In 1964, then-Pontiac division president John Z. Delorean (yes, that Delorean, of Back to the Future movie car fame) invented the muscle car category by bolting the big-block V8 engine from the company’s full-size cars into its lighter intermediate-sized chassis to create the legendary Pontiac GTO.

Kawasaki has done the same thing for its Jet Skis for the 2027 model year by installing the 310-horsepower supercharged 1.5-liter engine from its bigger Ultra models into the sporty, agile Jet Ski STX hull. The result is a truly eye-opening performance with what the company says is its quickest Jet Ski yet.

Kawasaki established the personal watercraft industry with the 1973 introduction of the 27-horsepower JS400 Jet Ski. Since that time, however, the one-time industry leader has slipped in popularity compared to its rivals in the market.

The company’s 2027 plan to recapture customers includes an embrace of high performance.…