Polaris celebrates one year India anniversary in style

Powersports vehicle maker Polaris recently completed a year in the Indian automobile market. In its one year tenure Polaris has played its cards right by taking part in and hosting a number of off-road events that showcased the capabilities of their all-terrain vehicles.

To mark the company’s successful year in the India Polaris organised an anniversary celebration near the village of Dhauj in Faridabad, Haryana. Much to my liking the celebrations included a fair bit of off-roading. 

Polaris had chosen Camp Wild, an adventure camp in Faridabad for the occasion. When we got there, Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director of Polaris India was there to greet us in his usual warm manner. At the time of the company’s India debut he had rightly said that the specialized automobile market is at a very nascent stage in India. A year later the M.D. confidently says that Polaris India has achieved its sales targets. 

The company is strategically going about carrying out its expansion plans throughout the country, on the 8th of August 2012 Polaris inaugurated its newest India dealership in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 

Talking done, I buckled myself into a Ranger RZR once again and fired it up. The familiar sound of the engine reminded me of how capable this machine truly is. Eager to experience the capabilities of the Ranger RZR again I put the automatic gearbox into D, selected four-wheel drive and set off. 

Read my First Drive report on the Polaris Ranger RZR - http://www.zigwheels.com/reviews-advice/reviews/polaris-ranger-rzr-first-drive/9925/1

The path from Camp Wild to the off-road location had a tarmac section and in an instant I was reminded of how quickly the Ranger RZR could gather speed. The buggy’s light weight combined with the high revving 760cc fuel injected engine that churns out 53PS of power can catapult the Polaris Ranger RZR from 0-100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds and that’s proper sportscar territory.

As the fleet of Polaris Rangers and Sportsman ATVs gunned it to the off-road section a miracle took place. For the first time ever, cows literally ran off our path when they heard the buggies coming. Soon enough the leader of the pack swerved off the road and we followed. 

And this is where the Polaris Ranger RZR comes into its own. Its adjustable Dual A-Arm suspension up front and Independent rear suspension cushioned sharp bumps and rocks on the path like nobody’s business. The suspension irons out everything and when you do go over a huge boulder there is hardly any kickback from the steering wheel.

Carry decent speed into a corner and give it a bootful and the RZR kicks out its rear wheels even in four-wheel drive! Apply the right amount of steering correction and you have yourself an awesome powerslide. I then decided to check the effectiveness of the anti-lock brakes and the results were fantastic. Even over loose gravel the moment you step on the brakes the wheels somehow manage to find enough traction and bring the vehicle to a halt without any drama. 

As we headed deeper into the bush the road became smaller and by this time we had splashed across a number of water filled potholes to be covered in mud, Polaris style. We waded through seriously deep water that flooded the passenger compartment of the vehicle that drains out the moment you drive out of water. There were some steep inclines and hillocks on the course that the Ranger RZR climbed with absolute ease. The vehicle’s short wheelbase combined with its long travel suspension means it can climb over the steepest of inclines and deep ruts without bottoming out.

All in all, if you want to experience the true sense of off-roading you have to drive a Polaris.

By the time we headed back towards the camp across the tarmac stretch, I once again felt new found respect for the Polaris Ranger RZR for the way it behaves off the road. If you are an off-road enthusiast you must experience it.