The 2015 Polaris Sportsman ACE 570 combined the narrow dimensions and maneuverability of an ATV with a centered bucket seat, steering wheel, pedals and protective cab structure. We started with a stock ACE 570 and upgraded its suspension, protection, seating, cage, audio, lighting, exhaust, tires and wheels before taking it from the dunes to some of the West’s best-known rock trails.
Our finished Polaris Sportsman ACE 570 build traveled to Rally on the Rocks in Moab, Oceano Dunes and the Rubicon Trail. It was not built as a display vehicle. Each upgrade was selected to make the compact single-seater more capable, comfortable and entertaining in real-world terrain.
For more background on the unusual single-seat platform, see our Polaris Sportsman ACE history and model guide. You can also read our original Polaris Sportsman ACE review for driving impressions of the first version.
Why We Built the ACE 570
The ACE 570 retained the compact architecture of the original Sportsman ACE but added a 567cc, liquid-cooled ProStar single-cylinder engine rated at 45 horsepower. The engine used dual overhead camshafts, four valves and electronic fuel injection, providing considerably more performance than the original 32-horsepower ACE.
At only 48 inches wide, the ACE could fit through tight trails and maneuver around obstacles that presented more difficulty for a conventional side-by-side. Its light, lively character reminded us of the original RZR 800, although the ACE remained a distinct single-seat machine that Polaris classified as an ATV.
Polaris Sportsman ACE 570 Build List
IMG Motorsports Cage
We replaced the stock cab structure with a custom cage from IMG Motorsports. In addition to changing the appearance of the ACE, the cage helped create a more finished and enclosed cockpit around the centered driving position.
PRP Doors, Seat and Harness
PRP supplied custom full-height doors, a suspension seat and a four-point harness. The doors and seat were coordinated with the cage, making the cockpit feel more like a purpose-built sport machine while improving support and comfort in rough terrain.
Walker Evans Racing Suspension
Walker Evans Racing supplied replacement front struts and rear shocks. The upgraded suspension offered more controlled damping and better resistance to bottoming when the ACE encountered dunes, rocks and abrupt trail obstacles.
ITP Tires and Beadlock Wheels
The dirt and rock setup used 28-inch ITP BajaCross tires mounted on beadlock wheels. A 28-inch tire was substantial equipment for the compact ACE chassis and provided additional clearance and traction for rocky terrain.
Fullerton Sand Sports Dune Tires
Fullerton Sand Sports supplied a dedicated sand-tire setup for trips to Oceano Dunes. Having separate tire packages allowed us to configure the ACE for dunes without compromising the tougher trail setup used in rocks and hardpack.
Factory UTV UHMW Protection
A Factory UTV UHMW skid plate protected the underside of the ACE. That additional coverage was particularly important on the Rubicon, where its short wheelbase and compact footprint allowed the machine to work through rocky sections but regularly placed the underside near granite ledges.
Trinity Racing Exhaust
Trinity Racing developed a complete exhaust system for the ACE 570. The system fit cleanly and gave the single-cylinder engine a more aggressive exhaust note while complementing its broad, usable power delivery.
SSV Works Audio System
Packaging a serious audio system into a single-seat vehicle required some creativity. SSV Works equipped the ACE with six speaker pods, two amplifiers, a subwoofer and Bluetooth connectivity. It may have been more audio than a compact ACE needed, but it turned the machine into a rolling sound system without placing the speakers in the driver’s way.
Rigid Industries Lighting
Rigid Industries D-Series LED pods provided forward lighting for night rides, while A-Series accent lights added illumination around the vehicle.
Additional Build Equipment
- ProLine Wraps: Custom graphics coordinated with the blue powder-coated cage and doors
- Axia Alloys: Mirrors
- Sick-Stick: LED whip
- Fly Racing: Riding gear used during the Rubicon video shoot
Testing the ACE 570 in Moab
We took the build to the 2015 Rally on the Rocks in Moab, Utah. The ACE was displayed in the PRP Seats booth at the arena and then driven on the Fins & Things Trail.
Moab’s combination of ledges, steep slickrock and tight turns suited the ACE’s small footprint. The increased tire size, underbody protection and upgraded suspension made the vehicle better prepared for the terrain than it had been in stock form. See more from the event in our 2015 Rally on the Rocks trip report.
ACE 570 at Oceano Dunes
At Oceano Dunes SVRA, we spent the day driving our ACE alongside Rugged Radios’ ACE 570. The lightweight chassis and 45-horsepower engine made the single-seater entertaining in the sand, while the dedicated dune tires helped it maintain momentum.
Read the complete Oceano Dunes trip report for more photos and details from the ride.
Rubicon Trail Video Shoot
The Rubicon Trail was the most demanding destination in the build program. We brought the ACE to Northern California to film Polaris’ 2015 Editor’s Cup Viral Video Challenge with Copter Kids.
The Rubicon’s mix of boulders, granite slabs, narrow passages and steep climbs showed how well the ACE’s compact dimensions worked in technical terrain. It did not have the suspension travel or low-speed torque of a larger sport side-by-side, but its short wheelbase, narrow body and maneuverability helped it hold its own in the rocks.
Final Impressions
We used this ACE in nearly every major type of terrain other than deep mud. The finished build remained small, nimble and lively while gaining the protection, suspension control and driver support needed for more demanding rides.
The ACE 570 could not match a full-size sport UTV for suspension travel or passenger capacity, but that was never its purpose. Its appeal came from putting one driver in the center of a lightweight, 48-inch-wide machine that could explore narrow trails, play in the dunes and negotiate surprisingly difficult rock obstacles.
This project also demonstrated how much capability could be added to the Sportsman ACE without sacrificing the compact character that made the platform distinctive.
