Haze
Well-known member
February 14, 2017
Bosch Engineering Group delights the customer, creates Sport Mode
Engineers used spare time to research, develop customer solution
Working doesn’t have to feel like a chore when you’re passionate about what you do. That’s why engineers from Bosch Engineering Group (BEG) decided to go above and beyond, using their spare time to come up with product improvement concepts for Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). Chris Baker, engineering supervisor for BEG in Farmington Hills, Michigan, believes it’s Bosch’s customer-oriented, innovative culture that contributed to the engineers’ inclination to go above and beyond on this project.
“Being surrounded by associates who are full of passion can be contagious,” said Baker. “In our facility, we have many dedicated associates, and it’s exciting to see firsthand what that passion produces for our customers.”
Searching for solutions
After a BEG engineer overheard BRP customers discussing a need to make BRP’s three-wheeled Spyder “cooler,” a group of engineers decided to develop a solution to pitch to BEG management. Understanding the unique engineering challenges associated with three-wheeled vehicles, the engineers set out to explore solutions that would make the Spyder more fun to drive without compromising safety.
Thorough research led the engineers to the concept of incorporating a Sport Mode functionality to the vehicle, a solution that would make drifting easier. The concept was intended to make the vehicle more fun to drive, giving the operator more freedom to maneuver the vehicle quickly and safely.
After the group of engineers pitched the idea to their management for innovation budget approval, BEG leadership decided to pursue the project. By developing a solution that would improve the maneuverability of the vehicle, making it a higher-performance machine, BEG associates knew they had a solution that would excite the customer.
Delighting the customer
After lots of hard work and dedication to find a fun, safe solution, Derek Cleasby, BEG director of engineering, and the team put the first prototype to test. Experimenting with the new Sport Mode was so much fun that they even invited the customer to the facility to try it out. Completely surprised that BEG engineers had even been working on a solution, BRP participants were delighted by the new functionality that made it possible to spin the back wheel and slide the vehicle. A solution that could deliver fun, high-performance and safety was just what BRP was looking for to appeal to a younger audience.
“The response from the customer was overwhelmingly positive,” said Cleasby. “Bosch Engineering Group engineers prove time and again that they have a keen understanding of customer needs and act as passionate, strategic partners to help deliver results.”
Incorporating the solution
The first vehicle incorporating BRP Sport Mode, the 2017 Can-AM Spyder F3-S, was released in July 2016. And, as it turns out, safety doesn’t have to be the enemy of performance. The Sport Mode function turns off traction control to optimize the Vehicle Stability System and allow for controlled spinning of the solitary rear wheel, making the vehicle perfect for burnouts and drifting. See the Can-AM Spyder F3-S .
“We are thrilled to know that by taking initiative to delight the customer, this extraordinary group of engineers was able to develop a solution that both exceeded expectations and could be implemented in products for the customer to improve user experience,” said Cleasby.
Bosch Engineering Group associates prepare to take the Sport Mode feature on the road.
Bosch Engineering Group delights the customer, creates Sport Mode
Engineers used spare time to research, develop customer solution
Working doesn’t have to feel like a chore when you’re passionate about what you do. That’s why engineers from Bosch Engineering Group (BEG) decided to go above and beyond, using their spare time to come up with product improvement concepts for Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). Chris Baker, engineering supervisor for BEG in Farmington Hills, Michigan, believes it’s Bosch’s customer-oriented, innovative culture that contributed to the engineers’ inclination to go above and beyond on this project.
“Being surrounded by associates who are full of passion can be contagious,” said Baker. “In our facility, we have many dedicated associates, and it’s exciting to see firsthand what that passion produces for our customers.”
Searching for solutions
After a BEG engineer overheard BRP customers discussing a need to make BRP’s three-wheeled Spyder “cooler,” a group of engineers decided to develop a solution to pitch to BEG management. Understanding the unique engineering challenges associated with three-wheeled vehicles, the engineers set out to explore solutions that would make the Spyder more fun to drive without compromising safety.
Thorough research led the engineers to the concept of incorporating a Sport Mode functionality to the vehicle, a solution that would make drifting easier. The concept was intended to make the vehicle more fun to drive, giving the operator more freedom to maneuver the vehicle quickly and safely.
After the group of engineers pitched the idea to their management for innovation budget approval, BEG leadership decided to pursue the project. By developing a solution that would improve the maneuverability of the vehicle, making it a higher-performance machine, BEG associates knew they had a solution that would excite the customer.
Delighting the customer
After lots of hard work and dedication to find a fun, safe solution, Derek Cleasby, BEG director of engineering, and the team put the first prototype to test. Experimenting with the new Sport Mode was so much fun that they even invited the customer to the facility to try it out. Completely surprised that BEG engineers had even been working on a solution, BRP participants were delighted by the new functionality that made it possible to spin the back wheel and slide the vehicle. A solution that could deliver fun, high-performance and safety was just what BRP was looking for to appeal to a younger audience.
“The response from the customer was overwhelmingly positive,” said Cleasby. “Bosch Engineering Group engineers prove time and again that they have a keen understanding of customer needs and act as passionate, strategic partners to help deliver results.”
Incorporating the solution
The first vehicle incorporating BRP Sport Mode, the 2017 Can-AM Spyder F3-S, was released in July 2016. And, as it turns out, safety doesn’t have to be the enemy of performance. The Sport Mode function turns off traction control to optimize the Vehicle Stability System and allow for controlled spinning of the solitary rear wheel, making the vehicle perfect for burnouts and drifting. See the Can-AM Spyder F3-S .
“We are thrilled to know that by taking initiative to delight the customer, this extraordinary group of engineers was able to develop a solution that both exceeded expectations and could be implemented in products for the customer to improve user experience,” said Cleasby.

Bosch Engineering Group associates prepare to take the Sport Mode feature on the road.