Abstract: A snowmobile having asymmetrical, high floatation skis. The snowmobile includes left and right steerable skis carried by a front suspension system that in turn is mounted to the snowmobile's chassis. Each ski has a downwardly extending longitudinal keel, and inner and outer floatation portions extending laterally from the keel. The inner floatation portion of each ski is wider than the outer floatation portion of such ski, making the ski asymmetrical with respect to the keel and giving the ski greater floatation without increasing the overall width of the snowmobile. Preferably the front suspension system includes left and right generally downwardly and forwardly extending spindles, each spindle carrying at its lower end the corresponding ski. The spindles define the steering axes for their respective skis. Preferably the steering axis of the spindle passes through the keel.

Abstract: A snowmobile having a liquid-cooled engine with an improved cooling system is disclosed. The snowmobile has a chassis with a drive tunnel. Horizontal footrests extend laterally from opposite sides of the chassis. The snowmobile also has left and right elongate side coolers that dissipate heat generated by the engine. The side coolers have a hollow interior that is in fluid communication with liquid coolant passages in the engine. Each cooler extends longitudinally and is mounted at an outer edge of a respective footrest to form a footwell. The snowmobile has a pump that circulates coolant throughout the coolant circuit formed by the side coolers and the internal passages of the engine. The side coolers may also contain heat exchanging anti-skid studs that extend outward from the surface of each side cooler. The snowmobile may also contain front and rear heat exchangers connected within the coolant circuit and positioned at the front and rear ends of the tunnel, respectively.