The wait is over. Polaris has finally pulled the covers off its newest creation, the Polaris Slingshot. Is it a car? No. A motorcycle? Sort of. It’s a bit of both.
Classified as a roadster, the Polaris Slingshot features two wheels on the front and one in the rear—much like the Can-Am Spyder. Unlike the Spyder, though, it has a steering wheel and seats two people side by side.
According to Polaris, the Slingshot offers a whole new on-road driving and riding experience.
“Slingshot was designed to deliver head-turning exhilaration on two dimensions,” said Mike Jonikas, vice-president of Slingshot, in a July 28th press release. “First is the exhilaration that you can see, hear and feel while riding in Slingshot. Second is the exhilaration you feel when people turn their heads to stare at Slingshot’s unique and exotic styling.”
From his statement, it’s easy to tell Polaris is confident that once this vehicle hits the market, it’s going to take off like a rocket.
According to the press release, it’s supposed to arrive at Polaris Slingshot dealerships across the U.S. and Canada this fall, but on the Slingshot website, Polaris informs readers that it’s still working on finalizing approval to sell the vehicle in Canada.
The Slingshot comes with some automotive-like safety features, such as three-point seatbelts, but because Polaris is branding it as a “motorcycle,” those who ride in it will need to wear helmets, and the driver may need a valid motorcycle license.
Under the reverse tilt hood, the Slingshot is powered by a 2.4-litre dual-overhead cam engine (with a 5-speed manual transmission) that is designed to deliver 173 horsepower.
It comes in two models. With the base model, buyers get titanium metallic paint, 17-inch lightweight alloy wheels up front and an 18-inch rear wheel. The next step up is the Slingshot SL, which features red pearl paint, larger wheels all around, a blade windscreen and a media console that has a 4.3-inch LCD screen, back-up camera, Bluetooth and a sound system.
Will the new Polaris Slingshot give Can-Am’s beloved Spyder a run for its money? Only time will tell.