Mires. Pits. Rubbles. The YMCA grounds at Royapettah present a picture of devastation. A bunch of journalists gets into this mayhem of mud, stone and dirt and tries out off-road and all-terrain vehicles being launched by the U.S.-based Polaris Industries, in Chennai.
After a formal press meet, these mediapersons are whisked away to the track for an experiential understanding of the vehicles. An eclectic mix of off-roaders, which includes a high-end 800cc multi-passenger sports ranger to a sporty 500cc ATV — kick up dust around the track as these amateurs try various manoeuvres. The most difficult of them are fording a three-feet deep slushy pit and climbing a bridge, marked by a steep incline and a quick drop.
Looking at the scene, you might think that their bones are being turned into powder. But the four wheels – with their independent suspension — take all the pounding by adjusting to the uneven surface and pass on none of the discomfort to the drivers.
This exercise is directed at conveying the fun element of driving these off-roaders with automatic transmission, which are available in petrol, diesel and electric variants. Pankaj Dubey, managing director of Polaris India explains that they go beyond fun. Ranging from Rs. 2.84 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh, they serve a diversity of other applications. “These vehicles lend themselves to beach patrol, tourist trails, defence work and farming activities,” says Dubey. India's long coastlines and rugged terrains and a growing interest in offroading sport have encouraged Polaris to enter the Indian market.
Nine dealerships, across the country, have been finalised. For Chennai, Polaris has signed up MPL Adventure Sports Vehicles. Plans are afoot to raise the number to 25 dealerships in the near future.
