The Slingshot car is a three-wheeled, two-seat sports vehicle with no top. The “Slingshot” name is appropriate because the little road rocket goes where it’s pointed.
We took a memorable drive in the Polaris Slingshot car in 2016. It poured rain. But experiencing Mother Nature is part of the fun of owning a speedy three-wheel Slingshot car.
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The Slingshot Car: What Is It?
A custom 2015 Polaris Slingshot available on eBay
The key to the Slingshot’s performance is its low weight—just 1,650 pounds for the R model with the automatic feature. That keeps the Slingshot in the legal territory of an “autocycle,” as Car and Driver reports.
However, you’ll need a motorcycle license in at least two states, New York and Massachusetts. We wore a helmet on our test drive.
We parked it at a Starbucks. The entire clientele virtually poured out to get their picture taken with the exotic chariot. It’s an attention-getter.
There are advantages to having only three wheels. It’s technically a motorcycle and provides the same thrills. But it’s actually more of a car. Think of it as a stripped-down, scaled-down Mazda Miata.
There are legal benefits as well. Polaris doesn’t have to put the Slingshot through expensive crash testing. The three-wheeler doesn’t need airbags or other auto-mandated safety equipment.
Will You Roll Over in a Three-Wheeler?
You might be wondering if a three-wheeler can handle speedy turns without rolling over? We felt very stable on our test drive. After all, the center of gravity is low on the Slingshot. You’re practically on the ground.
Industrial designer Robert Q. Riley offers a detailed explanation about the dynamic stability of three-wheel vehicles. Riley says:
A conventional, non-tilting three wheel car can equal the rollover resistance of a four wheel car, provided the location of the center-of-gravity (cg) is low and near the side-by-side wheels.
The New Slingshot Car Got Faster
A 2021 Slingshot S with Auto Drive
The Slingshot car has been considerably enhanced since our 2016 drive. Back then, it was powered by a 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower General Motors Ecotec motor—as seen in the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice.
But in 2021, there are four distinct models. The Polaris Slingshot car got a boost from a new purpose-built 203-horsepower Prostar two-liter four that will rev all the way to 8,500 rpm. It still drives like a Miata, but more like a rare example with turbocharging.
The fastest variants will get you to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 125 mph.
It’s unclear if buyers will use their Slingshots for commuting and grocery-getting. But (in the upper trim levels), it does have carlike features like keyless ignition, a touchscreen, stability control, navigation, and a bumping infotainment system. There are no doors but climbing in isn’t too hard.
The windshield in a Slingshot car doesn’t deflect a lot of air. The great thing is that you feel like you’re breaking the sound barrier when you’re only going 40 mph. Tickets aren’t as much of a worry as they’d otherwise be.
The Current Polaris Slingshot Lineup
The following prices are for brand-new models. eBay features a wide selection of pre-owned Polaris Slingshots, as well as new ones.
Polaris Slingshot S – $19,999
The Polaris S is stripped down. It comes with a 178-horsepower version of the Prostar Engine. As with other versions, a five-speed Magneti Marelli automatic transmission is optional but lacks any form of sport mode. The standard five-speed manual is a much better choice for a sporty vehicle that needs to cede total control to the driver.
An SL with 3,163 miles is for sale in Texas.
Polaris Slingshot SL – $24,999
The SL variant adds premium paint and trim upgrades, a seven-inch Ride Command display, an optional Rockford Fosgate State 2 audio system with Apple CarPlay, and a backup camera. (All new cars are required to have backup cameras now, but remember: This is a motorcycle.)
Polaris Slingshot R – $31,299
The R model is tweaked to deliver 144 pound-feet of torque (up from 120 in the SL). With the R, you get the full 203 horsepower. It also has bold paint schemes, paddle shifters for the automatic version (called “Auto Drive”), and Technology Package 3, with turn-by-turn navigation and other connectivity services.
Polaris Slingshot R Limited Edition – $32,799
Go big with the R Limited Edition. It has all the benefits of the R but adds Neon Fade asymmetrical paint and graphics, plus lightweight forged wheels and blacked-out badging. You get maximum three-wheel power and style.
Shopping for a Slingshot Car
The 2016 Polaris Ranger XP900. Notice the four wheels. The company has sold a million of these utility vehicles.
eBay has a whole fleet of Slingshots available, beginning with the 2015 model and other used examples. It continues with brand-new ‘Shots.
Need Slingshot parts? There are also accessories, including body kits for a custom Polaris. The company has also sold a million four-wheeled Ranger utility vehicles, and those are on eBay too.
If you want a top for your Slingshot car, they are available among the many aftermarket add-on accesories.
Polaris is not the only company selling three-wheelers, of course. The list of other models includes Can-Am Spyders and Rykers.
Shop now for a Polaris Slingshot
