Polaris all-terrain vehicles launched

The three-time Australian and four-time Asia-Pacific rally champion is out of a job in rallying at the moment but still competing and having fun in the new side-by-side all-terrain-vehicle class.

"It's absolutely fantastic," he says at last week's (MAY 11) national press launch of the 2011 Polaris all-terrain vehicle range at the Holden driver training centre at Norwell on the Gold Coast hinterland.

"The jumps are different as you don't go as far, but the landing is much softer. Even though you aren't going as fast the thrill factor is the same."

Crocker has been joined by his best mate and former co-driver Greg Foletta in the side-by-side Polaris RZR XP, winning their first outing at the Thumb Pump 300, a desert race near Pinnaroo.

"He does the pace notes and he's the winch bitch in the winching events," Crocker says. "It's amazing how it will get up a lot of steep hills the big trucks can't even get up."

The 65kW, 875cc twin-cylinder RZR XP ($23,995) replaces the S model and is the "hero" model of the side-by-side range which is their biggest sector, according to Polaris national marketing manager Neil Anderson. "It has been designed as a pure sports machine, not a compromise of farm features and sport," he says.

The new side-by-side range features the American company's first electric-powered Ranger and the re-introduction of a diesel side-by-side model. The AWD/2WD Ranger EV ($19,995-$20,995) has range up to 80km, recharges in less than eight hours and has a top speed of 40km/h, a 226kg tray and 567kg towing capacity.

Anderson says the EV is popular with wineries as it can be used inside while the diesel should be "a hit" with farmers who prefer diesel power. The 904cc, three-cylinder Ranger Diesel ($20,995) has a 680kg payload, 907.2kg towing capacity and seats three people.

The Polaris side-by-side Ranger models come with seats for two, three, four and six people. Polaris also had a prototype machine at the launch, but details are embargoed until August.