The 90 is a beautifully quiet and smooth-running engine that's without peer among its low-pollution competition.

It has the simplicity of electronically controlled unit injectors that inject fuel at 550-700psi and eliminate the need for a belt-driven air compressor. It also has a self-contained engine management system, which doesn't need an external battery to function, and an under-flywheel alternator.

And with its boron-nitrite-lined cylinder bores, it can be operated at Wide Open Throttle from brand new - great news for all those impatient boaters out there who can't be bothered running in an engine!

As with the E-TEC 75, the 90 has the same lower unit as V4 Johnson/Evinrude outboards from 90-130hp, enabling relatively large diameter coarse-pitch props to be swung, but not creating the torque steer of its E-TEC 40-60hp counterparts.

Mounted on a Seafarer 5.0 Venus and pushing a total of 950kg, the demo 90 provided similar performance across its rev range to a V4 Ficht 90 tested on this hull a few years ago, despite having only 75 per cent of the piston displacement.

Bombardier was unable to provide accurate fuel-flow equipment, so I've determined fuel usage from my testing of the 75. Also, I've since discovered that the flowmeter used for testing the 75 was inaccurate below 2000 revs, so the fuel usage figures are based on the E-TEC 75 and TLDI 90, which operates at similar air/fuel ratios when trolling.

Spinning a 17in pitch stainless-steel SST prop, the E-TEC 90 trolled us at 4.7kmh on a steady 650 revs using an estimated 0.8lt/h, and averaged 8.0kmh on 1000 revs. Unlike the 40, there was no flat spot on transition from stratified from homogenous combustion; and at 2000 revs, the average was 12.6kmh, while we planed cleanly at 26.1kmh on 2800 revs.

Due to its EU2006 exhaust emissions compliance (in addition to CARB 2008 and US EPA 2006), which also takes into account noise levels, the 90 was completely unobtrusive in its upper rev range. At 4000 revs we cruised at 44.5kmh using an estimated 18.7lt/h. Through tight figure-eight turns at these revs, no prop ventilation occurred.

The WOT average was 64.5kmh on 5400rpm using about 30.2lt/h, whereas spinning a 17in prop and pushing 970kg, the Ficht 90 averaged 69.9kmh on 5300 revs. On a Signature 520C and spinning a 15in stainless-steel prop, pushing 920kg, a Tohatsu TLDI 90 trolled at 4.1kmh on 700rpm using 0.7lt/h, cruised at 40.9kmh on 4000 revs using 12.8lt/h and averaged 58.9kmh on 5600rpm at WOT using 27.6lt/h.

The demo E-TEC 90 started instantly hot or cold and didn't blow any visible oil smoke; nor was there an oil smell. The remote-control box shifted smoothly into or out of gear, and power astern was good.

Powerhead access is great, with all wiring and the oil-delivery lines neatly routed. The lower cowl splits in two for full powerhead access.

The warranty is for a period of three years for recreational usage.