Polaris has introduced a new type of continuously variable transmission that uses electronically regulated air pressure to change how its drive clutch behaves.
Called the NUMATIX Controlled CVT, the system will make its production debut in selected versions of the 2027 Polaris XPEDITION. Polaris describes it as the powersports industry’s first pneumatic CVT and says it can make cruising substantially quieter without removing the low-speed control and strong response expected from a side-by-side.
Air pressure takes control of the clutch
A conventional powersports CVT uses a belt running between variable-diameter pulleys. Its response is largely governed by mechanical components such as weights and springs, which alter the effective gear ratio as engine speed and load change.
NUMATIX retains a belt-driven CVT, but replaces the conventionally regulated drive clutch with one controlled by air pressure. A dedicated transmission controller monitors driver inputs, terrain and vehicle behavior, then changes clutch pressure as often as 200 times per second.
Polaris says this allows the transmission to adjust belt grip, clutch engagement and engine speed for the situation. In low range, for example, the system is intended to preserve torque and precise control without running the engine faster than necessary.
The vehicle is not powered by compressed air. Its gasoline engine still produces the power; pneumatics give the electronic controls another way to manage how that power reaches the wheels.
Three drive modes and lower cruising noise
Drivers can select Comfort, Standard or Sport modes. These settings coordinate transmission behavior with throttle response and engine speed, allowing the XPEDITION to favor smoother cruising, balanced everyday operation or more immediate response.
Polaris claims NUMATIX can make the cabin feel up to 40% quieter by reducing engine speed while cruising. That figure needs some context: the company’s footnote describes it as a perceived-noise reduction measured at 35 mph (56 km/h) against previous models. It is a manufacturer result rather than an independently verified comparison, and it should not be interpreted as a 40% reduction under every driving condition.
Even so, lower engine speed could be useful in the XPEDITION, which is designed for longer off-road journeys and is available with an enclosed, climate-controlled NorthStar cabin.
The compressor can also inflate tires
The pneumatic hardware performs a second job. NUMATIX includes an onboard air system with an external auxiliary port, allowing owners to inflate tires, clear dust or debris from equipment and operate compatible air-powered accessories.
Polaris is offering a 25-foot (7.6-m) air hose and a portable four-gallon (15-liter) pressurized water tank among the associated accessories. That turns equipment already required for transmission control into a practical trail-side air supply.
Engine, pricing and availability
The 2027 XPEDITION retains Polaris’s 999-cc ProStar 1000 four-stroke, twin-cylinder gasoline engine, rated at 114 hp. NUMATIX is offered on two- and five-seat NorthStar models.
In the United States, the 2027 XPEDITION XP starts at $40,499 before a listed $1,895 destination charge, while the fully enclosed ADV line starts at $41,499. Polaris announced that shipments to dealers had begun in August 2026.
NUMATIX does not replace the familiar belt CVT so much as give it much more active control. Its real test will come in customer use, where noise, belt life, reliability and service requirements can be compared with conventional systems. For now, it is an interesting attempt to make a proven off-road transmission more adaptable—and to put its compressor to work when the vehicle is stopped.
Sources: Polaris NUMATIX technical overview, 2027 Polaris XPEDITION XP
