Featured UTV's Polaris UTV of the Month

Polaris RZR XP 900

Polaris RZR XP 900
Polaris RZR XP 900

Polaris RZR XP 900

UTV of the Month forJanuary 2011

Once again, Polaris has proven how nimble they are. The sheer number of different UTV models they produce for every segment of the market is one impressive feat, but to also lead the market for several areas is quite another.  Polaris’ newest model, the 2011 RZR XP 900 is definitely at the top of sport UTV models, and is thoroughly capable of hitting the dunes and desert right out of the box and doing more than most other modified UTVs.

There is no doubt that the RZR XP has raised the bar for the sport UTV market segment. Horsepower coupled with an advanced suspension is sure to be a big hit in the dunes and desert. After you take a look at a few key components of the RZR XP and compare them to other sport UTVs, you will see there are some key advantages.

Suspension Design

Polaris RZR XP Trailing Arm SuspensionWhen it comes to wheel travel, the RZR XP has 13.5 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear. The only other UTV that even comes close is the Polaris RZR S. The Can-Am Commander and Arctic Cat Prowler have 10″, and the Rhino and Teryx have less than 8″.

Add to amount of wheel travel that the RZR XP comes with Fox Podium X 2.0 shocks that have a 2-inch body with piggyback reservoirs. These Fox shocks also provide adjustable pre-load and compression dampening.

Polaris RZR XP 3-Link Trailing Arm IRS

Even more exciting than the amount of wheel travel is the advanced, 3-Link Trailing Arm IRS. The two extra-long radius rods connect far-forward under the seats for superior handling in rough terrain, especially at high speeds.

Wheelbase

Polaris RZR XP WheelbaseWhen you look at performance through rough terrain, short-wheelbase UTV have a hard time going as fast as their engine will push them. This is one of the reasons that the RZR 4 does so much better right out of the box. But when we look at the Can-Am Commander, Kawasaki Teryx, Yamaha Rhino and Arctic Cat Prowler, they all have a wheelbase between 75″ – 76″.

The new RZR XP has a wheelbase of 81.4″.  That extra 4+ inches will make a big difference when you are trying to fly through the whoops at 60 mph.

What makes the long wheel base on the RZR XP even more impressive is the RZR XP has an overall vehicle length that is actually 7″ – 10″ shorter other sport UTVs. Let me make sure you got that – longer wheelbase AND shorter overall.

Horsepower

Polaris RZR 900 XP Twin Cylinder EFI with 88 HPAlthough the RZR XP has less cc’s than the Can-Am Commander (875cc vs. 976cc), the advertised horsepower of the RZR XP is 88 and the Commander is 85. Nearly identical, but now let’s take a look at horsepower to weight ratio.  The RZR XP has a dry weight of 1,190 lbs. and the Commander sits at 1,287 lbs.  So when you divide that out, the RZR XP has 13.5 lbs./horsepower and the Commander has 15.1 lbs./horsepower.  When you are looking at a vehicle that puts out less than 100 HP, horsepower to weight ratio is very important.

All of the other sport UTVs don’t even come close in stock form.

Center of Gravity

Following along with all of its RZR cousins, the Polaris has placed the engine in the RZR XP behind the seats.  This patented engine placement allows for driver and passenger to sit much lower in the chassis which lowers the center of gravity.  A lower center of gravity allows the RZR XP to act more like sports car than a truck.

Width

Polaris RZR XP WidthIt is hard to compare the width of the RZR XP to anything other than the RZR S since none of the other manufacturer’s UTVs come with long travel suspension. More width adds to stability when cornering or while rock crawling.

The RZR XP is 64″ wide.  That is 4″ wider than the RZR S and 9+ inches wider than a Yamaha Rhino.

The downside to the extra width of the RZR XP is its ability to get onto some of the narrow forest service trails.  It is pretty obvious that Polaris intends to market the 50″ RZR for that and focus on the open desert and dunes for the RZR XP.

Polaris Ranger RZR XP Features:

RANGER RZR XP 900 has a new 88 horsepower, 900 Twin, Electronic Fuel Injected (EFI) engine, a new 3-Link Trailing Arm Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) with 13-inches of ground clearance and 14-inches of travel, and is light weight with a low center of gravity for unmatched cornering.

The ProStar™ 900 Twin EFI engine  was built specifically for an extreme-performance Side x Side. The engine features Dual OverHead Cams (DOHC), four big valves per cylinder and a 180-degree crankshaft for balanced performance and fast throttle response for groundbreaking acceleration.

RANGER RZR XP 900 features an all-new, lightweight, compact and durable transmission, also designed specifically for extreme Side x Side performance. Efficiency has been maximized by eliminating all right angle drives to the rear axle resulting in less friction and more power delivered directly to the rear wheels. And, the simple and efficient design also provides a very quiet transmission.

More Photos:

2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP

2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP2011 Polaris RZR XP

Polaris RANGER RZR XP 900 White Lightning LE Polaris RANGER RZR XP 900 White Lightning LE Polaris RANGER RZR XP 900 White Lightning LE Polaris RANGER RZR XP 900 White Lightning LE
Polaris RANGER RZR XP 900 White Lightning LE

Polaris RZR XP - 46mm Throttle BodiesPolaris RZR XP - 46mm Throttle Bodies
46mm Throttle Bodies

Polaris RZR XP - 750W Stator
750W Stator

Polaris RZR XP - Dry Sump Oil Tank
Dry Sump Oil Tank

Videos:

Polaris RZR XP ProStar™ 900 Twin EFI engine Video Overview
Polaris RZR XP Suspension Overview

More Resources:

Manufacturer Info:

Website:Polaris Industries

Polaris Industries, Inc.
2100 Highway 55
Medina, MN 55340
(763) 417-8650

Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER®, snowmobiles and Victory Motorcycles® for recreational and utility use. Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry, and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also 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 Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories, is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.

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