Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

With a roof and comfier seats, the Slingshot Grand Touring LE goes the distance

By

Like their two-wheel riding counterparts, three-wheeled vehicle owners like to personalize and accessorize their rides. On Thursday, February 1, Polaris introduced the 2018 Slingshot Grand Touring LE, a factory custom loaded with the company’s premier tech, comfort, and style options.

No one buys a Slingshot to stay hidden. The opposite is usually the case. Polaris targets the aggressively styled “autocycle” for people who want to be noticed. It’s also a fun ride, especially in the top trim, the SLR LE with Bilstein performance shocks. Prior to the full 2018 model lineup launch, we had a chance to test drive the new Slingshots in the winding Malibu Hills last summer. All Slingshot models are fun, the Bilstein-shock equipped SLR LE model especially (all trims can be upgraded).

You don’t see too many Slingshots on road. When sighted on the highway people commonly think, “Batmobile!” Even though stock, regular edition Slingshots are attention-getters, anyone who wants to push the attention meter further could do much worse than snapping up a Limited Edition Grand Touring LE, starting price $30,000.

Recommended Videos

The list of factory options on the Grand Touring LE starts with the Slingshade roof, with a gull-wing top section on each side to facilitate entry and egress. The roof may extend your driving with its protection from sun, rain, and birds — but the main attraction is how cool it looks.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Ride Command gives turn-by-turn navigation with a high-resolution multi-touch, glove-friendly display.

The Slingshot Quilted Comfort Seats impress with their style and apparent supportive comfort. We haven’t tried them so we can’t speak definitively about their functional qualities, but they look great. The Slingshot’s Ride Command infotainment system is an additional premium option included as standard equipment with this limited edition. Ride Command gives turn-by-turn navigation with a high-resolution multi-touch, glove-friendly display.

To finish off the look, the Grand Touring LE also includes a color-matched rear fender, Matte Cloud Gray and Indy Red paint finish, and a Limited Edition Graphics package.

The Bilstein performance shock option we appreciated so much in our press drives isn’t part of the standard package for the Grand Touring LE, but adding extra handling prowess to the already sporty Slingshot isn’t its purpose. Note, however, that you can add the Bilsteins later if you wish as a dealer-installed upgrade ($1,800 for parts plus labor costs).

Introducing the 2018 Slingshot Grand Touring LE - Polaris Slingshot

“The Grand Touring LE is a fully loaded limited-edition model for the driver looking for the latest and greatest in technology, rider comfort, and premium styling,” Slingshot Marketing Manager Rachael Elia said. “The Grand Touring LE is the perfect offering whether looking to escape town for the weekend or turn heads while cruising Main Street.”

Topics
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown
Contributing Editor
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Costco, Electrify America add EV-charging stations in three states
costco electrify america add 50 ev charging stations in three states ea chargers 1280

Costco, which had abandoned offering EV charging 12 years ago, is getting serious about resuming the service.

Over a month ago, the big-box retailer once again put its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington, that was made by Electric Era .

Read more
Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work
Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Read more
Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?
Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Read more