In an apparent effort to generate some buzz both for its 70th anniversary as a company and the snowmobile market in general, on August 1 Polaris announced plans for three 70th anniversary sleds. And the first one is a rather sharp-looking throwback design that apes one of the brand’s popular XLT models of the 1990s.
The 2025 Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 146 70th Anniversary Edition model pulls styling cues from the 1995 Indy XLT Special, which more-or-less introduced modern long-travel suspension to the snowmobile market. Multi-tone splashes of blue and purple lay upon a black body panels. Even the angles of some of those color splashes appear familiar. To modernize the look, the purple from the original XLT graphics is also utilized on the ski tips and the suspension rails.
Separating it further from the “regular” 9R Switchback Assault will be LED-infused handguards and Sentry front and rear bumpers. Those are all accessories that can otherwise be ordered for pretty much any model from Polaris. Functionally, the snowmobiles are unchanged versus the 9R Switchback Assault model that was available on spring order.
Two other 70th Anniversary models will be unveiled at the Hay Days Grass Drag event on September 7. Interestingly, their press release kicks off with a quote from little-old us when we named the XLT Special our 1995 Snow Goer Snowmobile Of The Year. Below is the full press release from Polaris to learn how to get one.
Polaris Celebrates 70 Years of Innovation, Introduces First of Three Limited Edition Snowmobiles
The 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Switchback Assault was inspired by the XLT, a best-selling sled from the 1990s
“Few snowmobiles in the history of the sport have been as truly game changing as the Polaris Indy XLT. When first launched for model year 1993, its amazing engine, cool sound and general aura took the snowmobile market by storm. … That helped fuel an amazing boom in the snowmobile industry in the 1990s.” (Snow Goer 1995)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – August 1, 2024 – In celebration of its 70th anniversary, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) today unveiled the first of three Limited Edition snowmobiles – the 2025 Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 146 70th Anniversary Edition. This nostalgic edition pays homage to the legendary XLT family of the 1990s, bringing back its signature purple and blue over black color scheme.
“We are excited to offer 70th Anniversary limited edition sleds that bring back memories for our riders and highlight our heritage and innovation,” Jenny Nack, Polaris Snow Vice President and General Manager.
The Patriot 9R Switchback Assault 70th Anniversary Limited Edition showcases Polaris’ cutting-edge two-stroke performance with the Patriot 9R engine, along with a color-matched front Sentry Bumper and RGB Handguards for enhanced 90s nostalgia and style, and a fresh design inspired by the classic XLT model.
Two additional 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Snowmobiles, which combine iconic 90s sled designs with contemporary innovations, will be revealed at Hay Days on September 7, 2024.
“We set out to create truly special Anniversary Editions, drawing from 70 years of innovation and snowmobile history. The iconic sleds from the 90s emerged as top contenders. The 90s era influences are prominent in pop culture, and the nostalgia is also resonating within the snowmobiling community,” said Nels Eide, Polaris Snow Product Manager.
Visit the Polaris booth at Hay Days on Saturday, September 7 at 12:00pm CST in North Branch, Minnesota to learn more about all three Limited Edition snowmobiles offerings. Each snowmobile will be available in limited quantities and available on a first come, first-serve basis. Orders can be submitted on www.polaris.com/snowmobiles beginning at 12:00pm CST on September 7 through September 28, or while snowmobiles last.
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The 1994 XLT was the nicest looking and the big sales year, 3rd year of sales but 2nd full year of production for the XLT.
The other two 1990’s models likley will be an XCR 800 or a 1997 Ultra SP (nice purple colour scheme) and 1997 XC 600 or 700.
Snow check customers can’t be happy as this should have been available then. I think that is the second time this has happened from a manufacturer of not having special edition sleds available at snow check, kind of defeats the purpose of snow check.
No excuse why Polaris did not do it for the MY2025 or 2024 launch except for all the recalls I guess.
This is absolute BS! We snow-checked two machines so we had the exclusive snow check options and now they come out with this?! For how many years snow-check has been exclusively in the spring and now this?! They better let us switch to these or we will be switching to Doo or Cat! Poo-poo didn’t sell enough in the spring so now they want to screw the long time loyal consumer, there’s going to be a lot of PO’d customers this year. Bye-Bye, Poo!!!
I’m not a Polaris person but that sled looks awesome
If you are true loyal poo rider and have good repor with your dealer I’m sure you can work something out and you jump ship. Then you’re not a true loyalist. Best of luck…
For sure one of the next two will be to celebrate the 1997 Indy 700, the awesome teal mountain sled that started the great XC 700 and 600 sleds.
1997 Ultra SP great purple hood will also be one of the special models.
These models are just celebrating the great colour and decal scheme of iconic 1990 Indys. Choices are black, teal and purple.
Poor sales for snow check 2025 so they did a fall special offer to boost sales and media marketing and to celebrate 70 years as they forgot to do this for MY 24 and 25 snow checks.
Polaris used to have a nice gold plate you put on the hood saying this sled specifically made for “customer name”. Very col idea they should do again. Did this for 1994 for sure plus got a great snowmobile suit jacket plus special discount pricing.
70th year anniversary edition would be perfect time to launch the XCR 7R. and 7R Switchback.
IMO AC will be showing casing its 700 at HayDays.
IMO This was just a decal teaser the next two will be also colour teaser with the 1997 Indy 700 SKS teal colour and the 1997 Ultra SP purple colour for a big splashy show that can bee seen for a ways away from the crowds at Hay Days. Just have to paint the hood panels. The retro graphics will not be the same actual design as above because the hoods are so much smaller now, they line don’t work. Just a month away to view this in person and online. It will be a big hit.
Wow….. Madison Avenue at its finest….. Hay Days hype for sure… worked for Cat…..
Seems a great way to celebrate their 70th Anniversary , and introduce an Anniversary Edition at the event….
No 3 cyl motor?????? No 3 into 1 exhaust symphony????? THAT is what the XLT was!!!!
Slap some look alike decals on and call it a tribute……PATHETIC. Insulting. DUMB!!!!!!
I like it! Sharp and sure brings back some memories of the XLT Specials I had in the 90’s. Those are good memory’s for sure but the last new Polaris I bought was a 97 XLT Limited and I made a mistake with that one. Last Polaris I bought. Switched to Doo then and a 2002 Viper slipped in and then back to Doo.
I have to admit if I snow checked a new Polaris last spring, I would be disappointed now seeing this new Anniversary model. I like the looks of this one.
Had a 95 xlt touring machine same color combination with the triple engine godawful fast back in the day
70th is Platinum so perhaps one of the two additional retro 70th anniversary sleds will be platinum colour so perhaps a tribute to the XC 700 of 1997 late release. It also would go over well in USA as that sled had a white hood with blue and red accent stripes so red, white and blue.
Teal 1997 Indy 700 SKS has to be the otehr retro sled. It was the start of the light weight twins made in the USA motors for Polaris and the start of mountain dominance for Polaris.
I think the 1997 Ultra SP purple hood with pink and green accents would be much better looking than the white or platinum XC but they may choose this because it is a twin motor instead of paying homage to another triple motor that people loved so much and would love to see again.
If they release a new 700 motor it will definitely be the XC retro 1997 XC700 and tie in to 70th anniversary.
Polaris has so many iconic top performing and top selling sleds to choose from in the 1990’s to pick when they made the top selling and best performing and most reliable sled around and most affordable sled as well.
All the best to Polaris to regain its past glory and success and surpass it in the future.
Noone is thinking of a XCR with Storm 800 -95 decales, or the -92 500 SP EFi?
Here is local preview of the weekend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbxpJdOit-0
IMO the 1997 Indy 700 motor sleds release will be the next two anniversary sleds.
The Teal Indy 700 SKS for mountain riders (was a snocheck release) and the XC 700 white hood with blue stripes and red XC 700 decals for the trail ditch riders which was a late release (Jan. 1997). This will be a 70th Anniversary platinum colour.
Perhaps in a 650 motor or would be great in a 7R model which if not released then will be in the 1-2 years as Ski-Doo and AC will be releasing their 700 this year or next year. Having a 7R released on the 70th anniversary would be smart and start the new 700 cc trend for the majority of the market which will be 500, 700 and 900 cc sleds.
Polaris missed they mark on the two retro sleds. 1997 Indy 700 SKS and XC 700 were big sellers and big deals, much more historic and better looking than what Polaris choose. Must have been designed by someone who has no snowmobile history in the 1990’s sleds, likley not even born then.
So really other than some retro graphics, paint and some snazzy handguards it’s just a regular Assault with an unnecessarily large engine. How close to thirty grand will these sleds get to this year?