Polaris RZR explained

The Polaris RZR (Often pronounced as POLARIS RAZOR), is a sport side-by-side produced by Polaris Industries. When launched in 2007 as a 2008 model, it was officially known as the Ranger RZR, as it was marketed as a sub-model of the larger, work-oriented Ranger. As the RZR gained popularity, Polaris eventually dropped the Ranger designation and positioned the RZR as a stand-alone model.

RZR models in the US

Civilian models:

Military models:

Military use

U.S. Special Operations Command, (USSOCOM), placed an order with Polaris Defense in September 2013 for up to 1,500 MRZR-2 (2-seat) and MRZR-4 (4-seat) machines.[2] A big drawback of these new small military vehicles was that they retained their original gasoline engines, which are incompatible with standard military JP-8 fuel. In terms of logistics, two different fuel types are undesirable. As few such machines see combat use, and civilian users are uninterested in running them on diesel, an engine change was deemed unlikely.[2]

In November 2016, the U.S. Marine Corps signed a $2.5 million contract with Polaris to deliver 144 MRZR-D vehicles. Called the Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), it is designed to be diesel-powered and can run on JP-8 fuel. The Marines bought the unarmored vehicles because they can fit inside an MV-22 Osprey, enabling them to be deployed from long distances, to provide logistics support to ground combat units, assisting them to travel and transport supplies quicker and easier than previously on foot. The vehicles can carry four marines and have a small cargo bed capable of carrying 1500lb of payload. Plans are to field 18 MRZR-Ds per infantry regiment. The vehicles were delivered from late-January to April 2017.[3] [4] [5]

U.S. Army soldiers with Special Operations Task Force / South also used Polaris RZR 800 Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicles (LT-ATV), internally transportable by CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and rapidly off-loadable, during operations in 2010 in the Maruf District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

The Royal Navy has procured a batch of Polaris MRZR-D4 UTVs for the Royal Marines and a version of the MRZR has been in service with UK Special Forces for a number of years[6]

Current operators

Fire hazards and recalls

For 2010, Polaris developed their own engine for the RZR, known as the ProStar.[17] Unlike the previous engine, which had the exhaust cooled by airflow, the ProStar equipped RZR connected the engine to the exhaust header pipe in the front of the engine, before making a 180 degree turn and exiting at the rear of the vehicle.[17] This design creates a hot spot directly behind passengers that can degrade components and ignite debris, fuel and plastic panels.[17] Customers soon reported plastic panels between the passengers and the engine were melting and smoking and Polaris' safety director at the time believed the vehicle should be recalled.[17] However, no recall was performed, with Polaris issuing a service bulletin which does not require Polaris to issue notice to consumers or the Consumer Product Safety Commission.[17]

In July 2014, an 11-year-old girl from Texas suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns on 60% of her body when the Polaris she was riding in tipped over and ignited.[18] Her right leg and left foot were later amputated. A 15-year-old girl was killed when the RZR she was a passenger in caught fire in July 2015. In September 2016, two Arizona women were killed when their Polaris tipped over and sparked a fire.[18]

In April 2018, Polaris was fined a record $27.5 million by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for two 2016 late-reporting claims relating to a fire risk.[19] The CPSC alleges Polaris had received reports of 150 RZR fires, including the death of the above-mentioned 15 year old passenger,[20] 11 reports of burn injuries and a fire that burned 10 acres of land, but failed to immediately notify them.[19] Over the years, Polaris has recalled more than half a million RZR's for manufacturing defects that could lead to fires, burns or death.[21] However, owners of RZRs are continuing to report fires on vehicles that been previously repaired, including total-loss fires.[22]

In May 2019, a 23-year-old man from Idaho suffered fatal burns when the RZR he was riding in burst into flames.,[23] despite the 2017 RZR receiving the repairs under the 2018 recall.[17] [24]

Specifications

RZR 570RZR 800RZR S 800RZR XP 900RZR XP1000RZR S 900RZR S 1000RZR XPTurboRZR XP Turbo SRZR PRO XPRZR Turbo RRZR Pro R
Model Year Debut201220082009201120142015201620162018202020222022
Horsepower45525688/9610775100144168181181225
Displacement (cc)5677607608759998759999259259259251997
Width505060646460606472647474
Wheelbase77777781.490797990909696104.5
Length 107.5102106108119105106119122126128136.5
Ground Clearance1010121313.51112.513.51614.51616
Front Tire Size25 x 8-1225 x 8-1226 x 9-1227 x 9-1229 x 9-1426 x 8-1227 x 9-1229 x 9-1432 x 10-1530 x 10-1432 x 10-1532 x 10-15
Rear Tire Size25 x 10-1225 x 10-1226 x 12-1227 x 11-1229 x 11-1426 x 9-1227 x 11-1229 x 11-1432 x 10-1530 x 10-1432 x 10-1532 x 10-15
Front Wheel Travel991213.51612.2512.2516191722.2522.25
Rear Wheel Travel9.59.512141813.213.218212022.424.5
Dry Weight (lbs.)9709451,0001,1901,3791,1481,235 1,4951,7511,7591,9432,085
Numbers above are for the first model year available. Units in inches unless otherwise noted. Numbers are manufacturer's where available.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-03-25 . 2022 Polaris RZR Pro R vs. RZR Turbo R . 2022-07-31 . MotorTrend . en.
  2. Web site: Internal Server Error. Janes.com.
  3. http://www.dodbuzz.com/2016/09/27/marine-corps-equip-infantry-units-polaris-atvs/ Marine Corps to Equip Infantry Units with Polaris ATVs
  4. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/all-terrain-vehicle-infantry-marines-2017 Marine grunts to get new all-terrain vehicles for missions
  5. http://defensetech.org/2016/11/23/marine-grunts-will-start-getting-atvs-january/ Marine Grunts Will Start Getting ATVs in January
  6. Web site: New Royal Marines Polaris MRZR-D4. 18 December 2021.
  7. https://soldat-und-technik.de/2022/07/mobilitaet/32190/multifunktionale-tarnbeleuchtung-taktische-fahrzeuge/
  8. News: Watch: Rajnath Singh Drives An All-Terrain Vehicle In Kashmir . 22 July 2022.
  9. News: Military Digest: Army conducts 'Exercise Blitzkrieg' in Ladakh . 22 July 2022.
  10. Web site: New Zealand Army receives first six Polaris MRZR vehicles . 2022-05-28 . Janes.com . en.
  11. Web site: Redação . 2022-05-04 . GNR tem nova "bomba" nas estradas (e apresenta novas cores das viaturas) . 2022-05-08 . O Minho . pt-PT.
  12. Web site: Portuguese Army RZR . 2021-03-29 . Twitter . en.
  13. Web site: Romania Orders Polaris DAGOR Ultralight Tactical Vehicles. edrmagazine.eu. 11 July 2023 .
  14. Web site: Procurement of Polaris UTV for Thai Rapid Deployment Force. defense-studies . 2 February 2021 . 20 March 2023.
  15. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Snaps From Ashgabat: Turkmenistan's 2021 Military Parade . Oryx Blog . 27 September 2021.
  16. Web site: Video: MRZR Drive through thick brush . Federal Bureau of Investigation . 18 August 2024.
  17. News: The Polaris RZR, an Off-Road Thrill That Can Go Up in Flames. The New York Times. 6 September 2019. Jeans. David.
  18. Web site: Fire Danger Persists for Polaris Off-Road Vehicles. February 20, 2018. FairWarning.
  19. http://www.startribune.com/polaris-industries-pays-27-25-million-settlement-to-consumer-product-safety-commission/478547013/
  20. Web site: 450,000 Recalls Later, Polaris Industries Says Its ATVs Are Still a Fire Hazard. Rich. Duprey. December 28, 2017. The Motley Fool.
  21. https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/04/13/polaris-industries-hit-with-27-million-fine-and-ye.aspx
  22. Web site: Joint Statement of CPSC and Polaris on Polaris RZR 900 and 1000 Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  23. https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/article234979792.html 29 Sept 2019
  24. https://compett.org/ UTV Resource