Tohatsu America Corp. (TAC), the US and Canadian distributor of Tohatsu Outboards, has announced that it will add a 20hp four-stroke to the line in 2008, replacing the 18 hp.

Tohatsu’s first 20 hp four-stroke outboard will be sold under the Tohatsu brand. This will give the company an outboard halfway in horsepower between its 15 and 25 hp four-strokes.

Kurt Gardner, Tohatsu America’s National Sales Manager, said: “Our focus is to continue to introduce products that are among the most competitive and affordable on the market. We believe that replacing the 18hp with a 20hp is a good step in achieving this.”

The new 20 will have a CD ignition system especially designed for immediate starting in all sea and weather conditions, as well as the many other features the 18hp currently offers including low oil pressure warning (visual and audible) and decompression device for ease of manual starts. The new engine for boats will also offer the same ease of operation and excellent fuel economy all Tohatsu outboards are known for. Production is set to begin in January of 2008.

Tohatsu outboards from 2-30 hp are four-strokes and those from 40-115 are 2-stroke direct injection models using Tohatsu’s proprietary TLDI® system. All Tohatsu 4-stroke & TLDI models come with a 3-year limited warranty.