Well, isn’t this interesting? My sources say a 60 second video was shown of the Polaris Slingshot at the recent dealer meeting.
After showing you the patent drawings this past February, we’ve heard little else. There are VERY few additional details, but we may be looking at a 2014 introduction. Polaris is doing a pretty good job of keeping this under wraps so, we’ll let you know more when we know more.
todd says
This would be awesome if more and more companies got into the reverse trike business.
Of course, that means laws would start to change to limit their appeal / increase their cost and complexity.
-todd
Skizick says
I thought all wheel drive was the way to go in Feb. Still do. Easily said. Too hard to do? Front wheel drive would be my second choice. Guess I’d have to try it before passing judgement. (Like that might happen).
Paulinator says
I get your point on this. Keep the weight bias at about 70% on the front wheels. Use them to steer, stop AND pull. Drive-line would be simple parts-bin front clip, too.
Skizick says
Plenty all wheel drive trains out there. Suburu boxer with a motorcycle shaft drive wheel in the back. Guess I better get busy.
Dano says
I would love to see their target market survey, who are they reaching out to? Are they going after a non motorcycling group, a wealthy group, women, are they looking to start a new racing class at tracks?
When BMW did their research on the Z3 they targeted ‘single working women in their late 30’s and 40’s’. Of course you will always get results from the outside fringes of that segment of society too.
Paul Crowe says
Companies can use all of their big data and plan for specific groups, but no matter their intended target, people will buy (or not buy) what they want.
There’s an article in the Wall Street Journal that talks about how a lot of the small and boxy little cars many companies have built specifically for the millennial generation of 20 and 30 year olds are actually being bought by boomers in their 50s and 60s.
We’ve had a lot of discussions here about younger folks not having the money for cars and motorcycles and some simply not having as much desire for driving as many of us did when we were young, so no matter who this is aimed at, the people who buy it may very well be boomers who have the spendable cash. The younger generation will wait for them to show up used. If boomers want to take them out racing, then tracks and sanctioning bodies will respond, going where the interest and money is.
There have been so many carefully planned marketing failures that companies need to just build their products and be ready to respond quickly when they see where it’s going.
Chuck Kimball says
Are they trying to compete with Can-Am?