The Slingshot is manufactured by Polaris Industries, in the United States, which claims that "It's a three-wheeled motorcycle!" It has a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, side-by-side bucket seats, and does not lean. It has no roof, doors, or side windows and the whole interior is waterproof so it can be hosed down and drained out using drain holes in the floor. The standard Slingshot has two 17-inch front wheels and a single 18-inch wheel in the rear of the vehicle, while the Slingshot SL and SL LE Edition have two 18-inch forged aluminum front wheels with a 20-inch rear wheel. All models have a double-wishbone front suspension with an anti-roll bar. An optional five-speed automatic transmission is set to become available by April 2018. A small windshield is an optional extra on the base model, and fitted as standard on the SL model. There is also an optional fiberglass wind and sun cover, which Polaris calls a "Slingshade", that features inset polycarbonate windows and snaps onto the Slingshot's tube frame, acting somewhat like a hardtop roof. The steering wheel, gear stick, and brake, clutch, and throttle pedals have a conventional automobile layout.
Classification
Depending on jurisdiction, the Slingshot may be registered as a motorcycle or as an autocycle. It's classified as an Autocycle in 44 states. Three-point seat belts are fitted; however, it has no airbags or crumple zone, and in certain jurisdictions the driver and passenger must wear motorcycle helmets.
Performance
The Slingshot weighs and is powered by a 2.4 liter inline four-cylinderGM Ecotecgasoline engine. It produces 173 hp at 6200 rpm and 166 lb-ft of torque at 4700 rpm. This engine was formerly used by General Motors in the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Skysports cars, as well as the Chevrolet Cobalt. For the 2020 model year Polaris redesigned the Slingshot with an in-house designed 2.0 liter I-4 engine. The new motor makes and redlines at 8500 rpm. It can be fitted to either a 5 speed manual or for the first time ever for the Slingshot, an "Autodrive" transmission. The interior was also redesigned and the exterior updated.
