Seat belt interlock and Speed Key compatibility introduced on Ranger models
After launching 11 new models in February, expanding their range to 15 models with Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS), creating a new market segment through the release of the unique Sportsman ACE and building models from the ground up specifically for the Australian market such as Polaris UTE, it’s fair to say 2014 has been a landmark year for US Powersports giant Polaris Industries.
You could possibly be forgiven for thinking that the innovation of even Polaris must have its limits and show signs of slowing down sometime. However, innovation has been the lifeblood of Polaris – which last month celebrated its 60th Anniversary with a grand affair over in its birthplace of Minnesota – and this innovation continues in the form of further features to enhance safety and choice for Australian users.
Polaris has now amassed 5,291 sales of ATVs and side x sides over the past 12 months ending 31st July 2014 to be a clear leader as Australia’s number one off-road vehicle brand, a staggering 642 units ahead of its nearest competitor. Year-to-date (end July) 2014 has represented growth of 42 percent over the same period in 2013 in a market which has grown by only 3 percent.
There are very good reasons why customers are leaving opposition brands and seeking out Polaris in droves, not least of which is Polaris’ relentless drive to not only provide customer solutions, but also further options for the safety conscious. As a result, Polaris today announced plans to introduce two revolutionary new features on Ranger side x side vehicles designed to enhance the safety of users.
Buoyed by the successful introduction of the unique Sportsman ACE earlier this year – a vehicle that combines the size and agility of an ATV with the security features of a side x side – Polaris has continued to set an industry benchmark for safety innovation through the impending introduction of seat belt interlock and Speed Key compatibility to the 2015 Ranger line-up. This feature will be available on most 2015 Ranger models due to arrive in Australia over coming months. In an effort to ensure standard safety devices such as seatbelts are used when operating side x side vehicles, the seat belt interlock operates by limiting the top speed of the vehicle to 24 km/ph when the seatbelt is not engaged. This is designed to ensure that operators who are not wearing a seatbelt are restricted to a low speed to reduce the likelihood of serious accidents or injury.
“This is essentially a safety feature to support a safety feature,” said Polaris Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Peter Alexander. “Just because a vehicle is fitted with seatbelts does not guaranteethey are being worn and this is a proactive step to ensure the vehicle can only operate at low speedswhen the seatbelt is not engaged.”
“The great thing about Polaris is that we provide choice and solutions for customers. We have 15 models with ROPS and now customers can not only choose the machine to best meet their needs, but also the machine that offers the greatest safety features for their particular conditions. Also introduced to the 2015 Ranger line-up will be Speed Key, which is a separate key to the vehicle (available as an accessory) which limits the top speed to 40 km/ph. This essentially gives the owner of the vehicle the choice as to whether it is appropriate for the vehicle to have access to the maximum power output, or whether the power and speed should be limited under certain conditions or circumstances. Most 2015 Ranger models will come Speed Key compatible. “We understand that – particularly in the agricultural sector – our vehicles are not always used by the owner themselves, but also by staff or family,” Alexander said. “Speed Key gives the owner of the vehicle or property the option to limit the top speed to a lower level to reduce the chances of injury or accident by staff who might be using the vehicle.”
