Winterizing Your UTV for Work or Play

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Marc Cesare

A Polaris Ranger with Glacier Pro plow system.

With the winter months approaching some UTV owners may have thoughts of winterizing their vehicle for either winter work, such as plowing or traversing farm or ranch land, or for recreational use such as trail riding or traveling to and around winter camps. To discuss some of the options and accessories you might consider, as well as winter maintenance and other tips, I spoke with Rolly who works in the Mies Outland service department. Mies Outland is a Polaris dealer located in Watkins, MN, so the personnel there have some experience with cold and snowy winters. I also priced out some of the typical winter options and accessories for models from Polaris and a few other brands. Full article

Polaris General: A New UTV Product Line is Launched

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The base model General 1000 EPS is Indy Red with an MSRP of $15,999.

The base model General 1000 EPS in Indy Red with an MSRP of $15,999.

The premium model General 1000 EPS Velocity Blue with an MSRP of $17,499.

The Polaris General 1000 EPS Deluxe Orange Burst with an MSRP of $19,999.

Polaris Industries is launching the Polaris General, a new product line positioned between the Ranger and RZR product lines, that is designed for work and recreational use. “Today is a great day at Polaris! Once again, we are launching a game-changing new product,” said Tim Blinkhorn, GM, RANGER & Polaris GENERAL. “This vehicle is the most versatile sideby-side ever built, made for those who want to battle it all. Whether it’s dominating any trail, or conquering any job, The Polaris GENERAL delivers.”

The General product line initially features three models, a base model in Indy Red with an MSRP of $15,999, a model in Velocity Blue at $17,499 and a Deluxe model in Orange Burst priced at $19,999. The price points and features such as one of the more powerful Polaris ProStar engines indicate a higher-end crossover UTV. Some of the key figures across all models include:

100 hp ProStar 1000 engine
Electronic Power Steering
High Performance Close Ratio On-Demand AWD/2WD
Engine Braking System
12.25″ of front suspension travel and 13.2″ in the rear
Front and rear sway bars
12″ of ground clearance unloaded and 7.4″ when cargo box is loaded
600 lb. cargo box capacity
1,500 lb. towing capacity
Full-body skid plate
Factory installed doors with armrests
Dual bolstered bucket seats with adjustable driver seat
Space-optimized foot rests
All-new customizable digital/analog instrumentation cluster that tilts with the steering wheel
23 liters of integrated storage
27″ tires
30 brand new Polaris Engineered Accessories™ and 90-plus common fit items

The Velocity Blue model features:

Automotive-style paint
Sport low profile front bumper
Polaris HD 4,500 lb. winch
14″ Matte Black cast aluminum wheels
Eiight-ply, 27″ GBC Dirt Commander Tires

The DeluxeOrange Burst Model has all the features of the Velocity Blue model plus:

Adjustable Fox Podium X 2.0 QS3 shocks
Pro-Fit Lock & Ride Sport Roof
Rear-view mirror
MTX Premium Soundbar with eight speakers and blue-tooth connectivity

The Velocity Blue and Deluxe Orange Burst models will be available at Polaris dealerships starting in December. The Indy Red will be available in March 2016. Learn more: Polaris.com

Comment: While Polaris Ranger and RZRs are certainly used as crossover UTVs, the product lines are delineated with the Ranger for work applications and the RZRs for recreation. The General provides Polaris with a more targeted line of crossover UTVs. The launch is another indicator of the continued high level of competition in the UTV market. The General provides Polaris with more models to directly compete with John Deere’s XUV line, the Honda Pioneer line, the Yamaha Viking line and Can Am’s Commander line. The Polaris General, given the model price points and features, appears to be targeting a higher priced end of the crossover market. As these product launches continue in the market, most of the major brands are building out specific product lines for work, recreation and crossover applications.

GEM Director John Stockman Talks About the New Model Year

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The new GEMs for model year 2016.

I recently interviewed GEM Director John Stockman about the changes to the GEM lineup for model year 2016, the vision for the brand and how it fits within the overall small vehicle portfolio of Polaris. Here is an excerpt from the larger article posted in our Buying Guide section:

Polaris has made extensive changes to the GEM lineup for the 2016 e2, e4, e6 and eL XD models. Stylistically the iconic “bubble” design is still noticeable from a side view, but a frontal view reveals significant changes. The new design was in large part based on customer research. According to Stockman, in the neighborhood of 10 different designs were vetted by customers and consumers before a final design was chosen.

Even more important than stylistic changes, were the engineering changes made under the skin in direct response to several phases of customer research, including multiple ride clinics with dozens of customers and consumers, feature and finish related research, as well as feedback from dealers. The research focused the product development process on a number of key areas. One was the comfort of users as they ingress and egress from the vehicles all throughout their day. Towards that end, more legroom and headroom has been created. A past complaint about hot seats was also addressed as well as items as minor as having self-canceling turn signals.

A second issue highlighted by the research was vehicle safety. Stockman states that, “We are hearing more and more from corporate campuses, colleges and universities, hotel and resorts, that they are moving away from the traditional golf carts towards LSVs because of their safety features.” With that in mind the safety features the GEM is known for were kept but also improved. This included better brakes, vehicle handling in evasive situations and seatbelts. “We really focused on making sure that this was the safest LSV you could get”, remarked Stockman.

Another focus… View Full Article

I will be following up this article with some impressions from GEM dealers on the changes for the 2016 model lineup. For detailed vehicle specifications for the 2016 and past GEMs, search the SVR vehicle database.

Polaris Introduces All-New GEM Lineup For 2016

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The all new 2016 GEM e2.

The 2016 GEM e2 with an enclosed cargo box.

The 2016 GEM eL XD with an enclosed rear cargo area.

Polaris Industries has announced an all new GEM lineup of vehicles for model year 2016. According to John Stockman, GEM director at Polaris. “The all-new GEM takes what our customers already love about these vehicles and improves the ergonomics, ride and range. We’ve also added more comfort and safety features to provide an even better experience for both rider and driver, with the added benefit of just $.03 per mile cost of ownership.” Some of key features for the all new GEM include:

Aluminum chassis that passes SAE roof-crush-test standards
Front-wheel disc brakes
Automotive style suspension
High-back forward-facing seats
3-point seat belts
Automotive glass windshield
LED signal lights
Optional RiderX app provides free access to road maps
Smart Power which matches the power to the task with the ability to choose the best combination of battery and charge options.
Optional Li-ion battery
The eL XD model offers a recessed bed option to lower loading height and maximize hauling capability, and a tailgate ramp.

There are seven models in the product line. There are three passenger vehicles, the e2, e4 and e6, as well as four utility vehicles, the eL XD, eM 1400, eM 1400 LSV and the Polaris M1400. The Polaris M1400 is a gas powered vehicle. Pricing starts at $8,999 for the GEM e2 and increases to $12,999 for the GEM eL XD. A range of factory installed options are available including but not limited to in-windshield defrost, electronic power steering, integrated doors and a full range of rear carrier options. Learn more: Polaris.com

Comment: I spoke with a GEM dealer who has some limited knowledge of the vehicles at this point and he gave me his first impressions:

The redesigned doors are the most significant improvement, addressing hardware problems, water intrusion, ease of entry/exit, line of sight issues and lack of availability for 6 passenger models.
The redesigned interior addresses driver comfort issues with more legroom and headroom.
The new AGM and Lithium ion battery options are a significant improvement and allow for better matching of batteries to vehicle application.
The additional options for the popular eL XD model will allow for more customization for the wide variety of uses for which customers currently use the vehicle.

Polaris Reports Q3 2015 Results

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Polaris Industries reported financial results for the third quarter of 2015, with sales increasing 12% to $1.45 billion and income increasing 10% to $155 million. The following are some of the key points from the earnings call related to the utility vehicle market:

From CEO Scott Wine “…the off-road vehicle space is quite healthy, as competitive activity is more intense than in any time in my seven years with Polaris.”
ORV sales which includes UTVs and ATVs grew only 3% in the quarter
Market headwinds from the oil and agricultural sectors as well as Canada
ORV sales were led by global RZR shipments and stronger U.S. sales, partially offset by continued weakness in Canada, along with unfavorable international currencies.
ORV sales were up 5% year to date
Polaris gained share in both UTVs/side-by-sides and ATVs
Side-by-side retail grew low single digits which slightly outpaced the industry
New product introductions from many manufacturers is intensifying competition
The sport utility market has been stronger than the recreational utility market for side-by-sides for Polaris and the industry
Global Adjacent Market third quarter revenues increased 10% and year-to-date revenue is up 4%.
- European Work and Transportation declined mid-single-digits percent, due primarily to currency weakness and some softness in Goupil and Mega.
- The European quadricycle industry remains flat year-to-date with Aixam retail up modestly and increasing market share.
- Third quarter defense revenue increased over 50%, driven by strong momentum for MRZRs and increasing international demand.
- Year-to-date defense sales are up high-20%s.
International revenue increased 1% in the third quarter with strong growth in Indian and RZR brands and in the Latin American region, but somewhat offset by weak currencies, which led to revenue declines in Europe and Australia.
Multix, the new product through a joint venture with Eicher Motors, is now in market and initial consumer satisfaction is encouraging.
Construction of the the Huntsville, AL ORV manufacturing plant is on schedule to start production in Q2 2016 with a focus on creating production capacity for the Ranger product line.
From CEO Scott Wine, “While competitive offerings and promotional efforts expand, we anticipate slightly slower growth in the powersports industry in general, and the side-by-side segment in particular.”
Global Adjacent Markets will look for appropriate acquisitions.

Learn more: Seekingalpha.com (Earnings call transcript)

Polaris Adds To Their 4-Seat RZR Line-up

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Marc Cesare

The new Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 EPS High Lifter Edition in Titanium Matte Metallic.

The new Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS Spectra Orange.

Polaris announced the addition two new 4-seat side-by-sides, the RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS and the RZR XP 4 1000 EPS High Lifter Edition. The RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS is based on the 2-seat version and similarly features:

144 hp ProStar Turbo engine mated to a stronger driveline
FOX Podium Internal Bypass shocks
16″ of front suspension travel
18″ of rear suspension travel with a 3-Link trailing arm rear suspension
High Performance True On-Demand All-Wheel-Drive
Triple piston front brake calipers and double piston rear brake calipers with 248mm rotors
Adjustable front seat sliders
Adjustable seat belts heights in the rear

The RZR XP 4 Turbo EPS retails for $27,499 U.S./$32,399 CAN, will be offered in Graphite Crystal and Spectra Orange, and will be available at Polaris dealerships in October.

The RZR XP 4 EPS High Lifter Edition is based on the RZR XP 1000 EPS High Lifter Edition and features the following:

110 hp ProStar 1000 H.O. engine
Mud specific cooling and gearing
High Performance True On-Demand AWD
High-mounted engine intakes, clutch intakes and exhaust
15″ of ground clearance
Stiffer springs
29.5″ High Lifter Outlaw 2 tires
4,500 lb. Polaris winch
Dryseat technology seats
Factory-installed half doors
Electronic Power Steering
Removable floor drains

The RZR XP 4 1000 High Lifter Edition will be available in dealerships in October with an MSRP of $25,699 U.S./$30,199 CAN.

Polaris has also added a RZR S 900 with Blue Fire premium paint without Electronic Power Steering (EPS), retailing at $15,499 U.S./$17,799 CAN to their 2-seat RZR lineup. Learn more: Polaris.com

Comment: It only took about three months for Polaris to come out with these four seat versions. Not only the sheer number of vehicles Polaris puts out, but the pace at which they put the vehicles out is one of the reasons they are such a tough competitor and so successful in the market. The new High Lifter Edition vehicle is about $3,400 more than the standard version of the same model.

Polaris Recalls 2015 RZR 900 and 1000 Side-by-Sides

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Marc Cesare

2015 Polaris RZR 900 is part of the recall.

Polaris is issuing a recall of model year 2015 Polaris RZR 900 and 1000 vehicles due to reports of pinched fuel tank vent lines. The recall is related to the vehicle’s fuel tank vent line potentially being incorrectly installed during manufacturing, causing it to become pinched, which may cause the fuel tank to pressurize and leak fuel, posing a potential fire hazard. Management believes the problem has occurred in very few vehicles but wants to inspect all vehicles before further use.

Polaris is taking this action after confirming that, in some reports, a vent line had been pinched during assembly. In those cases, Polaris has also received reports of the driveline contacting a pressurized and expanded fuel tank, resulting in a fuel leak and a fire hazard. Polaris also received two reports of small fires, but could not confirm whether the vent line was obstructed during assembly or during subsequent accessory installation or whether the pinched vent line was the cause of the fires.

Owners will be contacted by Polaris and directed to their local dealer for a free inspection and repair, if necessary. A news brief by the Consumer Protection and Safety Commission estimated that 53,000 vehicles are involved. Learn more: Polaris.com , PRNewswire.gov and CPSC.gov

Comment: This is a massive recall if the initial CPSC recall estimate is correct. I’ll update the post when more information comes out. Update: The initial estimate of about 53,000 vehicle is correct. See the CPSC.gov link above. Most recalls in the side-by-side market tend to be around 2,000 to 4,000 vehicles or less. A total of 53,000 is more than ten times as many. Luckily for Polaris they seem to be dealing more with a very large number of inspections as opposed to repairs, but it will still probably be a hit to their bottom line as well as their brand image.

What’s Cooking on the STOV: Disaster Relief Operations

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Polaris Commercial highlights potential cost-savings for non-pneumatic tires.

Polaris donated a similar set of non-pneumatic tires along with several vehicles to The Salvation Army for disaster relief operations.

Highlighting some of the many applications for Small, Task-Oriented Vehicles

Polaris recently donated four utility vehicles to The Salvation Army for use in disaster relief operations. The four vehicles include the military-oriented Ranger HIPPO, Brutus vehicles and a Polaris M1400. A set of TerrainArmor non-pneumatic tires(NPT) is also part of the donation. The Brutus vehicles are equipped with varying attachments including a bucket, grapple and pallet fork, and one vehicle has the NPT tires. The Ranger HIPPO has an integrated power system that is driven by the vehicle’s diesel engine. This allows the vehicle to travel to sites with no available power sources and run a variety of hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and welding equipment, eliminating the need for generators and other bulky equipment usually needed for these jobs.The Polaris® M1400 unit is a 2×4 gas-powered, commercial utility vehicle, capable of hauling 1,400 pounds and towing 1,500 pounds. Learn more: Businesswire.com

Comment: The versatility, off-road capabilities and ruggedness of utility vehicles can really shine during disaster relief operations. In particular, the models that have multiple attachments that can be switched quickly can be useful in disaster situations where you don’t know what type of obstacles you will face or the specific tasks that will need to be completed. A remote and mobile power source is also very valuable in natural disasters where the power infrastructure has been damaged.

SVR Adds Model Year 2016 Polaris, Arctic Cat and Can-Am UTVs To Database

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Smallvehicleresource.com has added the recently announced 2016 utility vehicle models for Polaris, Arctic Cat, and Can-Am to our vehicle database. Here is an overview of the key 2016 additions for each manufacturer.

The new 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo EPS

Polaris

New turbocharged RZR XP Turbo EPS
New RZR S 1000 EPS
Ergonomic improvements for much of the RZR product line
New Ranger 570 Full-Size
New mud riding model, the Ranger XP 900 EPS High Lifter Edition Stealth Black
New lithium battery powered EV Li-Ion Polaris Pursuit Camo
New Ranger 570 EPS Hunter Edition Polaris Pursuit Camo
Increased horsepower for the Ranger Crew 900-5, Ranger Crew 900-6, Ranger XP 570 and Ranger Crew 570-6
Styling and drivetrain enhancements for other select 2016 Ranger models
New Polaris ACE 900 SP

The new 2016 Wildcat X Special Edition Model from Arctic Cat.

Arctic Cat

Wildcat Sport models: 5% increase in engine power from a new exhaust system
New Wildcat X Special Edition
New Wildcat Trail Special Edition
Wildcat X and 4X get new Duro PowerGrip tires and new pricing
New Prowler HDX 700 SE Hunter Special Edition
New Prowler HDX 500 XT

The2016 Maverick X rs 1000R Turbo in Carbon Black – Can-Am Red

Can-Am

Increased turbo engine horsepower to 131 hp for the Maverick Turbo, Maverick X ds Turbo and Maverick X rs Turbo
New Can-Am Commander Mossy Oak Hunting Edition
Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo also available on the Commander XT and Commander MAX XT
New belt monitoring system and improved maintenance schedule for Commander Max models

What’s Cooking on the STOV: Ordinance Enforcement & Off-Road Emergency Response

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Marc Cesare

Highlighting some of the many applications for Small, Task-Oriented Vehicles

One of the GEMs being used by local police for ordinance enforcement. Photo: Kendra Peek

Ordinance Enforcement: In Lancaster, KY the local police department received a donation of two military surplus GEM vehicles from the US Defense Department. They are putting the vehicles to use to patrol for ordinance violations and for use at community events. While not appropriate for instances where they need to transport someone who has been arrested, the vehicles have so far been a good fit for their current tasks. The police chief finds the GEM vehicles make officers more approachable when interacting with the public. Other positives include less pollution and lower fuel costs. The chief estimates that fuel savings for the year will be about $3,000 when compared to a full-size patrol vehicle. The vehicle’s low traveling speed is not an issue since most of the small town’s roads have speed limits of 30 mph or less. They will assess the vehicles after a year but are already looking for a larger electric vehicle to pilot test, one that is more truck like and could haul barricades, signs and other items. Learn more: Centralkynews.com

The recently acquired Polaris Ranger for use in off-road emergency response.

Off-Road Emergency Response: In Mokena, IL the local fire department used a grant to purchase a Polaris Ranger for emergency response in difficult to access areas. The Mokena Fire Protection District includes 2,000 acres of forest preserves as well as some trails and 15 parks. The six-wheeled Ranger will now provide them with a greater ability to respond to emergencies in these areas. Learn more: Mokenamessenger.com

Comment: These are great examples of how STOVs can be used in very specific applications that are more effective and cost efficient than traditional vehicles. The six-wheeled Ranger vehicles have been used by the US Forest Service for many years. The use of LSVs for specific aspects of local police enforcement represents a potentially very large market for these vehicles.

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