Category Archives: Pricing info

Yamaha’s Wolverine R-Spec UTV Shipping To Dealers

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The new Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec UTV hitting dealer showrooms this month.

The new Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec UTV hitting dealer showrooms this month.

Yamaha’s new UTV, the Wolverine R-Spec, is coming off the production line in Georgia and will be available at dealers this month. The Wolverine R-Spec is targeting hunters and off-road recreation users. Key features of the vehicle include:

  • 708cc EFI engine
  • 2WD, 4WD, locked 4WD Drive Train
  • Yamaha Ultramatic V-Belt transmission with all-wheel engine braking
  • 26″ tires and steel wheels
  • Hydraulic disc brakes
  • Independent double wishbone suspension front and rear with 9.7″ and 10.6″ of travel respectively
  • Ultra-long-stroke KYB nitrogen gas charged piggyback shocks
  • 11.4″ of ground clearance
  • 300 lb. cargo bed capacity
  • 1,500 lb. towing capacity
  • Sun hard top
  • Electronic power steering (EPS) versions

The models are currently available in Hunter Green and Steel Blue with a RealTree Xtra Camo version available in May/June. MSRP for non-EPS models starts at $12,199 and for EPS models starts at $13,199. Learn more:  Powersportsbusiness.com

Comment:  After several years of minimal UTV product development Yamaha has come back in a big way the last few years. First with their Viking lineup of UTVs targeting work and crossover recreation use in the 2014 model year and further expanded for model year 2015, and now with the new Wolverine series targeting purely recreational use. I would expect Yamaha to expand the Wolverine lineup with a 4-person version and more sportier models. Although the latter might be handled by another product line launch specifically targeting high performance/sport recreational use.

Cub Cadet Expands UTV Lineup With Challenger Series

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A new UTV from Cub Cadet's new Challenger series.

A new UTV from Cub Cadet’s new Challenger series.

Cub Cadet is expanding their utility vehicle lineup with a pair of new models, the Challenger 500 and Challenger 700, which launch their new Challenger series of UTVs. The 500 is powered by a 471cc EFI engine and the 700 by a 686cc EFI engine. Other key features for both models include:

  • 350 lb. cargo box capacity
  • 1,200 lb. towing capacity
  • Four-wheel drive with a front locking differential
  • Four-wheel independent, adjustable suspension
  • Four-wheel disc brakes
  • Large-capacity, mid-mount air intake
  • Hard-top roof
  • Quick-release windshield
  • Alloy wheels
  • Front-mount winch
  • 26-inch off-road tires
  • Digital display
  • 2 person capacity

The specs for the Challenger 700 show a top speed of 45 mph and 11″ of ground clearance. Similar specs are not available on the Cub Cadet website for the 500. The MSRPs for the Challenger 500 and 7000 are $8,499.99 and $9,499.99 respectively. Both models will be at Cub Cadet dealers in May and are available in yellow or camo. A four person version will be available later in the summer. Learn more:  agriculture.com

Comment:  This launch is another sign of the intense competition in the UTV market. Not only are more well known powersports brands launching new vehicles and new product lines but smaller volume brands as well. If they want to stay relevant in the market they must, given the fast pace of product development and innovation for UTVs. With the nice set of desirable features and price points, these vehicles are clearly targeting the value segment of the market. Kymco and CFMoto have found some success in this price range, which is several thousand dollars less than many offerings from more well known UTV brands. Being an American brand with some history may give Cub Cadet an edge against the foreign competitors in this space.

What’s Cooking on the STOV: Beach Bugz LSV Rentals

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Highlighting some of the many applications for small, task-oriented vehicles

Beach Bugz co-owners Adam Benigni, left, and Jimmy Stephenson have opened a street-legal golf cart rental business, along with partner Adam Smith, not pictured. Photo Credit: David Albers

Beach Bugz co-owners Adam Benigni, left, and Jimmy Stephenson have opened a LSV rental business, along with partner Adam Smith, not pictured. Photo Credit: David Albers

Beach Bugz Offers LSVs for Rent – Beach Bugz, a company based in Naples, FL, started renting LSVs last October for daily, weekend or weekly use at rates of $100, $275 or $475 respectively. Beach Bugz currently has a fleet of 23, six-seat E-Z-GO vehicles that meet LSV regulations and conveniently come with a free beach parking sticker. The company was started by Adam Benigni, Adam Smith and Jimmy Stephenson and they have plans to expand their fleet to between 50 and 100 vehicles to cover from Naples to Marco Island as well as looking to other counties and to hotel rentals. They hope to upgrade the vehicles as well with GPS navigation and bluetooth enabled speakers so customers can stream music over their smartphones. Some businesses in the area offer dedicated parking spots for electric vehicles or LSVs and the City Council is examining ways to encourage LSV use. The rentals have been popular when customers had friends and relatives visiting for Thanksgiving or children coming down for Spring Break. Learn more:  Naplenews.com

Comment:  A nice niche fleet market is developing for LSVs. In addition to this type of rental company, there have been a number of LSV taxi fleets that have been started in different cities around the country. While they often face some local regulatory issues, in general, they appear to be making some headway.

XY Powersports Introduces Vaterra 1100

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The Vaterra 1100L, the four person versio of the new Vaterra side-by-side by XY Powersports.

The Vaterra 1100L, the four person versio of the new Vaterra side-by-side by XY Powersports.

XY Powersports, an Ohio based distributor, recently introduced their new Vaterra 1100 side-by-side. The new side-by-side is powered by an electronic fuel injected 1100cc engine that produces 71.5 horsepower and 67 pounds of torque at 4000 RPM. The Vaterra is offered in a two or four person version. Other key features include:

  • Rear-wheel driveshaft
  • Switchable to 2-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive with a differential lock
  • Automatic CVT
  • Power steering
  • Liquid twin-fan cooling system
  • DOHC 16 valves
  • Electronic e-brake
  • Hydraulic assist bed with mounted rails on both sides
  • Protective overfenders
  • Alloy wheels
  • Half doors
  • Plastic canopy
  • 3000 lbs. winch
  • 3500 lbs. hitch ball
  • Sealed under-seat storage

The two seat Vaterra 1100 EFI is priced at $12,599 and the four seat Vaterra 1100L EFI is priced at $13,999. Learn more:  XYOutdoors.com

Comment:  The XY Powersports products are value priced. The name brand manufacturers have been able to raise prices on their vehicles for a number of years without hurting sales. The demand for vehicles has been increasing and the features and capabilities of the vehicles has increased as well, so customers have been willing to pay the price. However, rising price points have provided some room in the market for value priced brands such as Kymco, XY Powersports and others to find some success. The challenge for these value oriented companies is to maintain a steady stream of new models that provide value through a combination of price and features in comparison to name brand vehicles.

Ecocruise Set To Enter NEV Market

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The new Cruser Sport NEV from Ecocruise will be launched in January 2015.

The new Cruser Sport NEV from Ecocruise will be launched in January 2015.

Ecocruise based in Washington is set to enter the NEV market in January 2015 when they start shipping their Ecocruise Cruser Sport. The decidedly sporty model features a carbon fibre body over exposed tubular steel,  exposed suspension and 14in aluminum wheels along with a covered rear hatch and T-tops. While built for the road, the design evokes off-road vehicles and reflects the off-road motorsports experience of company founder Steve Leighty who spent many years designing and building dirt bikes and ATVs.

The Cruser Sport features a ​Lifepo4 72v 62AH battery, 5kW brushless DC motor, 4-wheel disc brakes, dual A-arm front suspension and swing arm rear suspension. Other amenities include AM/FM radio, bucket seats and LCD instrument display. The Cruser Sport will retail for $8,500 to $11,900 depending on the battery and motor options.

Management expects their model lineup to be expanded shortly after the Cruser Sport launch with a one-seater EZIP-4 for around $3,800. In addition a line of service and utility vehicles, including electric scooters, will follow as well as a golf version of the Cruser Sport.  Learn more:  BBC.com

Comment:  The Cruser Sport definitely has a different look than most of the NEVs on the market. While the consumer NEV market has grown, it has not been an explosive growth rate and in many areas has been eclipsed by commercial demand from institutions such as schools and parks looking for green and safe transportation alternatives. The consumer NEV market has been undercut, in part, by local regulations allowing expanded use of lower cost golf cars on public roads. In areas  requiring compliance with NEV-type safety regulations NEVs have had more success. The design of the Cruser Sport may help it garner more sales than the typical NEV.

Pricing For Green Tech Automotive LSVs

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The G2 sedan a LSV from Green Tech Automotive

The G2 sedan a LSV from Green Tech Automotive

Green Tech Automotive recently announced pricing for their MyCar and G2 sedan with the MyCar starting at $17,140 and the G2 sedan at $21,250. Green Tech Automotive is projecting to build 30,000 vehicles annually, down from earlier projections of 250,000 several years ago. Learn more:  Torquenews.com

Comment:  As the article notes, these price points are pretty high. They will be double or close to double the price of some of the other LSVs on the market. In addition these vehicles appear to be targeting the personal transportation segment of the LSV market. This is not the majority or the fastest growing portion of the LSV market. The biggest market for LSVs in recent years has been commercial/institutional uses such federal, state and local governments, colleges and universities and parks departments. As Polaris has found out with GEM this is a slower sales process than the consumer end of the market. The current LSV market does not have the demand to meet production volume of 30,000 vehicles annually. I would be surprised if Green Tech Automotive can even reach 10% of their target.

Arctic Cat Recalls 5,600 Wildcat Trail and Wildcat Trail XT Side by Side

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The Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail XT in Mat Black being recalled.

The Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail XT in Mat Black being recalled.

WildcatTrail_Lime_2014 LARGE

The Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail in Lime Green being recalled.

Last week Arctic Cat announced the recall of approximately 5,600 Wildcat Trail and Wildcat Trail XT side by sides because of a potential fire hazard related to leakage from oil cooler lines.  Arctic Cat has received 60 reports of oil leaking and one report of fire but no injuries have been reported.

The recall involves all 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail and Wildcat Trail XT side-by-side utility vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) 000001 through 316232. The VIN is located on the frame tube near the driver’s side front wheel. These units were sold in red, green, lime green, team arctic green and mat black. The words “Arctic Cat” and “Wildcat Trail” appear on the sides of these vehicles and on the hood.

Consumers should stop using the recalled side-by-sides and contact an Arctic Cat dealer to schedule a free repair. The vehicles were sold nationwide from December 2013 through July 2014 for about $11,400 to $12,400. Learn more:  CPSC.gov

Comment:  This UTV recall is a little larger than the usual UTV recalls we see which often involve up to 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles. The Wildcat Trail UTVs are more narrow than typical UTVs to access trails that in the past were only accessible by ATVs. Earlier this year Arctic Cat recalled some Prowler 500 HDX vehicles but had not recalled any UTVs for several years before then.

 

EV-Fleet Begins Selling Electric Truck

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The Condor electric truck from EV-Fleet

The Condor electric truck from EV-Fleet

EV-Fleet of North Carolina has started selling a pick-up sized electric truck, called the Condor which features a robust 5 speed transmission, a carrying capacity of 1000 lbs, and multiple configurations for the rear cargo area. The vehicle has a range of more than 100 miles when equipped with a 50 kWh battery and can be recharged in under an hour when using a 90 amp DC charger. The programmable powertrain has a top speed of 85 mph. The Condor’s MSRP is $49,995. Learn more:  EV-Fleet.com

Comment:  The Condor is more of a full-sized highway speed vehicle but I thought it was worth a mention since it could appeal to certain segments of the STOV market such as universities and parks. There has been a trend in this market to replace gas-powered pickup trucks with STOVs, often electric but sometimes gas. The trend is being driven by both green and sustainability initiatives as well as cost-savings and work efficiency. An electric truck such as this might provide some competition to STOVs in certain circumstances. There is obviously a green element to the truck but it would have trouble matching STOV performance for off-road use as well as access to tight spaces. On the other hand, a sprawling campus or one with satellite locations might be a good fit for this vehicle by cutting down on travel time. The other issue of course is price, at almost $50,000 multiple STOV vehicles and even highway capable pick-up trucks could be purchased instead of one Condor.

ePower Trucks Sells First Ligier Flex L3 Low Speed Electric Truck In UK

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Flex L3 All Electric Truck

Flex L3 All Electric Truck

Earlier this year ePower Trucks became distributor for French manufactured Ligier Flex L3 all electric trucks and they have now announced that Newcastle University’s EAT@NEWCASTLE catering service has purchased the first such vehicle. The Flex L3 is a street legal low speed electric vehicle with a top speed of 25 mph, range of 35 miles and payload capacity of 400 kg. The truck costs approximately 22,500 USD.

The catering service will use the vehicle to deliver hot and cold food and beverages to various venues on campus. For their purposes the Flex L3 has a box body but the vehicle can also be configured with a flat bed, cage or tipper. The electric drive train is powered by a lead-acid gel battery pack which can be recharged in 8 to 10 hours. Learn more:  EVworld.com

John Deere Offers Two New Special Edition Gators

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John Deere recently announced two new special edition Gators, the Midnight Black XUV825i and Midnight Black RSX850i. Appealing to customers who are looking for additional styling, the UTVs feature a matte black paint scheme with gray decals.

Key features of the  XUV825i Midnight Black Special Edition include:

  • Matte black paint scheme with charcoal gray decals
  • Sport steering wheel
  • Power steering
  • High performance exhaust
  • Long-range light kit
  • Poly half doors
  • Matte black alloy rims and Maxxis® 2.0 Bighorn tires
  • Deluxe cargo box with spray-on liner
  • Optional power and front protection package with power lift, a heavy-duty front brushguard and fender guard, as well as floor mats

Key features of the RSX850i Midnight Black Special Edition include:

  • Matte black paint scheme with charcoal gray decals
  • Black and silver alloy rims with Maxxis® 2.0 Bighorn tires
  • Trail-sport package with a special edition door closeout panel with Gator image, PreRunner bumper, and a Warn® 3,500 lb. winch
  • Full underbody aluminum skid plate
  • Mounted HELLA® HID Sport lights
  • FOX® 2.0 Performance Series shocks
  • 2-inch front receiver hitch
  • Side nerf bars
  • Cargo box rails.

The MSRP for both special edition UTVs is $15,999. Both vehicles are currently available in limited quantities at John Deere dealerships. Learn more:  Deere.com

Comment:  With MSRPs $3,000 more than their respective base models, these special edition Gators are at an entirely different price point. They are designed to appeal to the real Gator enthusiast who is looking to make a personal statement with their vehicle. It is also a way for John Deere to tap into the popularity of different paint and graphic schemes that have become more prevalent in the UTV market, especially at higher price points. While the iconic green and yellow John Deere paint scheme is an important part of the brand image, the company needs to be able to break away from that standard paint scheme to remain competitive and take advantage of consumer demand for different paint/graphics schemes. Rolling out special edition vehicles is one way to address this demand.