The 2021 Polaris Slingshot thinks it’s a supercar – and it could be true

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Flanked between rugged canyons and the ocean, Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway attracts drivers who want to exercise their supercars. And the epicenter where they gravitate to see and be seen is a stretch in Malibu that includes the Nobu Restaurant, the Surfrider Malibu Hotel, and what has been dubbed “Billionaire’s Beach”. In this context, the latest Ferraris, McLarens and even a Pagani or two are rigorous observations, that is, it takes a lot to turn heads. It seems to be a constant phenomenon though as I now join the Exotics Parade on the same stretch. It’s no surprise, however, since I’m in a 2021 Polaris Slingshot.

Granted, the three-wheeled Polaris can be, well, polarizing. It resides in the automotive backcountry, not quite a motorcycle or a car, and may alienate purists on both camps who have yet to get behind the wheel. But once in the pilot’s seat, even the most cynical are treated to a driving experience that is both raw and refined – the machine’s low profile and open cockpit creates an extremely visceral intimacy with the road and the environment.

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After collecting glances while cruising south along PCH, I take a left onto Las Flores Canyon Road and begin the serpentine ascent of the foothills. It’s here, winding toward the ridge line, that two recent improvements to the model are shown: the AutoDrive transmission and the addition of paddle shifters, the latter being new for this year. Now, the Slingshot can be used in fully automatic mode or drivers can choose to cycle through the five gears of the hydraulically controlled synchronized transmission quickly and efficiently. Whether it’s upshifting – best at around 5,000rpm – on brief uphill stages right away or shifting into third or second gear on downward bobby pins, I find that the answer is precise and reflects the brand’s recent emphasis on increased performance.

Introduced in 2015 by the company known for its snowmobiles, the Slingshot was only available manual until the 2020 version, when a new powertrain configuration was released. “We used a standard GM engine in our original model years,” admits Chris Sergeant, vice president of Polaris Slingshot. “It was a great engine, bulletproof, but it didn’t quite match the personality of the vehicle. So we developed our own 2-liter twin overhead cam four-cylinder, the Polaris ProStar, which is now in the machine.

Sergeant goes on to quote that in 2019, only 1.5% of cars sold were equipped with a manual transmission. “The writing was on the wall,” he adds. “With our new engine we felt it was possible to take a different direction and landed on the automated manual transmission. [AMT]. “

Additionally, he notes that the selection was 55 pounds lighter than the next viable option and therefore still keeps the roadster within the 1,750 pound weight limit that allows the Slingshot to be federally regulated as a motorcycle. “AMT was the best solution,” he says. “It’s mechanically simple and gives drivers who don’t understand how to use a manual the experience of a manual. . . but it’s a computer that changes for you.

According to Garrett Moore, Slingshot’s product manager, the engineering changes result in a noticeably different power distribution from previous iterations. “It’s going to be a lot sweeter,” he said. “It’s the same kind of power band across the rev range, but it’s just going to feel really connected when taking off from a stop or going through gears.”

The translation of direction to road is also refined thanks to two driving modes – Comfort and sportier Slingshot – and the independent double wishbone suspension that precisely and quickly conveys intention to the Kenda SS rubber-clad aluminum wheels. 799. Even in tight turns and light gravel sections, the rear tire stays surprisingly true to the line and helps inspire more confidence than other three-wheelers, as does the larger track width of 69.1 inches and a longer wheelbase of 105 inches, both adding more stability.

Of course, the Slingshot’s aggressive aesthetic and ABS plastic bodywork may not be to everyone’s liking and lack the retro elegance of models from Vanderhall Motor Works or Morgan, for example, but the look makes it nonetheless. a visually striking mode of transportation. Like the unmistakable style of a Lamborghini, you love it or leave it. But looks aside, the vehicle imparts a sense of traffic safety that many of its counterparts lack. This is due to its overall size and presence, even though it is only 5.4 inches above the ground.

The model is currently offered in four variants – the limited edition S, SL, R and R – each offering increasing levels of standard equipment and, in the case of the R versions, an increase in power. Starting prices range from $ 19,999 to $ 32,799 depending on trim kits selected.

After a busy morning in the SL, I change with Sergeant and go out with his Model R on a date with neighboring Encinal Canyon. The leading R boosts horsepower from 178 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque to 203 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. It also covers zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and has a limited top speed of 125 mph.

Although the R comes standard with AutoDrive, this example has a purely manual 5-speed gearbox and is, in my opinion, the only solution for those who grew up with a clutch. Not only does the control improve dramatically, but the gearshift is as smooth as a Sade soundtrack.

And when it comes to sound, the new 100-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system – paired with the Polaris Ride Command infotainment system with Apple CarPlay – is rugged enough to fill the cockpit, despite competing harmonics from the engine and engine flow. surrounding air. Add to that the optional seats with integrated heating and cooling, and the interior makes long journeys on the road a surprisingly appealing proposition.

The eye-catching exterior trim selections that premiered this year, including seven more detailed colors and, for the R, multi-hued neon and black badges are also alluring. Targeting new enthusiasts and seasoned motorcyclists looking for a more recumbent alternative, the Polaris Slingshot 2021 is pushing the three-wheel market forward in terms of innovation and acceptance, while gaining a lot of attention in the process of being built. road.

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