The , a new three-wheeled sports-vehicle, lacks a few components necessary to be considered "a car." In most states you can register it as a motorcycle, slap on a helmet, and be on your way. Texas says "not so fast."

It seems to be coming down to the Texas Department Of Public Safety clinging to the definition of a motorcycle as something with "a saddle" as opposed to a car-style seat, which the Slingshot has. As such, the vehicle is no longer street legal in the Lone Star State.

According to this memo from Polaris HQ to dealers posted on , it would appear Texas had given the vehicle prior approval but had changed their mind.

Here's their update:

Sure sounds like the DMV folks down in TX are shining up their Fun Police badges. Without commenting on government regulation of vehicles too much, they really should have let Polaris know their new vehicle was illegal when asked the first time around. Unless of course Polaris didn't ask, and they're just spinning it that way to placate undoubtedly frustrated dealers.

I hope it gets resolved soon– the shape of a seat seems like an awful silly thing to get hung up on and I hate to see an interesting machine be barred from the road. Come on Texas, everybody else is doing it.

The Slingshot starts at $20,000, with an SL model with more amenities coming in at $24,000. The three-wheeler is powered by a 173 horsepower 2.4 EcoTec engine hooked up to a five-speed transmission and is meant to provide a .

The three-wheeled road-legal sports motor vehicle Polaris has been teasing for months is finally…

Hat tip to Nick and ! Image via Polaris.