View Photos of the 2021 Polaris Slingshot
The 2021 Polaris Slingshot adds a major upgrade for automatic transmission models with a manual shift control via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The Polaris Slingshot remains in a class of its own, but the company still tinkers and improves it from year to year. For 2021, the big change is paddle shifters and manual control for the optional AutoDrive single-clutch automated manual transmission.
A Magneti Marelli unit, the Slingshot's five-speed AutoDrive transmission shares gear ratios with the standard five-speed manual.
The three-wheeler's pushbutton gear selector now includes an important new button: M for manual.
AutoDrive's shift cadence is tuned for relaxed driving, but it doesn't really get any quicker when you push it hard.
Try to downshift into a lower gear that would overrev the Slingshot's 2.0-liter four-cylinder and you get a "shift not allowed" message in the instrument cluster.
The Slingshot's AutoDrive option costs $1700 to $2000, depending on the trim level.
According to Polaris, the AutoDrive transmission adds just 14 pounds to the Slingshot's curb weight.
The 2.0-liter engine's 8500-rpm redline can make for feisty rev-matched downshifts.
The Slingshot's fifth gear is an overdrive ratio, but another gear (or two) would help the engine relax more at highway speeds.
To get the most out of a Slingshot, you still need the five-speed manual transmission.
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
2021 Polaris Slingshot
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