I’ve been keeping my mouth closed for a while knowing I was going to go to a secret location at an undisclosed time to test a new Polaris, but now Polaris has leaked the first news that I can share about this – There’s a whole new class of Side by Side coming on January 1st!
While I knew it was coming and that I’ll be one of the first of the media-types to take it for a spin, what I still don’t know is what it is . . .
So the best I can do is guess – or wish . . .
Let’s just say for a moment that the ‘term’ “whole new class” is a marketing term. So unless we see a street legal RZR, or maybe a RZR with wings, ‘whole new class’ may be a bit of a stretch.
But if we think of the RZR4, or the RZR S as a whole new class of Side by Side then maybe we can guess at what we’d like this new RZR to be.
Personally, I’d like to see a 50” RZR XP. That means it would have the smooth 850cc engine and transmission complete with ADC. Or even better would be a RZR with a conventional 4wd system complete with lockers front and rear. Of course it would also be nice to see it come with a longer travel suspension like we’ve done to our RZR. It should have a mechanical parking brake. And a better looking cage. And come with radial tires and a winch.
Well, that’s all just wishful thinking I suppose. Right or way wrong, at least we don’t have long to wait to find out.
Leave to Polaris though to break new ground when everyone else is hiding in their offices afraid of the economy.
Any thoughts?
A street-legal RZR would be a “whole new class of Side by Side!”
Posts
Doug I purchase a new 2011 black carbon RZR s le. I added tons of accessories. I received it 2 weeks ago and have only backed it up into the barn. I have yet to drive it and it came to my home with 4 miles. Is my RZR going to be a bummer for me after the first of the year? I wanted the best RZR sport on the market and would be so bummed out to have missed a bigger engine by a month and a half!
ReplyDeleteWell, the good news is that you got a great RZR! I think the power of the stock RZR is plenty for me..... The better news is that I believe that very soon 50" RZRs may well be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteAs to what you might have missed? I guess we'll both be waiting to see.....
Doug
ReplyDeleteThe 50” RZR is certainly the best selling side by side on the market; Polaris nailed it with the RZR. I recently rode a RZR and I found it is not very accommodating to people over six feet tall, I found getting in and out of the RZR to be difficult. However, I see many RZR’s on the trail so my opinions about the RZR are just that…
… Opinions. I would hate to see the RZR get wider, this is the only side by side that can go on two track trails (providing the RZR wheel and tires are stock). No other competitor has even come close to what the RZR is, Can-Am tried but missed the mark with the Commander wide width and heavy chassis.
I can see where the RZR competes with the two-up machines and perhaps the RZR of the future will be wider to find the special group that will adore the new RZR. I guess we’ll see come January.
I believe when this recession ends the manufacture with the freshest line-up will have the advantage as consumers will be looking for the latest and greatest, the manufactures that have done nothing to WOW the consumers will be left in the dust.
Jeff
RZR'S ARE STREET LEGAL IN MONTANA, WITH A HORN AND REAR VIEW MIRROR....TOM
ReplyDeleteActually Tom you can make a RZR (or an ATV) 'street legal' in quite a few states - well a few other states....I know you can in Utah, Arizona, and Idaho.
ReplyDeleteDoug
ReplyDeleteLooks like the RZR is suited for the desert as a performance machine; I think Polaris should have call the new machine RZR Baja and not RZR XP. Certainly the new RZR is not a trail machine, too wide and I’m not sure if the new RZR has a low range or even a locker up front. However, it should appeal to the “in your face” crowd as the machine seems to operate very fast.
This machine is very specialized and as the economy is coming out the economic downturn, Polaris is placing a lot of faith in this machine. I’m guessing this is what current owners of RZR are asking for.
I would have rather seen a new machine that was more comfortable and easier to get in and out of.
Oh well, I’ll just stick with my KingQuad and Outlander.
Jeff