The Polaris RZR PRO R Could Be Redefining the UTV

We’re finally getting our first real look at the long-rumored Polaris RZR PRO R, and it’s showing some mind-blowing features.

From a completely new engine to some wild looking suspension, the PRO R is packing some serious heat. And it could be, quite literally, a game changer.

Here’s everything we’ve seen and why you should be excited for it even if you’re not a RZR fan.

For updated information on the PRO R, check out our article giving a rundown of the machine after its reveal.

All New Suspension

Polaris has given us a lot of good looks at their new suspension between the impressive Jump Cuts video from Hoonigan and Polaris’ own painfully short teasers. What we’re seeing looks wild for a stock machine.

The front A-arms in particular look pretty cool. They use a high-clearance boxed design not entirely dissimilar from our own Sidewinder A-Arms and a few other aftermarket A-arm styles out there.

But it gets more exciting when you realize that the shock mount is on the lower A-arm instead of the top like every other RZR. So the RZR PRO R should have more suspension travel than the PRO XP’s 17 inches of wheel travel.

It’s also clearly wider than the XP’s 64”. It’s probably closer to 72” or possibly 74” wide. In case you forgot, Polaris hasn’t made or announced a 2022 Polaris RZR XP Turbo S, so it makes perfect sense that the PRO R will take its place in terms of width.

And check out the axle running through the shock mount! It’s a clever solution for sure, but it looks like it could be a potential weak spot down the line.

When it comes to the rear suspension, there’s not much to see so far. The radius arms and trailing arms are definitely beefy looking, but only the radius arms appear to be high clearance. Altogether, the rear doesn’t look drastically different from anything we’ve seen before.

Virtually Unchanged Roll Cage

We haven’t gotten any super clear looks at the roll cage so far—the RZR used by RJ Anderson in the Hoonigan Jump Cuts video appears to have a custom cage.

What we can tell from the teaser videos is that the cage looks virtually identical to the PRO XP, although it may vary based on trim level.

5-Lug Bolt Pattern

One of the more notable differences on the Polaris RZR PRO R is the change to a 5-lug bolt pattern. It’s a big departure from what they’ve done before, and it’s the first off-road vehicle they’ve made that doesn’t use a 4×156 lug pattern.

So why the change?

More lugs give the wheel mount more strength and spreads the torque load out more. It’s ideal for high-performance, high-horsepower machines. Clearly Polaris thinks this new vehicle has enough power to require some extra strength in the hub.

We don’t know the exact pattern for sure, but it’s probably a safe bet that it uses the same bolt pattern as Polaris’ Slingshot at 5×114.3—there’s no need for them to literally reinvent the wheel after all. That opens up the Polaris RZR PRO R to whole new world of wheel options.

The Polaris Slingshot might have its mark on another big feature too…

2-Liter, 4-Cylinder Engine

Up to 2.0 L—that’s what Polaris plastered on the screen in their “Power” teaser.

This is a huge feature, not just for the RZR PRO R, but for the industry as a whole. But we’ll get to that in a second.

First of all, what’s this new engine that delivers 2,000 cc displacement? It’s actually not new at all. This 2 liter engine is very clearly the same engine used in the Polaris Slingshot.

Looking closer at the Slingshot’s engine specs, we see that it’s a 4-cylinder DOHC engine that’s capable of at least 203 HP. It’s naturally aspirated (aka not turbocharged), but it does require 91 octane fuel.

Unlike the Slingshot, however, the RZR PRO R uses a CVT just like previous RZRs. Its power output will undoubtedly differ from the Slingshots based on this alone.

Bigger Than 1,000 CC?

So how is it that Polaris is able to make a UTV with something larger than a 1,000 cc engine? Our friends over at RZR Life explain it pretty well.

The gist is: no, Polaris is not going rogue with some kind of illegal side-by-side engine. It’s a member of ROHVA (the Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle Association) along with just about every other UTV manufacturer out there. They self-regulate side-by-sides and lobby the government on behalf of the industry in an effort to keep the government from imposing its own regulations.

ROHVA says a UTV has to be 1,000 cc or less, and we’re guessing some new definition will arise in time for the RZR PRO R’s release. Let’s not forget that the Slingshot itself is an “autocycle,” a term that didn’t exist in a legal sense before 2015. There’s plenty of precedent for this kind of change.

Either way, a 2-liter engine on a mainstream side-by-side will certainly pave the way for others to follow suite in the following years. We’ll be interested to see what Can-Am can do without a 1,000 cc limit on their X3.

The RZR PRO R Will Have Smaller Engine Trims Too

There’s a big clue about what the RZR PRO R lineup will look like hidden in plain sight—”Power options up to 2.0 L.”

That means the RZR PRO R will have smaller engines too, and we’re willing to bet they more or less match the PRO XP spec at 925 cc and 181 HP.

So what will a base model Polaris RZR PRO R look like?

At its core, it seems like the PRO R will be the 72”–74” PRO XP we all want. But what about some of the other bells and whistles like the beefed up A-arms and high clearance suspension?

We’ll have to wait and see.

We’ll Know More on November 9th

Polaris is gearing up for a major Polaris RZR PRO R showcase announced for November 9th. We’re champing at the bit to get every last detail we can on what’s undoubtedly going to be a new era of side-by-side.

In some sense, it doesn’t even matter what the specs of the RZR PRO R end up being. Even if it ends up matching the Slingshot’s 203 HP (therefore giving it just 3 HP more than the 2022 Can-Am X3), it’s still breaking the mold unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

The industry is about to break the 1,000 cc barrier, and that only means good things for every X3, Talon, KRX, and RZR of the future.

We probably say this every year, but it’s always true: There’s never been a better time to be part of our favorite hobby.

It seems impossible not to be excited about at least some aspect of the RZR PRO R. Are you excited to see the raw performance of this beast? Are you hoping your 2022 Maverick X3 will still beat in a drag race? Or maybe you’re just stoked about finally getting a sport UTV with over 1,000 cc. Let us know in the comments!