Bobcat Press Event Launches Brand New Utility Vehicle Line
Red mud caked both machine and man at the Bobcat press event today in Atlanta. Behind the expansive Bobcat Atlanta dealership, right near the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, editors got behind the wheels and joysticks of skid steers, track loaders, excavators and utility vehicles, testing new machines for readers.
I’ll be covering all these new products over the next few days on The Machine Works blog, but today we’ll tackle what impressed me most — Bobcat’s utility vehicle (UTV). The company released its third generation of off-road work vehicles, an 18-month synergy with Polaris (the recreational off-road vehicle innovator). The launch included four new UTVs — the 3200, 3400, 3400XL and 3450 — and these hardnosed mini work trucks have a whole new look, new engines, new suspension and a bed full of new versatile options, a cross pollination of parts and engineering with Polaris.
Riding around a muddy homemade course behind the dealership, product managers detailed all the bells and whistles. From inspecting fence on a farm or acreage to hauling tools and people around a construction site, efficiency is key to a productive job, noted Bobcat. Every aspect of the new Bobcat utility vehicles has been designed to help customers get more work done in less time. Increased power, speed, payload capacity and uptime are all key features built into the all-new design. And like all Bobcat compact equipment, the utility vehicles are versatile jobsite machines that can reach areas where larger equipment can’t fit.
Several improvements have been made to the new Bobcat utility vehicles, including performance enhancements such as more responsive acceleration, better payload capacities and increased horsepower and top speeds and electronic fuel-injected gas 4×4 models that start easier and run more reliably in higher altitudes.
Increased payloads, acceleration and top speeds are the direct result of the new horsepower ratings in both the gas and diesel engines — ranging from 24.8 hp to 32 hp. This means customers can quickly haul tools, materials and people — up to six in the 3400XL with bench seating — across jobsites or other large areas such as athletic fields or farms. The quicker the tools and people get to the task at hand, the quicker the work is complete. Makes perfect sense.
Operators can easily flip a switch to select from one-wheel (Turf Mode), two-wheel or four-wheel drive on the Bobcat 4×4 models to best match the driving conditions. These features and others, such as easy-to-see instrumentation, a single-latch tailgate and easy-to-clean cargo box, make Bobcat utility vehicles intuitive to use. Driving around the course, the speed, suspension and easy of use made
To meet jobsite needs, the 3450 model can use up to five front-mounted attachments with the exclusive RapidLink attachment mounting system. Choose from a bucket, pallet fork, mower, snow blade or Whisker push broom to do anything from clearing sidewalks of snow and debris to moving dirt or palleted materials. Maximum lift height is 2 ft and rated operating capacity is 500 lbs.
Other options are available to match the utility vehicle to specific task-related demands, such as an optional brush guard, powered cargo box lift, strobe lights, turn signals and backup alarms. The integrated accessory system is designed into the cargo box allows a number of accessories to quickly and easily be mounted to the vehicle. The accessories include a tool holder, cargo box divider, cargo box wall extensions, as well as a number of other task-related accessories. Hunting enthusiasts can choose a limited edition package, including a brush guard, powered cargo box lift, black rims, green color scheme and gun scabbard mount with dual gun boots. Just remember, no guns on the jobsite.
