Popular manufacturer of snowmobiles and motorcycles based in Minneapolis, Polaris Industries, has gone ahead and unveiled the Slingshot – a 3 wheel roadster. The all-terrain vehicle maker believes that the Slingshot similar to that of a sports car despite not possessing air bags and not meeting any federal motor vehicle safety regulations. The biggest difference that lies between the Slingshot and a typical two-seater sports car is that while the latter has four tyres, the former only has three, two at the front and one at the rear, which is quite strange and unheard of. Polaris has gone ahead and called it a motorcycle, regardless of the presence of a steering wheel instead of a handlebar and also calls for the occupants to wear helmets and seatbelts.
Irrespective of its irregularity, the Slingshot weighs less than 1700 pounds and is expected to be an exciting vehicle to drive (or ride). It has a low-slung stance and the frame is just five inches above the ground. This vehicle is fitted with a 2.4-litre engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that churns out around 173 BHP of maximum output. The base variant of the Polaris Slingshot is priced at $19999 and features 17-inch alloy wheels and an 18-inch wheel at the front and rear, respectively. Going up a notch, the premium SL model begins at $23999 and features larger wheels along with a smaller windscreen, backup camera, media console and 6-speaker sound system. In addition, both these variants feature aluminium roll hoops, Anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic traction and stability control and LED taillights.
The news for the company does not stop at the Polaris Slingshot as it is also expanding the chain of vintage style Indian Motorcycles by introducing the 2015 Roadmaster, a luxury touring bike. Featuring leather saddles and a swooping fender, the new Roadmaster seems to be like a post-war cruiser, something that might attract a lot of customers. Nevertheless, Indian Motorcycles has altered the style to keep the bike pretty much modern.
Just like the Roadmaster manufactured in between 1947 and 1953, when streamlined curves and futuristic designs came before anything else, this bike will possess, somewhat, the same characteristics. Added to this sense of style are safety features that were non-existent back then, such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), tire-pressure monitoring system and LED lighting. Luxury features included in this bike are heated seats, cruise control, advanced infotainment system, keyless ignition and power adjustable windscreen. It is powered by a V-twin engine, starts at a price of $26999 and will be available at dealerships across North America by the month of September.
