What does everyone think about this...
Polaris got bored and threw the newer Pro-Star 570 engine in the older design Sportsman 500 frame (value model) and now has approximately 2 more h.p. than the 550. This makes absolutely no sense to me. I don't see why they would take out their best selling ATV of all time throw in a SxS engine. The only thing I think they could be doing is maybe starting to replace the older 800 engines and leaving the 400 to fill in the gap... at least in the ATV's. It is $300 more than this years Sportsman 500 at $6,499 (U.S.)
Here the specs-


Engine

• Engine Type
  
  4-Stroke DOHC Single Cylinder
• Displacement
  
  567cc
• Fuel System
  
  Electronic Fuel Injection
• Cooling
  
  Liquid

Drivetrain

• Transmission/Final Drive
  
  Automatic PVT P/R/N/L/H; Shaft
• Drive System
  
  On-Demand True AWD/2WD

Suspension

• Front Suspension
  
  MacPherson Strut With 8.2" (20.8 cm) Travel
• Rear Suspension
  
  Dual A-Arm, IRS 9.5" (24.1 cm) Travel

Brakes

• Front/Rear Brakes
  
  Single Lever 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc with Hydraulic Rear Foot Brake
• Parking Brake
  
  Park in Transmission/Lockable Hand Lever

Tires / Wheels

• Front Tires
  
  25 x 8-12; 489
• Rear Tires
  
  25 x 10-12; 489
• Wheels
  
  Stamped Steel

Dimensions / Capacities

• Wheelbase
  
  50.5" (128.3 cm)
• Dry Weight
  
  702 lb (318 kg)
• Overall Vehicle Size (L x W x H)
  
  83 x 48 x 48" (210.8 x 121.9 x 121.9 cm)
• Ground Clearance
  
  11" (27.9 cm)
• Seat Height
  
  33.75" (85.7 cm)
• Fuel Capacity
  
  4.5 gal (17 L)
• Front/Rear Rack
  
  90 lb(40.8 kg)/180 lb(81.6 kg)
• Payload Capacity
  
  485 lb.(w/ 180 lb. person) / (220 kg w/81.6kg person)
• Hitch Towing Rating
  
  1,225 lb (555.7 kg)
• Unbraked Trailer Towing Capacity
  
  1,786 lb (810.1 kg)
• Hitch/Type
  
  Standard/1.25" Receiver

 

Spectacular!!!!

 

Whats strange is the budget Sportsman get the new higher tech 570 "DOHC" but the higher end XP retains the "SOHC" 550.

I think they dropped the 500 Sportsman because it was so close to the 400H.O (455).

I would gladly pay a extra $300 to move from the Fuji 36hp SOHC 500 to a 42hp DOHC 570.
You do not get that much performance increase for $300 anywhere.

Does Fuji also make the new 570?

Next year you will see a 570XP I would bet.

 

I bet the smaller XP goes away totally. Seems most opt for the 850 anyway. The Balue models are more reliable machine.

 

I would opt for the Sportsman 800 twin over the XP550 single and have $$ left for nice tires. 2013 Polaris Sportsman® 800 EFI ATVs

The XP 550 is pricey for a mid-bore ATV.
I can,t imaging paying more for a XP550 and watching the much less expensive 570 and less expensive 800 Sportsmans leaving me in the dust.

 

My thought is they are phasing out the 500 in favor of the 570 and that you'll probably see the 570 replacing the 550 in the future. My guess is the Value Line will keep the McPherson struts and older suspension while the XP line will keep the nicer suspension. I try not to figure Polaris out too much. They do like confusing things.

Out of curiosity, what kind of HP numbers does the older 800 cc have?

 

Kinda what I've been thinking too about Polaris. If I remember correctly the newer 800 stock is 54 hp or so. The first ones in 2005 showed to be a tad over 50 I think.

 

I thought it was very strange to make a Sportsman 455 and a 500 . except for a difference of 43cc and a 34mm carb vs a 40mm they are the exact same ATV.
What was the point of having two ATVs so similar competing with each other?
One of the two had to go. 2013 Polaris Sportsman® 500 H.O. ATVs

 

That was my thought too. They were way too similar.

 

No, the 570 is the Polaris built Prostar engine. I heard a rumor Polaris is working to get away from the Fuji built engines. Makes sense that this would be the first step in that direction. I think it will be a great machine, with power steering available as an $800 option. That is the same price as an aftermarket PS unit that you would have to install yourself, and not be covered under the atv's warranty.