John Deere has taken the covers off a new 2016 Gator RSX860i, which confirms our report from May than an updated RSX850i was in the works.
The new RSX860i replaces the RSX850i and includes a new power steering option, backlit toggle switches, and more speed.
Among Polaris‘ many new and updated 2015 models, perhaps most shocking is the 50-inch RZR 900.
Polaris took the off-road world by storm in the 2008 model year with the industry’s first Sport-specific UTV – the RZR. Its name was later changed to the RZR 800, but outside of some minor tweaks, it was essentially the same machine for seven model years. It’s the machine that helped move Polaris to the top of the sales charts and created the Sport Side-by-Side market. To call it a success is a wild understatement.
Polaris’ trusty 760cc Inline Twin has been given the boot for 2015 – not just in the RZR, but throughout Polaris’ ATV and UTV lineup. The RZR 900 is powered by the ProStar 900, which we first saw in the 2011 RZR XP 900. While the bump in displacement may seem relatively minor on paper (a gain of 115 cubic centimeters), in reality it translates to a near 50% horsepower increase – the RZR 800 produced 53.2 horsepower compared to a claimed 75 ponies from the new RZR 900 – and 15% bump in torque. That seems like a direct shot across the bow of Arctic Cat and its 50-inch offering – the Wildcat Trail.
Polaris is swinging for the fences again for the 2015 model year with its biggest off-road lineup ever. New and updated vehicles can be found throughout the RZR, Ranger and Sportsman families.
Polaris RZR Lineup
While Polaris announced a power boost in its 2015 RZR XP 1000 and RZR XP 4 1000 a few weeks ago, that was just a taste test of the changes to the RZR lineup for 2015.
The Polaris RZR was the only 50-inch Sport Side-by-Side in the industry for years before the Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail showed up last year with nearly 10 more horsepower. Polaris has answered that challenge with the new 2015 RZR 900 ($12,799), which features a 75 hp ProStar 900 engine. The new ProStar powerplant offers more than 40 percent more horsepower and 15 percent more torque than the previous RZR 800 models.
While the competition does its best to play catch-up and eat into Polaris’ dominance of the Side-by-Side market, the Minnesota-based manufacturer continues to push forward and change the way we think of UTVs. The latest example can be found in some patent documents we dug up for an innovative-looking four-seat Utility Side-by-Side.
We don’t have a name for this machine yet, but it strikes a brutish pose that looks like it could be used on the jobsite or a military base. Most notable is the cargo bed, which opens up in the cab, where long items can be housed in a center tunnel between the seats. This would seem ideal for carrying lumber, ladders, or a myriad of military tools. This UTV looks like a cargo mover above all else.