450hp Yamaha XTO Offshore 450 outboard engine revealed

The 25hp addition to the range-topping engine means it now matches the performance of Mercury Racing’s 450R, as well as setting more distance between it and Mercury’s new range of 5.7-litre V10 outboard engines introduced late last year that max out at 400hp.

The new engine will sell alongside the 425hp version launched in 2018.

According to Yamaha, the upgraded XTO Offshore 450 features “sleek graphics, unrivalled power and speed, cutting-edge technology and performance, and a superior power-to-weight ratio”.

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Of note, the updated engine also now produces much more recharging power at idle, producing up to 96A using what Yamaha calls “Phase Angle Control (PAC) componentry to create a super-strong magnetic field”. 

According to Yamaha, the XTO Offshore 450 can now provide “plenty of power for today’s popular, high-demand devices such as gyro stabilisers, air conditioning and sound systems”. 

“The Phase Angle Control charging system on the new XTO Offshore 450 is so powerful, it can even eliminate the need for an on-board generator,” it said.

“The system also prioritises charging to the starting batteries, keeping them charged and ready for action at all times.”

The revised Yamaha XTO Offshore 450 adds the TotalTilt system that adds smarter engine tilt, allowing skippers to fast-trim the engines up or down, as well as set a tilt limiter that stops the engines from lifting too much.

Yamaha has made the 450hp XTO Offshore 450 look different to the 425hp version by introducing raised chrome graphics on the sides, restyled panels and a new flush-mounted manual flush connection that is easier to access.

It has also hidden the external wiring near the XTO Offshore 450’s bracket to give the outboard engine a more premium look from the cockpit.

The more powerful version of the Yamaha XTO Offshore also introduces a modified range of XTO EC propellers, specifically for applications where propeller ventilation “may be an issue due to the power and torque of XTO Offshore outboards”. 

The XTO OS line of propellers adds a 27-inch pitch for “lighter-weight XTO applications that have the available wide-open throttle rpm to potentially drive more top speed”.

No other details about changes made to the engine to increase its performance were given.

Yamaha Motors Australia anticipates the first local deliveries of the new 450hp XTO Offshore, available in Signature Grey or Pearlescent White, to arrive in March.