The Can-Am Spyder, neither a car nor a motorcycle, has revealed their 2011 models, offering more features and new color schemes. First introduced in 200 Feb 2007, the Spyder roadster gives riders the open-air feeling of riding a motorcycle but everything else is much different. The Spyder roadster offers the peace-of-mind of riding in a sports car because of safety features it has and that gives the rider a stress-free feeling, unlike on a motorcycle. There is no counter steering or leaning like with a motorcycle. The Spyder roadster is "rider active," as the rider turns the handle bars and shifts body weight.

The name Spyder is chosen because the term Spider is known in the automotive industry to stand for popular past roadsters: i.e. Ferrari Spider, Maserati Spider and Alfa Romeo Spider. Because the Spyder is classified as a roadster, BRP gave it the code name "Spyder. Spyder is spelled with a Y because of its "Y-architecture" of two wheels in the front and one in the back.

The new color scheme- Alloy Orange and Pure Magnesium - are complemented with a black two-tone colour scheme and a host of black elements, totally impresed me. Altogether, the Spyder remains a bit of a mystery for most of us: not quite this and not quite that. Or maybe the new "Transformers".

+  BRP