The world of hardcore off-roading exploded during the pandemic with trucks like the Ram TRX and Ford Raptor gaining popularity alongside the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. But even if a dealership will happily sell enthusiasts a 702-horsepower truck like the TRX, for serious performance at high speeds or rock crawling, a side-by-side will always win—and at a fraction of the cost.
Today, Polaris followed in the footsteps of Detroit's off-roading power wars by unveiling the most powerful RZR ever, taking a major step forward with the Wide Open Lineup featuring new Pro R and Turbo R models with a new engine option and more suspension travel housed for the first time within a beefed-up one-piece chassis.
Dropping In The ProStar Fury Engine
The addition of a naturally aspirated inline-four engine called the ProStar Fury makes up the single biggest piece of news within the Polaris announcement. Borrowed from the radical Polaris Slingshot, the 2.0-liter mill will feature in the RZR Pro R cranking out up to 225 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. On the road-going three-wheeler, it's a real screamer with a redline of 8,250 RPM but that bumps up to 8,500 for the RZR application thanks to a lightweight crankshaft, specific cam grind, high-compression pistons, a lighter flywheel, and an oiling system designed to prevent starvation at high angularity during hillclimbs and steep descents.
That kind of high-end power sounds great while charging dunes at top speed, but the ProStar Fury will offer three user-selectable throttle modes—Sport, Rock, and Race—to allow for optimal response throughout a range of terrain including low-speed rock crawling. A 10-degree lower thermostat and high-flow water pump impeller also help to keep the ProStar Fury at optimal temperatures, as does a revised oil cooler. The RZR Turbo R, meanwhile, will still employ the turbocharged two-cylinder engine currently motivating the RZR Pro XP lineup with 181 horses.
New One-Piece Chassis Adds Strength And Rigidity
Housing the two new engines, Polaris also introduced the company's first one-piece tube-frame chassis that will increase both strength and rigidity, replacing the outgoing structure that bolts together. A one-piece welded roll cage should help to improve safety within vehicles that border upon purpose-built Baja racers available to the general public, with an overall torsional rigidity that Polaris claims is twice as stiff on the whole.
More aggressive exterior design complements the power gains and chassis reinforcements, as teased in a video released two weeks ago courtesy of the Hoonigans featuring RJ Anderson blasting around (and over) Long Beach at top speed. Now, in a new video promoting the Pro R and Turbo R, Anderson is joined by professional drifter and rally racer Tanner Foust for some jumps and whoops on a motocross circuit to prove the capabilities of the two new models.
Serious Suspension Upgrades
To support the kind of wide-open throttle driving that Polaris no doubt expects buyers to enjoy with the new Pro R and Turbo R, improvements to the RZR's already stellar suspension also fit into the mix. Revised geometry and components allow for a max of 29 inches of suspension travel, while Fox 3.0 Live Valve X2 Internal Bypass shocks build upon the Dynamix program, now called Dynamix DV with four different suspension and steering modes: Comfort, Track, Rock, and Baja. Revisions over the current Dynamix programming include independent adjustment of rebound and compression at all four corners, as well as a unique angle-based damping program that helps the vehicle lean into a hill on steeper ascents and descents.
Overall, the new RZR Pro R and Turbo R stretch out their legs to a wider track of 74 inches, with 32 and 33-inch tires available from the factory. Boxed steel A-arms and through-arm rear toe links additionally support the long-travel suspension to increase durability and reduce bump steer.
Still A CVT Transmission
Both the Pro R and Turbo R will continue to employ a CVT transmission, a decision that Polaris remains committed to in the hopes of increasing accessibility to the general public. To support the power gains, the new RZRs receive a beefed-up drive belt and a larger clutch pack that also benefits from additional cooling.
The CVT definitely created a sensation of sapped power in older RZR models, though Polaris revised the entire drivetrain to complement the higher output of the ProStar Fury engine and allow for a theoretical top speed of over 90 miles an hour for the two-seater Pro R. A new front differential setup adds an entirely open differential setting perfect for high desert speeds but is still able to switch between full rear-wheel drive and fully locked when necessary. A power torque limiter helps to reduce spikes in load to the front wheels upon landing, too.
All told, the new models add a bit of weight to the outgoing RZR, as much as 10% maxing out at 2,480 pounds for the Pro R four-door. Strengthened wheel hubs with five-lug Pro Armor wheels explain some of that additional heft, though the overall dimensions at 10 inches wider, three inches taller, and 10.5 inches longer also contribute.
More Goodies And Accessories
In typical Polaris style, a host of customization and accessory options will be available straight from dealers. The RZR Pro R and Turbo R will debut with three different themes—Desert, Dune, and Rugged Trail—of terrain-specific groupings made up of 70 different accessories. And of course, the technology of the Ride Command system will feature in these range-topping RZRs, allowing for control of the Dynamix DV system, infotainment, and map functions with GPS that links multiple vehicles out in the desert without requiring cell phone reception.
Befitting a new pair of top-of-the-line off-roaders, the new RZR Pro R with the ProStar Fury will start at $31,999 while its four-seater variant notches up to $35,999. The lower-power Turbo R starts at $25,999 and steps up to $29,999 for the four-door.
Expect options packages and demand to produce significantly higher price tags when the new Wide Open family of RZRs hits dealer floors in 2022. On a media call concurrent with the announcement, Polaris executives indicated that deliveries of the Pro R should begin in January, while customers should be able to buy the Turbo R by Q2 of 2022. In the meantime, keep an eye out for more from Polaris when professional racer Wayne Matlock takes a two-seater Pro R equipped with the ProStar Fury to the Baja 1000 later this month.
Sources: polaris.com, youtube.com, and ridefox.com, and score-international.com.