MerCruiser adds Grunt

Waterskiers love grunt. The explosive energy needed to pluck skiers from deepwater starts is the holy grail of tow boats and MerCruiser has powered up its tow sport range-topper to deliver just that.

The new 6.2-litre Scorpion 377 HO develops an impressive 380hp -- 40 more than the outgoing 377 model.

"It is truly impressive," says David Meehan, the director of MerCruiser in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, "This new Scorpion 377 produces incredible top-end power and great torque while being ultra-green as well."

"This is an engine that has been purpose-built for big tow sports boats. They are hungry for more power and excellent performance, so that's exactly what we have delivered.

The new Scorpion 377 comes with fully integrated digital throttle and shift (DTS) as standard and incorporates a ZF 63C electronic shift transmission which is adaptable for V-Drive.

MerCruiser's Engine Guardian system automatically monitors oil pressure, coolant temperature, transmission temperature, engine over-rev, cooling water pressure, low voltage and engine spark knock and reacts instantly to any problem, preventing any damage.

The engine is fully compatible with Mercury's exclusive Smart Tow technology which combines launch control and cruise control in one system.

The optional launch control feature allows drivers to select the perfect tow profile for the skier being pulled from the water -- giving smooth and consistent acceleration.

The cruise control delivers consistent speed on the water with no 'hunting'. Smart Tow Pro can also be programmed for a particular speed when linked to GPS technology.

The Scorpion 377 also features a catalytic converter to reduce exhaust emissions.

The engine comes with a three year MerCruiser warranty that can be upgraded to six years.