The next, larger displacement motor is rumored to be between 500-600HP, so we could potentially see a 600R. Mercury wants to compete with 7 Marine, but do it with an engine that isn't grossly overweight. I just hope that whatever it is, it doesn't weigh more than 800#s and it has a low water pickup gearcase with at least 1.62 gears.

Is that why the 557 isn't on more cats, weight?

Absolutely! They weigh right at 1,100#s - which is 400#s more than a 400R. I'm not certain that the 7 Marine gearcase would work well in a surfacing application on a cat either. They're really just designed for the big v-bottom center consoles that you see them on all the time.

The power to weight ratio of the 627 and the 400r is identical. However when the horsepower totals the same the 400s are faster. Either the lower is more efficient or the RPM range on the 400 helps it.

They have to do something as Suzuki has a better engine and they are coming out with a 400 hp engine.

From what I've been told by the people at Seven Marine, they also are not targeting the performance-oriented center console market. They're after the bigger, heavier stuff in the more traditional center console segment..

Matt, what makes it a performance center console? No fishing rod holders? LOL

The HP gap may be market driven. It makes sense in a world where the 48 MTI outsells the 36 MTI by a ratio of 10 to 1. (That's just my impression, not privy to MTI sales figures)

Man up brah schpill da beans im In da market

No... no fish door or crapper