the system can be programmed with different lighting patterns, turning every dune run into its own visual show. It’s less about a single custom paint job and more about a whole new way for dune riders to express themselves out on the sand.

What This Means for the Powersports Community

Neither of these builds is headed to a dealership. That’s not the point. Can-Am has been clear that these concepts exist to reconsider what its most iconic platforms are capable of, free from the usual limits of a production vehicle.

They’re a signal that big swings, bold design, and rapid-fire product news are the new normal for the brand over the next four years, and reactions from the community could end up shaping features on future models and accessories down the road.

If you’re into SSVs, this is exactly the kind of announcement worth bookmarking. More concepts, more tech, and more reveals are officially on the calendar.