Polaris Debuts 2012 Product Line
Polaris Industries Inc. (PII) today unveiled its product offerings for 2012, a lineup that delivers several new vehicles and accessories, honoring Polaris’ rich heritage for innovation, and upgrades to legendary Polaris titles. Among the new products are Side-by-Sides, including the second trail-capable Side-by-Side in the RANGER RZR family, the RANGER RZR 570, and the RANGER CREW Diesel, a heavy-duty, diesel-powered option. For the ATV line, Polaris will have more powerful, big bore ATVs with the introduction of the new 850 Twin, EFI, High Output engine available in the Sportsman XP 850 H.O. and Sportsman Touring 850 H.O. For those who prefer to keep the action on the road, Victory introduces the Cross Country Tour, the new standard in performance and comfort in the Touring motorcycle segment.
“Our new 2012 product line builds on the momentum we’ve established during the past year,” said Bennett Morgan, president and chief operating officer of Polaris. “Polaris has always pushed to be the best in powersports and we have no intentions of letting off the throttle going forward. Through investment and innovation in our products and operations, we will continue to make growth happen around the globe and deliver products that offer performance and value unmatched in the market.”
Polaris unveiled its 2012 product lineup to dealers at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn. during the company’s annual summer sales meeting. Polaris also used the occasion to celebrate the company’s outstanding success during the past year, welcome dealers of two recently acquired brands, Indian Motorcycle and (GEM) Global Electric Motorcars, and focus on growth in the coming year.
Off-Road Vehicle Division
While most companies retreated, Polaris grew its business to become No. 1 in the off-road vehicle industry with the broadest and most complete lineup of ATV and Side-by-Side offerings available. For model year 2012, Polaris will continue this trend by introducing new models and making significant upgrades to existing products.
“Polaris has become the industry leader by aggressively introducing new products and continuing to innovate our product lines. Model year 2012 will be no different,” said Matt Homan, vice president and general manager of Polaris’ Off-Road Division. “From the hardest working, smoothest riding off-road utility vehicles and ATVs, to Side-by-Sides built for razor sharp performance, Polaris offers the most-complete lineup of off-road vehicles on the market.”
RANGER Side-by-Side Vehicles
Since 2008, Polaris has introduced a new RANGER RZR model every year and model year 2012 will be no different, introducing the new RANGER RZR 570. At 50 inches wide, the RANGER RZR 570 is the second trail-capable model in the RANGER RZR family and gives riders the opportunity to own the trail. At 50 inches wide, the RANGER RZR 570 takes on trails other Side-by-Sides cannot. At the heart of the RANGER RZR 570 is an all-new ProStar™ 570 single cylinder, DOHC, electronic fuel injected engine. The engine is the second in the ProStar family, made specifically for Side-by-Side vehicles, perfectly complementing the Polaris-designed and assembled powertrain. Built with the patented design that places the engine behind the seat, the RANGER RZR 570 has a low center of gravity delivering agile, razor-sharp handling on the trail.
Polaris RANGER utility vehicles are the hardest working, smoothest riding Side-by-Sides available in full-size, midsize and multi-passenger models. For 2012, the multi-passenger lineup gets a new member with the RANGER CREW Diesel. The new RANGER CREW Diesel will have all the attributes of the RANGER CREW 800 but with an ISO-mounted YANMAR® diesel power plant. New in the full-size segment for 2012, the RANGER HD 800 will be equipped with the Polaris Engine Braking System (EBS) for optimum downhill control and smooth, even deceleration during descents. Polaris also will offer several limited edition models across each segment, including RANGER XP 800, RANGER 500 EFI and RANGER CREW 800 models.
Additionally, this past January, Polaris introduced a whole new class of Side-by-Side, the highly-anticipated RANGER RZR XP 900. The xtreme performing RANGER RZR XP 900 will feature a redesigned front suspension for increased maneuverability at slow speeds, adjustable Fox 2.0 shocks and a rubber isolated prop shaft for less noise. Features found on the RANGER RZR XP 900 that will be added to the RANGER RZR 800, RANGER RZR S 800 and RANGER RZR 4 800 include a more durable, zinc front drive cage, a durable dual clutch inlet, improved fit and finish in the cockpit and a 33-percent thicker skid plate. Several RANGER RZR XP 900, RANGER RZR 800, RANGER RZR S 800 and RANGER RZR 4 800 limited edition models also will be available.
All-Terrain Vehicles
Sportsman ATVs lead the industry with their hardest working features and legendary smooth ride. For 2012, Polaris will have more powerful, big bore ATVs with the introduction of the new 850 Twin, EFI, High Output engine. The engine delivers 20 percent more power off the line and will be available in the Sportsman XP 850 H.O. and Sportsman Touring 850 H.O. To make the hardest working value models work even harder, the Sportsman 800 EFI, Sportsman Big Boss 6×6 800, Sportsman 500 H.O. and Sportsman 400 H.O. will receive integrated front storage for 2012. Changes in the 2-Up Segment include the Sportsman Touring 500 H.O. also receiving integrated front storage. To complement these vehicles, Polaris will offer several limited edition models across the premium, value and 2-Up lines including the Sportsman XP 850 EPS, Sportsman Touring 850 H.O., Sportsman 550 EPS and Sportsman 500 H.O. models.
On-Road Vehicle Division
Long known as the leader in off-road vehicles, Polaris has developed a lineup of on-road vehicles that rivals any manufacturer’s collection. For 2012, Polaris is not only offering a new corps of Victory motorcycles – built to perform and look better than all others on the road – but also is continuing to grow its product offerings on-road, with the addition of both (GEM) Global Electric Motorcars, an established leader in the low-emission, small vehicle market, and Indian Motorcycle, the original
American motorcycle company. Though Polaris isn’t offering any new product from these brands in model year 2012, they will be valuable additions to the On-Road Vehicle Division in the future.
“It’s been an incredible year for Polaris and we’re staying on the gas and looking forward,” said Mike Jonikas, vice president of on-road vehicles and marketing for Polaris. “We’re welcoming two valuable additions to Polaris this year – Global Electric Motorcars and Indian Motorcycle – and continuing to break boundaries with Victory. The road ahead looks very encouraging for Polaris on-road vehicles.”
Victory Motorcycles®
“When Polaris entered the on-road space with Victory in 1998, it was breaking boundaries about what an American motorcycle could look like and how well it could perform,” said Steve Menneto, general manager of Victory Motorcycles. “In 2012, we’re continuing to break boundaries, whether those are the boundaries of performance, quality or value. Our 2012 products promise to provide consumers with an experience with which other manufacturers can’t compete.”
In thirteen years, Victory has emerged as a brand known for innovation and product quality. Victory continues to build motorcycles that offer consumers superior experiences in five distinct areas, comprising The Victory Edge. These motorcycles boast the finest in performance, comfort, storage, reliability and style. The entire 2012 Victory lineup lives up to the legacy of The Victory Edge, breaking the boundaries of motorcycling excellence.
New for 2012, the Victory Cross Country Tour joins the growing family of forward-looking Victory Touring models – including the Vision, Cross Country, Cross Roads and the new for 2012 Cross Roads Classic Limited Edition. When it comes to the Touring segment, the new Cross Country Tour breaks boundaries in all the components of The Victory Edge. It comes standard with the brand-new Victory Comfort Control System, which gives adjustable control of the airflow reaching the riders area, providing the edge to find comfort in all riding conditions. The adjustable upper and lower air controls combine with a new, taller windshield for ultimate rider comfort and protection. Delivering what the touring rider wants, the Cross County Tour also provides the most cargo capacity of any production motorcycle in the world, with more than 41 gallons of storage available. The Cross County Tour also performs on the road, with a sophisticated, cast aluminum chassis and the power, reliability and performance of Victory’s Freedom® 106/6 V-Twin engine and non-linked anti-lock brakes. Of particular note this year is the inclusion of anti-lock brakes as standard equipment on all Victory Touring models, providing high-resolution and sophisticated braking performance in all riding situations.
Debuting earlier this year, the Victory High-Ball headlines a class of high-performance Victory Cruisers that includes the Vegas, Vegas Jackpot, Kingpin and Hammer S. A seamless blend of classic bobber styling and premium Victory performance, the High-Ball offers riders the best value of any bobber style bike from a major motorcycle manufacturer. Designed with a minimalist, retro look, the High-Ball utilizes unique dual position ape hangers, white wall tires, spoked wheels and a matte black finish to give riders a throwback look, all while its Freedom 106/6 engine provides a strong 113 ft/lbs of torque, ensuring a world-class, modern ride.
For those looking for the perfect palette for customizing, Victory is again offering the strong, blacked-out look of the Vegas 8-Ball and Hammer 8-Ball, as well as the already tricked-out Arlen Ness Signature Series Vision Tour, the Cory Ness Signature Series Cross Country and the Zach Ness Signature Series Vegas.
Pure Polaris®
To support the model year 2012 launch, Pure Polaris introduced 150+ new accessories for off-road vehicles. Headlining the class is the new Polaris HD 2500lb winch. This heavy duty winch is the most-tested winch ever from any manufacturer. That testing produced the most durable winch in the market, one that’s quieter and performs better than any competitors. Also new this year is the Sno-Glide Plow Blade, the first UHMW scoop blade with a 66-inch scoop, and with a blade that flexes instead of bending. For those needing to escape the elements in their Side-by-Side, Polaris has an expanded lineup of Pro-Steel cabs.
PURE Victory accessories introduced 35 new accessories to provide options for riders to cater Victory motorcycles to any riding needs. Including in the 2012 offerings are a collection of hard lower kits to control airflow and protect riders’ legs, a fairing kit to protect front ends and deflect wind and windshield options to provide protection from the elements. There also are a variety of options to sync technology with the riding experience, including an iPod kit, a fairing audio kit to provide additional speakers and iPod connectivity and Bluetooth headset and dongle to clearly hear music or GPS instruction while enjoying the ride. Consumers looking for additional storage, lower seats or pullback bars will also find available options among the 2012 PURE Victory products.
In addition to accessories, Pure Polaris also offers a full range of comfort, safety and stylish apparel for every rider, on- or off-road.
About Polaris
With annual 2010 sales of $1.99 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® for recreational and utility use, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric powered vehicles.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the powersports industry, among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and ORVs. The Company has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with Victory motorcycles and the acquisition of the Indian motorcycle brand. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the Global on-road low speed vehicle industry with internally developed vehicles and the acquisition of Global Electric Motorcars (GEM). Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicles accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polarisindustries.com.
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Category: Polaris, Press Releases
