2015 Polaris Slingshot SL LE : A Review of Dino Melaye's Luxury Car

Whenever you hear the name Dino Melaye, two things come to your mind, the outspoken/controversial man and the man who loves to flaunt his cars on social media. Dino Melaye is a man who loves to enjoy life to the fullest, the Kogi-born Senator who is representing Kogi West in the National Assembly is a man many loved to hate because he is vocal, bold and not willing to succor to pressure. He flaunts his cars and wealth as if no man business. When I received a mail from one of our readers to please do a review on Dino Melaye's cars, I knew I should be ready to dig deep because this man loves exclusive items which are not common to the public. We will be doing the review of one of his latest toy as he calls them in this post.

The 2015 Polaris Slingshot SL LE is one wheel away from being a car and it’s missing doors and a roof, but the 2015 Polaris Slingshot still has plenty to be excited about. Polaris just revealed all the details on its new Slingshot, a three-wheeled machine that’s focused on tearing through tracks and canyons.

Like the Morgan 3 Wheeler and Compagna T-Rex, the 2015 Slingshot has two wheels up front with a lone wheel out back. A 2.4-liter Ecotec I-4 mounted up front makes 173 hp and 166 lb-ft torque and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission (no automatics here, folks) that sends power to the rear wheel. Polaris doesn’t provide performance estimates, but the Ecotec doesn’t have much to lug around with the Polaris weighing in at just 1725 pounds for the base model and 1743 pounds for the Slingshot XL.

Despite its three-wheel layout, the Slingshot should be relatively planted thanks to its wide track of 69.1 inches and super-low ride height of just 5 inches. The front suspension is a double-wishbone set up with coil overs, and steering is electric power-assisted.

The Slingshot can also be had with a few niceties, too. A waterproof infotainment system includes navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and a backup camera, while standard storage cubbies located behind the two seats (with three-point seatbelts) add some level of practicality. Other standard items included LED taillights, projector beam headlights, ABS, electronic stability control, and a 2-year warranty.

Specifications:

DIMENSIONS / CAPACITIES
Dry Weight1684 lbs.
Curb Weight1743 lbs.
Overall Length (in/mm)149.6 in/3800 mm
Overall Width (in/mm)77.6 in/1960 mm
Overall Height (in/mm)51.9 in/1318 mm
Track Width (in/mm)69.1 in/1755 mm
Wheelbase (in/mm)105.0 in/2667 mm
Ground Clearance (in/mm)5.0 in/127 mm

POWERTRAIN
Engine2.4L DOHC
Displacement (cid/cc)2384 cc
Bore and Stroke88mm x 98m
Compression Ratio10.4:1
Valve TrainDOHC, VVT
Fuel91 octane or higher

PERFORMANCE
Rev Limit (RPM)7000 RPM
Peak Power (HP)173 HP @ 6200 RPM
Peak Torque (ft-lbs)166 ft-lbs @ 4700 RPM
FLUID CAPACITY
Fuel (Gallons/Liters)9.77 Gallons / 37.1 Liters

BRAKES
Brake Rotors (Front)Vented, 298mm diameter
Brake Rotors (Rear)Vented, 298mm diameter

WHEELS AND TIRES
Front Tire TypeKenda "Slingshot" 799
Front Tire Size225/45R18
Front Wheel TypeForged; 10 Spoke
Front Wheel Size18x7.5 J
Rear Tire TypeKenda "Slingshot" 799
Rear Tire Size255/35R20
Rear Wheel TypeForged; 10 Spoke
Rear Wheel Size20x9.0 J

TRANSMISSION
Clutch TypeDry, Single Plate, Hydraulically Actuated
Transmission Type5 Speed Synchromesh with Reverse
1st Gear Ratio3.753:1
2nd Gear Ratio2.258:1
3rd Gear Ratio1.512:1
4th Gear Ratio1.000:1
5th Gear Ratio.729:1
Reverse Gear Ratio3.672:1
Gear Shift PatternH
Bevel Drive Ratio2.312:1
Final Drive TypeCarbon Fiber Reinforced Belt, 36mm x 147T
Final Drive Ratio1.590:1

STEERING
ActuationRack-and-pinion
AssistPolaris EPAS, Speed Sensitive
Steering Turns, lock-to-lock3.2

ELECTRICAL
Battery575 CCA
LIGHTING
Headlight2x Projector Hi/Lo H3 55w (Center)
Auxiliary Light2x Projector H3 55w (Outboard)
Tail/Brake LightLED
Turn SignalsLED
License Plate LightLED
Speedometer & Indicator LightsLED

DRIVER AIDS
ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes)Standard
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)Standard
Traction ControlStandard

WARRANTY
Factory Warranty2 Years