Invoke a subclass method via Superclass reference variable.

Question

Hello,
I need to invoke 'subclass' methods from a superclass reference variable as each subclass has a different
methods and behaviour.
My query is
In the Main, when I invoke product.getProductType(),I get a reference back to the Product.
I need a reference to the subclass object so that I can invoke methods of that subclass.
How can I get the required subclass type and invoke methods specific to the subclass?
Is my design incorrect?
abstract class Product {
     public abstract Product getProductType();
class Bond extends Product{
     @Override
     public Bond getProductType(){
          return this;
     // Methods specific to Bond
     public String getBondIssuer(){
     public Long getBondFaceValue(){
class Option extends Product {
     @Override
     public Option getProductType(){
          return this;
     // Methods specific to Options
class Main {
     public static void main(String args[]){
          Product product = new Bond();
          product.getProductType();  // Here I  get get a reference back to Product.
                            // What I need is a reference to the subclass type (Bond) so that I can invoke Bond methods
}

Answer 1

If your client already knows it has a Bond it should just use that as a reference. If you have general handling functions or classes, you can make them generic so that even if you give them a Product they can return the specific sub class.
Simplest example:
Bond james = doSomethingWithAProduct(new Bond());
public <T extends Product> T doSomethingWithAProduct(T product) {
   return product;
}