Stealth To Unveil New Electric Vehicle At ATA Show

Stealth-4x4-Utility-Vehicle

Stealth 4x4 Utility Vehicle

Stealth Utility Vehicle will be using the Archery Trade Association show this January 6-8 in Indianapolis to introduce their latest electric utility vehicle, the Stealth 4×4.  in 2010 Stealth introduced a 64 volt model of their hunting UTV.  Learn more:  Ammoland.com

Garia LSV In NYC

Garia LSV In NYC

Street legal Garia on the streets of New York City

Garia recently premiered the street legal version of their luxury golf car in New York City.  Pictures and videos show the vehicle as it makes its way from Columbus Circle through Times Square into downtown Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn.  The press release follows below.  Learn more:  Garia.com

World Premiere: Luxury Golf Cart Goes Street Legal

With the street legal version of The Garia you can take luxury and comfort straight from the green to the street.

Built at the same factory as the Porsche Boxster and Cayman and with luxury features such as a super-car inspired steering wheel, a built-in refrigerator and hand-stitched seats, The Garia is the ultimate machine in its class.

Now, The Garia LSV*, a street legal version of The Garia, lets you drive directly from the golf course to the streets. Fitted with street legal safety equipment such as seatbelts, side mirrors and reflectors, The Garia LSV will take you straight from your home to the golf course, tennis club, grocery store or your favorite cafe.

With a 25 mph top speed, The Garia LSV features a double wishbone front suspension, automotive style shocks and springs and a unique digital instrument cluster with all relevant driver information.

Superb handling and stability, extra storage space and a comfortable car-like driving position simply makes The Garia LSV ideal for your short, daily commutes.

The Garia LSV features a drive train built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes, and its components are made by the same company that supplies Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Volvo.

With automotive features unseen in the golf cart industry The Garia LSV has – as the first golf cart ever – entered the automotive league and earned its right to be called a car as opposed to a cart.

For videos of The Garia LSV in the perfect city scene, New York City, please visit www.garia.com

Kawasaki Mule History

I came across a posting last week that provided some history about the Kawasaki Mule product line.  The name Mule is an acronym for multi-use lightweight equipment vehicle.  The first model grew out of a need identified in the farm and ranch market segment.  Of course, the versatility of the Mule and other UTVs now satisfy the needs of customers in a whole range of market segments.

I thought it would be illuminating to highlight some of the key vehicle changes as the Mule models progressed to shed some light on how the work segment of the UTV market developed.  Over time features, models and new model lines are added to address new segments and specific application needs.  In the later years the influences of automotive styling, comfort and performance features are evident.

1989

  • Selectable 2WD and 4WD and larger engine

1990

  • Turf segment features – Dual-mode differential to maximize traction or minimize ground disturbance and turf-type tires

1991

  • Industrial segment features – flatbed, hard-surface tires, fuel and electrical systems for industrial standards
  • Personal use segment – compact in size and could fit into pickup truck

1992

  • Heady duty segment – larger engine, 4WD, more hauling capacity, tilt bed and self-adjusting hydraulic brakes
  • Heavy duty turf segment – larger engine with noise dampening features and turf tires

1993

  • 2WD fully automatic version

1996

  • New compact model with better suspension and ride qualities and  fan-cooled engine with internal engine balancer

1999

  • Compact model with turf features like turf tires and dual mode differential
  • Diesel model added for heavy duty work in agriculture, mining and other segments already using diesel fuel at work sites

2000

  • Continuously variable transmission, ergonomic features, automotive design features and pickup truck styling signal a move towards comfort features

2003

  • Diesel version added with beefed up components for heavy duty work
  • First camouflage design targets the hunting segment

2005

  • New compact models target work and recreation segments and feature more power and better acceleration.  Once again styling is emphasized, automotive features are added and luxury features such as cup holders and passenger side glove box .

2006

  • Transformable model debuts that allows user to switch between two or four passenger configuration and exemplifies the flexibility of utility vehicles to meet a wide range of usage applications. A diesel version is added as well.

2008

  • Some models see electronic power steering added

2009

  • New model line focuses on the heavy duty industrial segment – digital fuel injection and related features improve engine performance.
  • Usability is also emphasized through improved placement of controls, better instrumentation, features to facilitate maintenance and other small convenience features that speak of automotive and pickup design influences.
  • Truck-like body styling is emphasized.

2010

  • New compact Mule model features larger off-road tires, larger wheels, skid plates and suspension changes to facilitate aggressive off-road use.  Sportiness is added with graphics, sport steering wheel and new seating.

Learn more:  SxSNews.com

Low Speed Vehicle News

DOT Proposes Rear Visibility Rule – The US Department of Transportation recently proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that can hide the presence of pedestrians.  Issued by NHTSA, the new regulation would apply to all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 10,000 pounds.  NHTSA believes manufacturers will install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards. Learn more:  DOT.gov

US Navy LSV Sales – According to information from the US Navy, to date they have replaced 900 non-tactical vehicles in their fleet with low-speed vehicles.  The purchases are part of their overall alternative fuel vehicle program to convert a large portion of their non-tactical fleet of vehicles, which numbers over 46,000, to various alternative fuels.  Learn more:  Greenfleet.dodlive.mil

Cruise Car To Exhibit LSVs At World Energy Engineering Congress – This week Crusie Car will be exhibiting their All American Solar Electric LSV at the World Energy Engineering Congress being held in Washington DC.  Learn more:  Benzinga.com

Multi-passenger UTVs

UTVguide.net recently published an overview of some of the UTVs on the market that seat four to six people.  The multi-passenger UTV has been a recent trend in the market as the need has been identified to carry more workers, fellow hunters or recreational riders while using these vehicles.  This trend parallels what years ago occurred in the full-size pickup market when crew cabs were added, which is not surprising since in many instances UTVs are replacing full-size pickups.  Similar to some pickup trucks, some UTVs feature flexibility that allows the user to choose between more seating or more cargo space.

The multi-passenger trend is indicative of two larger trends in the UTV market as it continues to mature:  the adoption of more vehicle features that are prevalent in the automotive market and the continuing segmentation of the UTV market as product lines are built out to meet more specific sets of user needs.  These trends are one reason the UTV market will continue to grow.  As the UTV market butts up against the pickup market, the increased functionality and flexibility of UTVs will allow them to steal some slices of market share from pickup trucks while in some instances the pickup truck has moved in the opposite direction towards the creature comforts of passenger cars.   Learn more:  UTVGuide.net

Nissan Planning A Small Urban Vehicle

Nissan New Mobility Concept

Nissan New Mobility Concept

Nissan recently announced that they are planning on introducing three additional electric vehicles besides the Leaf in the next three years.  One will be a small urban vehicle, referred to as the New Mobility Concept.  It is not known at this time what the performance parameters of the vehicle will be.  While the New Mobility Concept looks very much like a low speed vehicle, Nissan could design the vehicle to have a higher top speed than currently allowed for LSVs.  According to Nissan the vehicle could be the ideal last mile transportation solution for commuters connecting to public transit or for residents of planned communities.

Nissan’s entry into the LSV market would be an important event in the market since major auto manufacturers have not been active in the market, except for Chrysler which has operated under the GEM not Chrysler brand.  Earlier forays into the previously labeled NEV  market by the majors was essentially only to meet California ZEV mandates.  Nissan’s move appears to be part of a strategic plan to develop a robust electric vehicle product line.  Their market entry could also create more demand for NHTSA to develop a medium speed vehicle classification.  Learn more:  Reviews.cnet.com