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Yamaha says that the 2011 Rhino 700 FI lineup, including a new Sport Edition (shown), will begin arriving at dealers this summer.

“Yamaha’s leading Rhino continues to hold the top spot as the toughest, most off-road-capable and versatile, as well as the all-time best selling, SxS vehicle,” the company said in a statement released today.

The 2011 Rhino has a new steering wheel and adjustable seat belt that Yamaha says are more comfortable.

New to the Rhino line is a White Armor Sport Edition with fully adjustable piggyback shocks, one-piece cast aluminum wheels, an injection-molded sun top, over fenders, a Baja-inspired front carry bar, and a special graphics treatment. The Sport model also comes with dealer-installed LED tail lights, a custom shift knob and black bed rails.

Yamaha says the 700-class power plant is optimized for the Rhino with a liquid-cooled, four-valve SOHC engine providing plenty of torque. Helping manage that power is the Yamaha Fuel Injection system.

The engine has a forged piston for durability and an aluminum cylinder body with ceramic composite coating for decreased weight, increased cooling ability and additional wear resistance. The roller rocker arms lessen friction in the valve train, reducing wear and increasing durability while providing improved throttle response and better overall off-road performance.

Yamaha’s Ultramatic automatic transmission system has a centrifugal clutch that allows the drive belt to remain under constant tension for better durability. The Ultramatic system’s one-way sprag clutch provides four-wheel engine braking.

The On-Command 2WD/4WD system with differential lock gives the driver options with the push of a button. The Rhino 700 FI has 12.1 inches of ground clearance, and its fully adjustable and fully independent front and rear dual A-arm suspension offers more than 7.3 inches of travel.

Yamaha says the Rhino has large axles and CV joints to accommodate its engine power. Front and rear A-arm guards help prevent sticks and debris from getting to the boots, but should something find a way past the guards, the CV boot material is tough and resistant to most impacts, Yamaha says.

An automotive-style pedal controls the four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes with dual-piston calipers. The parking brake lever is located on the center console and engages a separate disc brake located on the axle.

The Rhino 700 FI comes with a number of standard extras and creature comforts. And Yamaha offers more than 100 official and accessories for the Rhino line. As with all previous models, the 2011 Rhino has a U.S. OSHA- and ISO 3471-compliant rollover protection structure (ROPS). Its 12-volt accessory outlet receives a GPS device, spotlight or even a cell phone charger. The Rhino has padded bucket seats with headrests for both driver and passenger, and a digital meter is standard on the Rhino 700 FI, providing self-diagnostic capabilities for troubleshooting, a voltage meter for monitoring battery condition, and an hour meter function that operates only while the engine is running. The digital LCD multi-function display meter also features a speedometer, odometer, dual trip meter, clock, fuel gauge and gear position display. The 7.9-gallon fuel tank holds enough gas for hours of riding.

The Rhino 700 FI also comes standard with passenger grab handles and cup holders, as well as tough, rotomolded doors to keep mud, water and trail debris out of the cab. Helping keep passengers clean and keeping cabin noise to a minimum is the noise and dust shield located behind the seats. The tools-free air filter under the hood is another convenience. Yamaha says it’s a snap to service, and that an optimized filter size helps the filter stay clean longer.

The Rhino has a standard 2-inch receiver and is capable of towing up to 1,212 lbs., while the cargo bed is capable of carrying 400 lbs. The cargo bed has an assisted-dump function with tilt levers on both sides of the bed.

The 2011 Yamaha Rhino will be available in Hunter Green, Red and the Sport Edition White Armor.

Yamaha launched the first Rhino in 2003. The company claims the Rhino line continues to be a category leader today. “Combining Yamaha quality and durability, the Rhino has received nearly every best-in-class award from the ATV and SxS world as well as hunting and farming communities because of its ability to tackle off-road terrain while also serving many utility functions,” the company says.

Last spring, Yamaha voluntarily suspended sales of Rhino 450 and 660 models. The company offered a free repair program to owners of the units to address what the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission called “safety issues.”

Yamaha reports that during the first nine months of 2009, U.S. dealers sold roughly 10,000 side-by-sides, a year-over-year decline of 63 percent.