The 2018 RZR XP Turbo S is a beast of a machine and a massive leap forward in performance for the Polaris RZR line.
Its ProStar Turbo H.O. engine churns out 168-horsepower like its predecessor however fuel mapping has been tweaked to be significantly more aggressive and top speed has been increased from 80 mph to 85 mph.
Three main areas set this model apart from its competition and past RZRs are bold claims at being the industryÂ’s toughest machine, with the most evolved cockpit and the most capable suspension industry wide.
Industry’s Toughest Machine
Everything about the Turbo S has been beefed up and strengthened. Standard 8-ply ITP Coyote Radial tires offer unparalleled puncture resistance with a unique tread pattern for maximum traction and control. Bearings, knuckles and shafts have all been strengthened, the front control arms are bigger and stronger and arced to work in conjunction with the tires to offer 16 inches of ground clearance, the rear trailing arms are 67% stronger than previous RZRs and the front drive is twice the size of the previous XP with 3-times higher impact strength.
Polaris also re-designed the clutch box to flow 80-pecent more air to areas that ran hotter and now cools the secondary as well as the inboard side of the belt, which results in 20 percent cooler belt temperatures that the current RZR Turbo. Polaris engineers made every effort to address any weaknesses or failures experienced during their two-year testing phase and strengthen this vehicle to tolerate maximum abuse. You might think that extra reinforcement would make the vehicle significantly heavier, but this Turbo S only sees a 200 pound increase in weight over the previous RZR XP Turbo DYNAMIX edition.
Most Advanced Cockpit
The driver’s seating position has been reconfigured to compliment the RZRÂ’s newly designed sculpted hood, which resulted in improved sight lines for the driver and passenger. Beautifully crafted seats with standard 5-point harnesses and a flat-bottom Sparco steering wheel also contribute to a race-inspired feel of the Turbo S.
The Turbo S also features a new reinforced and lowered roll over protection system and a factory installed aluminum roof that contribute to a sportier look. Polaris also refined its power steering, which is the best EPS version on any Polaris product we’ve tested to date eliminating feedback through the steering wheel and leaving the driver in total control of the vehicle and also makes steering those ITP Coyotes a breeze.
The cockpit also features a standard 7-inch Ride Command touch screen that shows vehicle diagnostics, Go-Pro control, Blue-Tooth audio, GPS mapping and puts you in control of the most interesting feature on the Turbo S…Dynamix Active Suspension.
Most Capable Suspension
The Turbo S features FOX 3.0 IBP LIVE VALVE SHOCKS that work in conjunction with the RZR’s Dynamix Active Suspension to offer a whopping 25 inches of usable travel. This intelligent suspension system offers three standard settings controlled through Ride Command: Comfort, Sport and Firm. However it doesn’t stop there! As ride terrain changes, Dynamix senses changes in required input and adjusts compression dampening on the fly to compensate.
Furthermore, Dynamix works to combat body roll when cornering by calculating roll and steering input and countering by making the outside shocks more firm to keep the vehicle flatter and then returns to your presets the vehicle stabilizes; all of this happening in a fraction of a second. This happens similarly when the brakes are tapped and the front shocks stiffen to counter diving.
Dynamix also recognizes jumping by detecting full extension of all four shocks while the vehicle is in the air and stiffening up to resist bottoming on landing. Then once again returns to your preset before you even realize it has happened.
The 2018 RZR XP Turbo S is being marketed as “The Beast” with an MSRP starting at $27,499 US. We look forward to more time aboard the Turbo S and the opportunity to run it head-to-head against the competition this season on Dirt Trax Television. Stay tuned!
