Pretty fun weekend, I was over in Alabama visiting with rabtech and we stopped at a gas station and what happens to be there, 2 - 2020 Polaris Slingshots being driven around for some testing. We talked with the guys driving them for awhile and were able to look all around the new Slingshots and see some more that I didn't notice out at the reveal in Las Vegas. After talking for a little bit, they asked if we would like to go out for a drive in them and me and rabtech were happy to go!
It was pretty cool, since one of the 2020's had a manual transmission and the other had the Autodrive transmission we were able to experience both versions back to back. I went in the manual transmission version first and rabtech went in the Autodrive. That new Prostar engine is very smooth! We did some pulls from 2k RPM to redline in 2nd gear and the torque delivery is very linear all the way to redline. I thought that the engine might feel a little peaky with the high redline, but even at 2K RPM, it pulled nicely and just kept going all the way up. It is a little strange and will take some getting used to for drivers to keep the pedal down and run the engine all the way out possibly, as at 7k RPM's you just naturally want to shift, but the engine just kept going. The new drivetrain is pretty awesome and really looking forward to seeing what it will do. Although the drivetrain was the biggest focus for me, this was also the longest I have ever sat in the passenger seat of a Slingshot and I was able to test out the new vent in the passenger side footwell area, it definitely works. The air coming out of that vent was basically the same temperature as outside and the air flow was pretty good out of it, that should make a lot of passengers a lot more comfortable. The seats in the one I was in was also very comfortable for me. The more time I spent in the new 2020, the more impressed I was with the new interior in every way, it just feels so much more finished than the 1st gen, the phone holder, the switches, controls, etc, everything just feels better.
After a little bit of driving, me and rabtech switched and I got into the autodrive Slingshot. I think they are going to sell a ton of these, it just drives really well. As has been reported earlier, it is not a automatic transmission, but instead a automatically shifted manual using the Magneti Marelli system to shift gears and run the clutch. I was able to get a short ride in one of these in Vegas, but this ride was much longer and more real world. The autodrive setup and calibration they are using works really well, it feels just like someone is driving a manual when you are sitting in the passenger seat. The more we drove, it was pretty obvious this is not going to be the best option for someone that wants all out performance/track duty, as there is no way to control the shifting, but for most people that just want to get into the Slingshot and cruise and have a great time, the autodrive is going to be perfect. This should open up a whole new market for the Slingshot, also wondering if we can add paddle shifters and change the calibration to make it more sporty, that would almost make me choose the Autodrive now that I have been in one, it is that good.
I don't know how long we were out driving, but when we got back, we thanked the guys for giving us a ride and walked away impressed with the new 2020's. I would personally go for the 203HP and manual transmission for all out performance, but the SL with the Autodrive is a really nice driver also and I would not be surprised if that was their volume seller. They definitely seem to be pretty quick for stock Slingshots, now to see what they will do with forced induction on them 
