Automotive ATV

plus 1, Detroit Automotive Dealerships Learn From Kawasaki ATV ... - PRLog (free press release)

2010-04-02T15:21:00.001-07:00

plus 1, Detroit Automotive Dealerships Learn From Kawasaki ATV ... - PRLog (free press release)

Detroit Automotive Dealerships Learn From Kawasaki ATV ... - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 08:17 PM PDT

PR Log (Press Release) – Apr 01, 2010 – We are in the middle of a media war. To be more polite we are in the middle of changing times. Many companies are learning how to cope in a post dot com world. This includes embracing Web 2.0 tools like Facebook and Twitter and for many Metro Detroit businesses that is more than enough. But this is where many new online marketers are missing the boat.

Metro Detroit auto dealerships have it tough. In a recent assessment from online marketer Ted Cantu and Hot Metro Finds it has been concluded that many of today's auto dealerships are not equipped for online visibility. Cantu rounded up 40 auto dealer sites to see how they stacked up on Google, Bing and Yahoo and came up with some depressing results.

"The problem is that many of these sites are not visible. Sites get graded from 0 – 100% and most fall around 28% if they rank at all. Many of these sites are loaded up with flash and java script and that's a recipe for disaster. So a lot of these sites rely on pay per click advertising or blowing a fortune on newspaper advertisements week after week." Says Cantu. "Fix your web sites so that people can find them -- that should be step one. Step two is build a traffic funnel so people can find you. Not bots, not web spiders or "hits" but actual people who want to buy your cars."

Cantu and Co. did a bang up job recently on a Kawasaki dealership in Fremont, Michigan. This company went from nowhere to page 1 on Google in a matter of weeks beating out 15 million competitors. Kawsasaki atv parts and motorcycles are a highly competitive market. Powers Motor Sports have followed Cantu's advice and have had their web sites placed on page 1 of popular search engines without paying any pay per click.

"We get a dealers that come to us and confess that they are spending oodles of money online for advertising. Our experience shows us that many of S.E. Michigan businesses do not want to spend any money on pay per click. I wouldn't classify them as cheap necessarily but I would give them credit for being intelligent consumers. They know that there are other ways to get the word out." Says Cantu.

Automotive dealerships and motorsports is not the only place where Cantu is known on the web. At current count Ted Cantu is known on over 50 industries including everything from medical, beauty products, import companies, business coaches, legal, restaurants, stock market, telecommunications and more.

"The difference is understanding the web from the inside out. You need to respect the fact that there are many moving parts to making a campaign work properly. We have the system to make any business successful and that's what sets us apart."

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American Suzuki March 2010 Sales: Up 63 Percent over ... - Earthtimes

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 11:20 AM PDT

BREA, Calif. - (Business Wire) American Suzuki:

	MARCH				CYTD
	2010	2009	MTD VS.		2010	2009	YTD VS.
			MTD PRIOR YR.				YTD PRIOR YR.
GRAND VITARA:	396	1,051	-62	%	1,222	2,261	-46	%
EQUATOR:	143	44	225	%	261	116	125	%
SX4:	1,245	4,794	-74	%	3,160	7,317	-57	%
KIZASHI	397	0	0	%	813	0	0	%
XL7:	64	1,045	-94	%	197	2,648	-93	%
FORENZA/RENO:	1	1,046	-100	%	8	2,782	-100	%
TOTAL:	2,246	7,981	-72	%	5,661	15,131	-63	%

2010 Suzuki Auto Product Line

Suzuki Auto's versatile line of vehicles includes the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack hot-hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equator pickup truck and performance-oriented Kizashi. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki's standout virtues of durability, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2010 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.

About Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 350 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzuki.com.

American Suzuki
Jeff Holland, 714-996-7040 ext. 2464
jeff.holland@suz.com

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plus 1, New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show ... - autoblog

2010-04-01T15:30:00.001-07:00

plus 1, New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show ... - autoblog

New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show ... - autoblog

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 06:52 PM PDT

SUZUKI DEBUTS 2011 KIZASHI SPORT AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

* Suzuki enhances Kizashi lineup with world introduction of 'Sport' version.
* 2011 Kizashi Sport adds even more flash and class to content-packed Suzuki sport sedan.
* Competition in sporty hatch segment heats up with 2010 SX4 SportBack.
* Suzuki's New York International Auto Show exhibit (First Floor 311).

NEW YORK (March 30, 2010) - American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) arrives in Manhattan - a city known for and populated by its many imports - for the global introduction of its 2011 Kizashi Sport at this year's New York International Auto Show. Offered exclusively on Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels, Suzuki's new 'Sport' variant of its sleek and sophisticated sport sedan is scheduled to go on sale in the United States this August. Pricing for the all-new 2011 Kizashi Sport will be announced closer to the vehicle's arrival in dealer showrooms.

"We've been thrilled with an enthusiastic reaction to the 2010 Kizashi, and we look forward to offering sport sedan buyers the newest iteration of our stylish sport sedan later this year," said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "The Kizashi Sport provides us with an opportunity to build on the sport sedan's short-term accomplishments and further engage driving enthusiasts looking for an affordable alternative to luxury performance vehicles."

Based on the recently introduced 2010 Kizashi (pronounced "Kee-Zah-Shee"), already acclaimed for its near-luxury content and Euro-tuned platform, the 2011 Kizashi Sport moves the excitement meter upward with a host of external mods. These include a more muscular front fascia (with chrome accents) and lower grille, body side sill extensions, lower body side molding with chrome accents, a trunk mounted spoiler, custom light weight 18-inch alloy wheels and a 10mm lower ride height for a combination of better aerodynamics and a lower center of gravity for enhanced grip and sharper handling.

Inside, the new Kizashi gets a distinctive designed sport steering wheel with perforated leather grip and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, shifter boot and emergency brake boot (when equipped with black leather interior). Interior upgrades speak to the Kizashi's sporting intent, with form-fitting sport seats and driver-centric cockpit.
2010 Kizashi

The 2010 Kizashi is available in four trim levels, ranging from the well-equipped entry-level Kizashi S priced between $18,999 for FWD and $21,899 for AWD, to the luxuriously appointed SLS model ranging from $24,499 for FWD M/T to $26,899 for AWD Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Prices do not include the $735 destination and handling charge.
2010 SX4 SportBack

In addition, Suzuki will showcase America's most affordable "Hot Hatch", the all-new 2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack. Sharing its base configuration with the all-wheel-drive SX4 Crossover, the SX4 SportBack offers an all-new 2.0-liter engine delivering 150 horsepower with its standard six-speed manual transmission. For those with a preference for action with less interaction, a performance-tuned CVT (with paddle shifters) is optional. Suzuki's new hot hatch also features an aero package, larger rear, fog lamps, spoiler, lower ride package (when compared to the SX4 Crossover) with KYB performance shocks, keyless start, stability control, all-new instrument cluster and a class-exclusive standard navigation system.
2010 Suzuki Auto Product Line

Suzuki Auto's versatile line of vehicles includes the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equator pickup truck and all-new 2010 Kizashi and SX4 SportBack. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki's standout virtues of durability, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2010 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.
About Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corp. (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 350 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzuki.com. Suzuki can also be found on Twitter (@SuzukiAuto), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/SuzukiAutomotive).

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Koronis Parts Releases LED Light Bar - ATV Rider Magazine

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 10:24 AM PDT

- 50,000 hour life span
- OEM Style Loom with Switch Included
- Low Amp Draw
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Dust and water tight
- Rugged Aluminum Extruded body
- 15 Degrees of Adjustment
- Comes with flat mounts
- Tubular Mount Sold separately
- Unbreakable Polycarbonate Lens Cover
- 3 Watt LED's provide 180 Lumens each

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plus 2, Koronis Parts Releases LED Light Bar - ATV Rider Magazine

2010-03-31T15:16:00.001-07:00

plus 2, Koronis Parts Releases LED Light Bar - ATV Rider Magazine

Koronis Parts Releases LED Light Bar - ATV Rider Magazine
New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show ... - autoblog
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in NYC - autoblog

Koronis Parts Releases LED Light Bar - ATV Rider Magazine

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 10:24 AM PDT

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New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show ... - autoblog

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 07:18 AM PDT

SUZUKI DEBUTS 2011 KIZASHI SPORT AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

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2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in NYC - autoblog

Posted: 31 Mar 2010 01:06 AM PDT

SUZUKI DEBUTS 2011 KIZASHI SPORT AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

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The “M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh - Defense Industry Daily”

2010-03-28T15:19:00.001-07:00

The “M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh - Defense Industry Daily”

M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh - Defense Industry Daily

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 08:33 AM PDT

Check-6 rear-view cameras, RPG protection kits. (March 26/10)

"The Government plans to acquire an MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). The M-ATV is a lighter, off-road, and more maneuverable vehicle that incorporates current MRAP level [bullet and mine blast] protection. The M-ATV will require effectiveness in an off-road mission profile. The vehicle will include EFP and RPG protection (integral or removable kit). The M-ATV will maximize both protection levels and off-road mobility & maneuverability attributes, and must balance the effects of size and weight while attempting to achieve the stated requirements."
—US government FedBizOpps, November 2008

Oshkosh Defense's M-ATV candidate secured a long-denied MRAP win, and the firm continues to remain ahead of production targets. The initial plan expected to spend up to $3.3 billion to order 5,244 M-ATVs for the US Army (2,598), Marine Corps (1,565), Special Operations Command (643), US Air Force (280) and the Navy (65), plus 93 test vehicles; but FY 2010 budgets and purchases have pushed this total higher.

MRAP ATV: Requirements and Contenders

Monthly delivery rates of up to 1,000 vehicles were part of the solicitation; when combined with requirements around classified data and regulatory compliance, the only reasonable contenders were firms that already produced MRAPs, trucks, or tactical vehicles for American forces: BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Force Protection, Navistar, and Oshkosh.

M-ATV vehicles will hold 4 passengers, including the driver, and a gunner. That seems very similar to the MRAP Category I vehicles, and it is. On the other hand, a WIRED Danger Room story noted:

"As Captain Charles O'Neill, commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, told me, a few of the MRAPs had "gone into the wadi" – i.e., rolled over – during operations in Helmand. "The MRAP is an outstanding vehicle for force protection," he said. "It would do great on paved roads. However, here in southern Helmand province, the roads don't facilitate the MRAP necessarily that well."

One option has involved refitting existing MRAP vehicles. Over 1,300 of Force Protection's Cougars will receive Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspensions, which are already in use on the Marines' MTVR trucks, in order to improve their all-terrain handling.

The other response was the M-ATV competition, which aims to field a vehicle with an (empty equipped) curb weight under 25,000 pounds, and the protection and mobility characteristics described above. That's still considerably heavier than a Hummer; the ubiquitous M1114 maxes out at 12,000 pounds with its add-on armor, and the top of M-ATV's range is similar to a number of MRAP Category I contenders' curb weights. Its mission is small unit combat operations in highly restricted, rural, mountainous and/or urban environments.

M-ATVs will be used for mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security, convoy protection, communications, command and control and combat service support. To that end, it will be qualified for fit out with a variety of equipment, from LRAS3 surveillance and targeting systems, to accompanying ROVER IV systems for working with UAV video feeds and TacAir support, to TOW ITAS anti-armor missiles, to CREW frequency jammers as land-mine protection, to Boomerang or Doubleshot anti-sniper systems, to CROWS II remote weapons systems, as required.

A number of firms competed. Dave Hansen of JPO MRAP says that the initial competition involved about 10 candidates, which was narrowed down during source selection. Some known candidates include:

BAE's Global Tactical Systems division submitted a model that is based on their Caiman Light MRAP, which in turn is based on the Army's standard FMTV medium trucks. GTS M-ATV includes a number of changes, most notably a smaller crew compartment and a lengthened "nose" to provide better balance.

BAE U.S. Combat Systems' M-ATV looks somewhat like its Valanx JLTV entry, but has greater protection levels, with a smaller and more protected crew capsule purpose-built to M-ATV requirements. The Arvin-Meritor suspension, the drive train, and the power train are shared with their Valanx, as is the 6 liter V8 engine.

Force Protection teamed with General Dynamics to submit their Cheetah vehicle, which has been in development since 2005. The Cheetah has been evaluated by the US Marines, and had a curb weight of just 14,000 pounds when introduced. Subsequent variants have reportedly passed sponsored Army testing to MRAP I survivability levels, and has undergone initial mobility and durability testing at the Nevada Automotive Test Center. The Cheetah was a new addition for Force Dynamics, which had previously been confined to producing the Cougar vehicles that did so much to spark the MRAP program.

Force Dynamics, LLC added Raytheon to their team, in order to provide a comprehensive command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system (C4ISR) plug-and-play ready architecture for the M-ATV Cheetah, using the C4ISR Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF). It would allow plug-and-play integration of a wide range of Army electronics, while also improving the vehicles' monitoring capabilities.

General Dynamics Land Systems attempted to field a variant of the RG-31. This vehicle, offered in partnership with BAE and the Canadian government, had been ordered by American units before the MRAP program began, received additional MRAP orders, and reportedly earned good reviews for its Afghan performance. GDLS initial 2 M-ATV prototypes were not accepted for testing, however leaving General Dynamics with its Force Dynamics partnership as its only M-ATV option. Its partnership with Hummer manufacturer AM General remains intact for the JLTV, and that partnership did not field an M-ATV candidate.

Navistar led the MRAP competition, and submitted an M-ATV design based on the MXT/Husky design that won one of Britain's OUVS orders for future Tactical Support Vehicles. Their derived M-ATV prototype used a specially-designed, light-weight armor. That advantage is compounded by a smaller base that allows them to weigh significantly less than its MaxxPro Dash MRAP, while using the same MaxxForce D 6.0 liter V8 engine.

Navistar would be able to support its M-ATV units in theater through its existing dealer and parts and support network, which includes locations in Afghanistan.

Oshkosh Defense had far less success to build on. In the MRAP competition, its PVI partnership entry for MRAP Category I failed testing, while its Bushmaster partnership with Thales for MRAP Category II received no orders, despite a successful record of front line service with Australian and Dutch forces. Its JLTV entry with Northrop Grumman was not among the initial round's 3 picks, even as BAE participated in 2 of the winning entries, General Dynamics in one, and Navistar in one. A GAO protest failed to change that outcome, despite an attractive price for their entry. It had been a surprising series of setbacks for the firm that produces and supports the US Army's FHTV heavy truck fleet, and the US Marines' MTVR medium and LVSR heavy trucks.

The firm elected to submit a design that bears many visual similarities to their JLTV entry, but without the high-end systems like a hybrid drive, which would have required further development. The core of the vehicle is the MTVR medium truck chassis and its TAK-4 suspension. TAK-4 is being used to refit Cougar MRAPs, and already exceeds M-ATV's off road specifications by offering a 70% off road mobility profile (M-ATV: 50%) and more than 16 inches of independent wheel travel. An Oshkosh representative told DID that "generally speaking [TAK-4] will increase the speed of the vehicle by 1.5 – 2.5 times over the speed of the same vehicle with a straight axle suspension without sacrificing ride quality." The vehicle's Super Multi-Hit Armor Technology (SMART) armor is used in theater by NATO, and its C7 engine is currently used in more than 18,000 vehicles fielded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vehicle has an empty "curb weight" of 25,000 pounds, and a Gross Vehicle Weight of 32,500 pounds, including the M-ATV objective maximum of 4,000 pounds of payload.

Northrop Grumman was not a partner for M-ATV, but Oshkosh did leverage its long-standing relationship with Plasan Sasa of Israel to develop an armoring approach that could meet full MRAP protection levels. Plasan Sasa had up-armored Oshkosh's MTVR trucks for the Marines, and was also Navistar's armoring partner for the successful MaxxPro MRAP family.

At present, their winning entry is known only as the "Oshkosh M-ATV".

By winning the competition, Oshkosh has secured 3 valuable prizes. One is significant representation in the USA's MRAP-type buys, with its attendant near-term cash flow. The second prize is a success story in the tactical vehicle category, something Oshkosh has not been known for in the past. The 3rd prize stems from the other 2, and involves the JLTV competition that will follow M-ATV to replace a sizeable portion of the USA's Hummer fleet. Since JLTV is designed as an open competition at each stage, the Oshkosh/Northrop Grumman team's loss in round 1 just forces Oshkosh to spend its own development dollars if it wants to remain in the race. By securing the M-ATV tactical vehicle design win and attendant production funding, those improvements and investments become much easier to make.

Contracts and Key Events

Under the M-ATV program, each competitor submitted 2 vehicles for initial testing, and some received a 2nd order for 3 more test vehicles. That was followed by a sole source contract, which could escalate to 10,000 vehicles.

Unless otherwise noted, Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI is the contractor, taking orders from the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command Contracting Command in Warren, MI.

March 26/10: A $41.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for 1,080 rocket propelled grenade protection kits. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. Five bids were solicited with 5 bids received by US Army TACOM, AMSCC-ASCA in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

March 26/10: BAE Systems announces a $45 million multi-year contract to provide Oshkosh with Check-6 rear-view camera lights to equip 2,399 M-ATVs. See Dec 29/09 entry for the original contract.

March 10/10: Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives a $10.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for 1,401 M-ATV RWS kits that will let the vehicles support CROWS remote weapon systems. CROWS systems pack advanced sensors and machine guns, and can be controlled from inside the vehicle using a joystick and screen.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. TACOM, CCTA-ADCA in Warren, MI solicited 5 bids, with 5 bids received (W56HZV-09-D-0111). See also Oshkosh Defense release.

March 5/10: Oshkosh Defense announces 3 awards valued at more than $35 million in total for M-ATV upgrades and in-theater support.

They include 2 awards totaling more than 6,400 M-ATV Self Protection Adaptive Roller Kits (SPARKS) upgraded interface brackets. The brackets allow soldiers to attach advance mine rollers to the vehicles. The US government has requested changes to SPARKS, and the new brackets will allow the upgraded systems to be fitted on M-ATVs. Upgrade kits will be shipped to the Defense Distribution Depot Red River in Texarkana, TX, in June 2010. The government will then ship the brackets to receiving units in theater for installation.

Those installations will be supported by an expanded roster of field service representatives (FSR) in-theater. A 3rd contract will place 18 additional Oshkosh in Afghanistan, and 6 in Iraq, at bases that require them. U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) manages these contracts.

Feb 24/10: Oshkosh unveils 2 new M-ATV variants at the AUSA 2010 convention: an ambulance variant, and a utility variant designed to haul cargo. Oshkosh release.

Feb 23/10: A $640 million contract for 1,460 M-ATVs. Oshkosh says it has received awards valued at more than $4.74 bilion for 8,079 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits and aftermarket in-theater support.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI with an estimated completion date of May 2012. Five bids were solicited with 5 bids received (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

Israel's Plasan secured a $170 million subcontract from Oshkosh to supply vehicle protection kits for the 1,460 M-ATVs, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports. The subcontract brings to 5,000 the number of vehicles Plasan has armored for the Americans since June 2009, for total revenues of $586 million. All told, Plasan has sold $940 million worth of armor kits to the U.S. military, for 8,079 vehicles. Oshkosh release | Ha'aretz report.

Feb 19/10: A $52.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for 1,451 retrofit kits for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance suite and battery upgrade/silent watch. Oshkosh says the total potential order is more than 2,090 upgrade kits, which will include communications hardware, jammer systems, tracking technology, driver vision enhancement for safer operation at night, and the aforementioned "silent watch" capability.

The latter item points to an ongoing issue with advanced long range day/night sensors in overwatch roles, and modern communications gear. They often consume so much power that engines have to be kept running, just to power all of the electronics. That's fuel-expensive, in a theater where it takes $7 in fuel to deliver $1 worth to the front lines. It also tends to remove tactical surprise in key situations, especially in already-difficult urban terrain.

Work is to be performed in Ishkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. Five bids were solicted with 5 bids received by TACOM in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111). Oshkosh release.

Feb 5/10: A $84.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for the partial exercise of the option for 627 M-ATV explosively formed penetrator (EFP) kits. The Oshkosh-supplied kits will include EFP armor to protect against those shaped-charge land mines, base door armor, and a door-assist mechanism.

Delivery of the kits is expected to begin in April 2010, and be complete by the end of August 2010. The add-on armor kits will include EFP armor, base door armor and a door-assist mechanism.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. 5 bids were solicited with 5 bids received (W56HZV-09-D-0111). Oshkosh Defense release

Jan 25/10: Oshkosh announces 2 delivery orders valued at $325.7 million from the U.S. Army TACOM LCMC to supply spare parts and repair kits for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Deliveries are expected to begin in August 2010, and to be complete by the end of January 2011. DefenseLINK breaks down the orders as:

A $258.2 million firm-fixed-price contract to exercise the option for 90 lots of authorized stockage list kits, 90 lots of prescribed load list kits, 23 each deprocessing spare kits, and 132 lots battle damage repair kits for the M-ATV. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI (50%) and McConnellsburg, PA, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. Five bids were solicited with 5 bids received by TACOM, CCTA-ADC-A in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

A $67.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for a partial exercise of an option: 2 lots of authorized stockage list kits, 2 lots of prescribed load list kits, and 65 lots of battle damage repair kits for the M-ATV. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI (50%) and McConnellsburg, PA, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. Five bids were solicited with 5 bids received by TACOM, CCTA-ADC-A in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

To date, Oshkosh says it has received awards valued at more than $3.9 billion to deliver 6,619 M-ATVs, as well as spare kits and aftermarket in-theater support.

Jan 21/10: Oshkosh announces 4 awards from the US Defense Logistics Agency, valued at $89 million, for its M-ATVs and FHTV heavy trucks.

Oshkosh will supply M-ATV spare parts, including engines, transmissions, transfer cases and alternators. Work under the orders is expected to be completed by October 2010. Oshkosh is providing the M-ATV's spare parts to the DLA to be used as in-the-field replacements after the original vehicle parts have been consumed. These parts will ship without delay, to help maintain readiness rates in theater. Discussions with Oshkosh representatives indicate that the M-ATV orders are worth about $50 million.

Jan 6/10: Harris Corp.'s RF Communications Division in Rochester, NY received orders totaling $119 million to supply Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)-approved Falcon III AN/PRC-152-C handheld radios with the RF-5980-SA001 vehicle amplifier adapters for the Mine Resistent Ambush Protected (MRAP) all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV).

Separate contracts for items like these help illustrate what is meant by the term "government furnished equipment." The AN/PRC-152 [PDF] provides M-ATV users with multiband Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) and Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) satellite communications interoperability in the 30-512 MHz frequency bands. It is just one aspect of the communication suite that equips each M-ATV.

Jan 6/10: At a Pentagon press conference, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell provides an update regarding the M-ATV program. He says that higher-capacity sealift options aren't being considered for getting M-ATVs that currently sit in the USA into Afghanistan (via Karachi or Gwadar, Pakistan, then overland), even though the drawdown from Iraq and surge to Afghanistan are straining available transport capacity:

"We are at now, as of January the 5th – and I want to double-check these – we were at 239 [M-ATVs] delivered, 164 fielded, 12 awaiting transport. And then there are obviously many more vehicles than that that have been produced. And as they vie for space for airlift and absorption in Afghanistan, they are being used, many of them, for training purposes domestically.

But we are now, as we are in the midst of this surge, going to be dealing with this herculean effort of trying to get not just 30,000 additional forces over to Afghanistan, but getting all their equipment as well. So this is going to be a real—a real test of our TRANSCOM [Transportation Command] folks, as well as CENTCOM. And they have a priority list based, you know, in terms of space available, what has the top priority to flow in at what time.

I can tell you this. It's our goal that come this spring, we'll be sending over about 500 a month.

Q. So when would sealift begin? Is it this—
MR. MORRELL: I couldn't – no, I don't think we would do – I don't think we're at the point where we'd do sealift, but we can check on that for you."

Dec 29/09: Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives a $33.9 million firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for a change order modification for 2,277 Check-6 rear view sensor systems, to be fitted to M-ATV vehicles. BAE's Check-6 tail-light duplicates a feature found in some civilian cars, which uses a rear camera to show the rear of the vehicle and objects behind it on a screen. Unlike civilian camera-screen combinations, however, Check-6 tail lights are derived from BAE Systems' expertise with weapon sights. They work in infrared as well as visible light, making them useful for noticing people as well as obstacles, and improving awareness in darkness, sandstorms, and other difficult situations. They install as a complete tail-light assembly, and require no drilling or welding.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI (50%), and McConnellsburg, PA (50%), with an estimated contract completion date of May 31/12. Work is actually expected to begin in March 2010, and be complete in May 2010. Five bids were solicited, with 5 bids received by TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111). See also Oshkosh release | "Check 6! Now a Possibility for Vehicles, Too."

Dec 28/09: Ceradyne in Costa Mesa, CA announces that it received a multi-million dollar blanket purchase order from Plasan Sasa Ltd. in Israel for the production of armor components for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Ceradyne plans to produce these parts in its expanded armor assembly plant in Irvine, CA for delivery to prime contractor Oshkosh to assemble the components and deliver the M-ATV to the government.

All manufacturing procedures for these M-ATV components have been approved, and Ceradyne production commenced this month. It is anticipated that production and delivery will continue throughout 2010.

Dec 24/09: Oshkosh receives a maximum $22.2 million total set-aside, sole-source, undefinitized delivery-order contract for M-ATV sustainment spare parts. The date of performance completion is Oct 2/10. The Defense Logistics Agency in Warren, MI manages the contract (W56HZV-09-D-0111-VD01).

Dec 24/09: Oshkosh Defense announces an order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to supply "more than 170" M-ATV explosively formed penetrator (EFP) armoring kits through April 2010, and 800 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) kits through May 2010.

Uncharacteristically, Oshkosh's release comes in advance of the Dec 29/09 Pentagon DefenseLINK announcement, which cites a $54.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for 800 RPG armoring kits and 172 EFP kits as "the partial exercise of an option." It offers May 31/12 as the formal end of contract date. Five bids were solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army TACOM's AMSCC-TAC-ADCA in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111). Oshkosh Defense is teamed with Plasan North America to provide the M-ATV's armoring solutions.

The US military, and its contractors, will not discuss details regarding these kits. EFPs are a form of land mine that uses the explosion to form a slug from its copper lining, creating what is in effect an impromptu tank sabot shell that fires into the victim vehicle. Rocket Propelled Grenades like the ubiquitous RPG-7 are bazooka-like anti-tank rockets with a shaped charge warhead. The RPG threat are usually addressed by "cage armor" slats like BAE's LROD, which are not 100% effective, or by Explosive Reactive Armor tile sets that are shaped to fit the vehicle. Less conventional approaches like Tarian cloth armoring are also beginning to emerge.

Dec 22/09: Oshkosh announces that it has reached the production rate of 1,000 M-ATV vehicles per month, ahead of schedule. The milestone was reached on Dec 18/09, and Oshkosh reached the milestone by using production capacity at existing manufacturing facilities in Oshkosh, WI and McConnellsburg, PA. Production will continue at this rate of 1,000+ vehicles per month through May 2010, when all current orders would be filled.

Dec 10/09: A $175.4 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract exercises an option on Delivery Order #0003, and buys another 400 M-ATV vehicles and associated basic items. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI (50%), and McConnellsburg, PA (50%), with a formal contract completion date of May 31/12. The original contract solicited 5 bids, and received 5 (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

To date, Oshkosh has received 6 awards valued at about $3.33 billion; when a contract for 25 test vehicles is included, they will deliver a total of 6,644 M-ATVs. The company has ramped up production to achieve 1,000 vehicles per month in December 2009, and this new award will extend production into May 2010. See also Oshkosh release.

Nov 30/09: Oshkosh hands the 1,000th MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) over to the U.S. Armed Forces, at a ceremony in Oshkosh, WI. Marine Corps Systems Command's commander Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, and the MRAP Joint Program Office' M-ATV product manager Lt. Col. Coll Haddon, were the keynote speakers. Oshkosh release.

Nov 19/09: The way Army vehicles must be driven, and where they must be driven, means that the ability to get out of a vehicle quickly matters almost as much as what the vehicle can do for while you're in it. Oshkosh Defense announces received a $5.6 million firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Army for the procurement of 26 "egress trainer cabin modules" for the Oshkosh M-ATV, and initial spare parts for a stateside training and certification standard program.

The modules are simulators that can train soldiers to get out of an M-ATV vehicle, even if it is flipped or in otherwise abnormal situations. a shift in Army thinking has encouraged M-ATV training to take place stateside versus in theater. The M-ATV cabin modules will be manufactured at the company's facilities in McConnellsburg, PA.

Nov 19/09: Oshkosh meets the November M-ATV production requirement ahead of schedule, marking the 5th consecutive month. Oshkosh says that it will continue to increase production to meet December's requirement of 1,000 vehicles, with output remaining at that high level through April 2010.

Nov 11/09: Oshkosh announces an additional $438 million, 1,000 vehicle order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC). This is the 5th award Oshkosh has received to supply M-ATVs, and brings total orders to 6,219 vehicles and more than $3.2 billion. An option for 400 more M-ATVs and Basic Items of Issue is also included in this delivery order, which would bring the production total to 6,619.

Nov 11th is the Veteran's Day holiday, so the Pentagon doesn't announce the firm-fixed-price contract until Nov 12/09. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. Five bids were solicited in the original contract, with 5 bids received by the U.S. Army TACOM Contracting Center AMSTA-TAC-ATBC in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

Nov 11/09: BAE Systems announces a "multi-million dollar" sub-contract from Plasan North America to provide M-ATV armoring kit components to the program. Work on the contract will begin this month at BAE Systems' production facilities in Fairfield, OH. Tony Russell, president of BAE Systems' Security & Survivability business, said:

"The partnership between BAE Systems and Plasan represents the first of what we believe will be many collaborative efforts between our two companies."

Nov 10/09: Oshkosh announces that it beat October 2009's M-ATV delivery schedule of 385 vehicles, producing more than 435 vehicles during that month. This marks the 4th consecutive month Oshkosh has beaten the schedule, as it ramps up toward a planned production rate of 1,000 vehicles per month.

Oct 28/09: President Obama signs the FY 2010 defense budget. That budget includes $6.656 billion in funding for MRAP vehicles, $1.2 billion above the Pentagon's original request. Significant chunks of that funding will be devoted to M-ATV purchases. White House | House-
Senate Conference Report summary [PDF] & tables [PDF] | Pentagon AFPS article.

Oct 27/09: Oshkosh announces 2 M-ATV contracts valued at more than $28 million. They include a $16 million contract from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for spare parts, and a $12 million contract from rom the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for field service representatives (FSR) to support the M-ATV program in-theater through September 2010.

Oshkosh expects to complete production of the current M-ATV contract for 5,219 vehicles in March 2010.

Oct 22/09: An initial 8 M-ATVs arrive in Kandahar by aerial transport. These vehicles will be used to train drivers and mechanics from units selected to receive M-ATVs.

Note that earlier Pentagon announcements indicated M-ATVs in theater at the end of September, whereas this release places the initial use date into late October and tags it as a training set. One possibility is that the initial shipments were Special Forces vehicles. Another is that this announcement refers only to one Afghan sector, and that eastern sectors may have received the vehicles first. Pentagon DVIDS.

Oct 12/09: Oshkosh announces that it will be submitting its M-ATV and Sandcat vehicles for Australia's PMV-L component of Overlander. Their partners in these 2 proposals are Plasan SASA, Ltd., who supplies the armoring solutions for both vehicles and developed the Sandcat/ Caracal; and local Oshkosh division JLG Australia, who will assist in manufacturing the vehicles and handle through-life support.

Australia has also indicated that they will be continuing onto the next phase of the American JLTV competition, which does not presently include these Oshkosh vehicles.

Oct 9/09: Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives a $408.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of another 923 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs) and aftermarket parts package that includes basic issue items. This brings total announced M-ATV orders to $2.76 billion for the full expected amount of 5,244 vehicles – a total that includes unannounced government orders for 25 test vehicles.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion date of May 31/12. The company plans to ramp production up to 1,000 vehicles per month in December 2009, and continue at that level through at least March 2010. Five bids were solicited for the original contract, with 5 bids received by TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111). See also: Oshkosh release.

Oct 5/09: SCHOTT DiamondView Armor Products LLC exhibits its DiamondView transparent armor window technology at AUSA. The DiamondView windows were selected for Oshkosh's M-ATVs, and use a transparent glass-ceramic combination. It is hoped that DiamondView windows will be able to reduce lifecycle costs normally associated with windows delaminating, discoloring or peeling. The firm has been a defense industry supplier for 40 years, and currently holds world records for producing the world's thinnest piece of glass (0.025mm, for medical technology and electronics), and the world's largest piece of glass (8m tall, for astronomy).

In order to fill the Oshkosh contract, SCHOTT DAP has ramped up manufacturing at both its Boothwyn, PA and Vincennes, IN production facilities. The Vincennes/ now County facility currently processes and finishes glass-ceramic cooktops and flat glass for the home appliance industry, but the firm will invest $7.2 million over the next few years to add the transparent armor line. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered SCHOTT North America up to $2.32 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans, and the city of Vincennes will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of the Knox County Development Corporation. Hiring is underway, and the company expects to add more than 200 employees at peak production. SCHOTT DiamondView release | SCHOTT Vincennes release.

Oct 2/09: Oshkosh announces a $33 million award from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to supply a rear mounted, infrared-enabled camera system on more than 2,200 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV).

The camera system has been deployed on other MRAPs. It integrates with existing vehicle video displays to provide a 40-degree vertical and 54-degree horizontal field of view. The system uses an infrared camera core in an LED-equipped tailgate assembly, and provides visibility through dust, obscurants and incremental weather in day and night operations. We all know drivers who could use one of these; on a battlefield they can save your life, as well as your vehicle bumper.

Oct 2/09: A release from the Marines says that M-ATV vehicles have started to flow from Oshkosh to Us Navy Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic. Oshkosh delivers the base vehicle, but modern military vehicles have a wide array of electronics and equipment to install, from jammers, to radios and other communications devices, to weapons like RWS turrets. The cost adds up, and so does the time required to install everything. According to M-ATV Joint Program Executive Officer, Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, they're using lessons learned from the MRAP program to speed up delivery to the front lines – something that became a problem early in the MRAP program:

"We were able to feed back to Oshkosh specific bracketry, racks and cabling so all that can be installed in the vehicle during manufacture; which means we dont have to do it at SPAWAR. The goal was to push as much of that work that was getting done at SPAWAR, particularly the touch labor, upstream into the manufacturing process. Because we knew it going into this, we were able to include it into the design. That clearly is one of the lessons learned from Baseline MRAP that will speed the process at Charleston."

Oct 1/09: Oshkosh announces that they have exceeded M-ATV delivery requirements for the 3rd consecutive month. The September 2009 production target of 100 vehicles was met on Sept 22/09.

FY 2009

Sept 29/09: The Pentagon announces that the first Oshkosh M-ATVs have been deployed to Afghanistan.

Sept 14/09: Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives a $189.1 million firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract for another 352 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles, and aftermarket parts packages that include Basic Issue items (35 LLO), Authorized Stockage (14 LO), Prescribed Load (14 LO), and Battle Damage and Repairs (14 LO). This brings total announced M-ATV orders to $2.31 billion for 4,296 vehicles.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, WI, with an estimated completion of May 31/12. Five bids were solicited, with 5 bids received by TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-D-0111). See also Oshkosh release.

July 31/09: Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, WI receives another M-ATV order, The $1.064 billion firm-fixed-price contract modification exercises an option for another 1,700 M-ATVs, Field Service Representative Support, and associated parts support packages to include Authorized Stockage Lists (ASL), Prescribed Load List (PLL), Reprocessing Spares, Battle Damage Repair parts (BDR) and Basic Issue Items (BII).

This order raises its total to $2.12 billion for 3,924 vehicles. They also announce that Oshkosh has exceeded the July 2009 delivery schedule of 45 M-ATVs by delivering 46.

Vehicles will be provided to the US Marine Corps, Army, Special Operations Command and US military testing. Vehicles and parts support packages will be fielded to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Field Service Representatives will be providing support in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Work is to be performed in McConnellsburg, PA, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. U.S. Army TACOM LCMC in Warren, MI manages this contract (W56HZV-09-D-0111, delivery order #0002, modification 02).

June 30/09: Oshkosh Corporation. in Oshkosh, WI receives a $1.056 billion firm-fixed price delivery order (W56HZV-09-D-0111, #002) for of 2,244 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs), Basic Issue Items, Field Service Representative Support, Equipment, Engineering, Authorized Stocking List Parts Packages and Prescribed Load List parts packages. The US Army Tank Automotive Command in Warren, MI manages this contract.

Stars and Stripes reports that the first M-ATV vehicles will be fielded to Afghanistan beginning in October 2009. The challenge will be getting them there. US Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, head of Marine Corps Systems Command:

"We are flowing additional forces into Afghanistan right now, Army brigade combat teams as well as Marines units, and so the air bridge into Afghanistan is completely full."

While the military sorts out its transport options, Oshkosh Chairman & CEO Robert G. Bohn issued an unequivocal statement, and an implicit offer to other firms:

"Due to the urgent need of our Armed Forces for a survivable and highly mobile vehicle, our Corporations number one priority is meeting the Department's accelerated delivery schedule of the Oshkosh M-ATV. Oshkosh Corporation will put whatever resources are necessary to meet or exceed the government's delivery schedule. While we believe we can meet or exceed the government's current delivery requirements, we intend to enter into discussions with other manufacturers [emphasis DID's] to determine if they can assist in the production of the Oshkosh M-ATV.

...our full-service aftermarket support network will be available with replacement parts, technical support, and repair or refurbishment services."

Oshkosh Corporation is expected to eventually produce up to 1,000 vehicles a month, and plans to reach that monthly mark by December 2009. Efforts began even before the contract award. Oshkosh Defense President Andy Hove was quoted in Oshosh's release, saying that firm had already begun daily production of Oshkosh M-ATVs on their flexible manufacturing line, a few weeks prior to the decision, after making "significant" investments in materials. Subsequent discussions with Oshkosh clarified that unusual step, and the thinking behind it. Andy Hove:

"As I said, our top priority is the delivery these vehicles to the Soldiers and Marines who need them. But we also knew that there would be a market for our offering should it not have been selected. Additionally, the early M-ATV production was a part of our pre-award production and engineering investments. We felt it was crucial to do what we could, in advance of a possible award, to ensure these vehicles would be delivered to the warfighters in Afghanistan as soon as possible. We also had conducted more than 7,500 miles of independent testing of our vehicle, separate from the government's evaluation of our production-representative vehicles."

June 30/09: Navistar and Force Protection both announce their disappointment at their M-ATV loss, while reiterating their firms' strong points for investors.

June 2/09: The Pentagon's Joint Requirements Oversight Council approves a plan for 5,244 M-ATVs to the US Army (2,598), Marine Corps (1,565), Special Operations Command (643), US Air Force (280) and the Navy (65). An additional 93 vehicles would be set aside for testing. Source.

May 15/09: USMC Commandant General James T. Conway speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank. An excerpt [PDF]:

"We are seeing an increasing sophistication on the part of the IED [land mines].... We are looking at an MRAP ha has greater off road capability because you do not have the road network hat you have in Iraq. You become fairly predictable, fairly easy to plot if you're always going to be on those roads. Our MRAPs, and we have about 2,000 of them plus in the Marine Corps, don't do that well off road. Now the favorite vehicle in Afghanistan today is the seven-ton truck, the MTVR. In an innovative fashion, our engineers and our people at Quantico said, let's put the suspension of the MTVR on our CAT-1 MRAPs and see how it does. Well, it did pretty well…. Now, when we went to blow it up it did not perform do well because we created additional space and surface area underneath the vehicle. We have now blown it up three times. The third time looked pretty good…. We will have it in the hands of our troops potentially by mid-summer. It will cut cost. For the long-term utility of our CAT-I [4×4] MRAPs, which is mostly what we own… we have a much more multi-capable vehicle for the long term.

We are not divorcing ourselves from the MATV program at this point…. We are going to follow both with interest, and we will see where we want to park our monies and our effort as both these vehicles continue to mature."

May 4/09: The Force Dynamics partnership announces their delivery of 3 additional production M-ATV Cheetah vehicles to the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test and Evaluation Center.

The release adds that Force Dynamics, LLC and Raytheon have agreed to provide a comprehensive command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system (C4ISR) plug-and-play ready architecture for the M-ATV Cheetah, using the C4ISR Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF). It provides immediate access to services including sophisticated radio switching, networked video, navigation systems, Blue Force Tracking, Counter-Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare, and weapons systems.

Under the original MRAP program, vehicles required extensive modifications, integration, and testing to fully integrate various C4SIR configurations. This new architecture is designed to make that process much simpler.

The system is also designed to assist with remote monitoring of integrated vehicle and C4ISR systems via one monitoring platform, to offer complete systems status in real time. Remote data transfer, monitoring of platform usage, and capture of failure information are all part of that element, and each M-ATV Cheetah is registered in Raytheon's Force Logistics System II, which is electronically integrated to the DoD's current force support systems.

May 1/09: BAE Systems' entries pass initial testing, as it receives a follow-on contract for 3 more GTS M-ATVs and 3 more USCS M-ATV test vehicles of each type. Other firms that have passed testing and received orders for 3 more vehicles include Force Protection's Cheetah, Navistar's Husky, and Oshkosh's entry.

April 2/09: Navistar Defense, LLC is in discussions with the government over a technicality in the evaluation of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program. Navistar was required to formalize its request for a review of the evaluation within a certain period of time, and wants its vehicle to be considered for M-ATV. Navistar release.

March 11/09: A Bloomberg report quotes General Dynamics spokesman Ken Yamashita, who said that their M-ATV offer, based on its RG-31 partnership with BAE, "was not accepted…. He didn't say why, and Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said she couldn't comment."

That failure still leaves GDLS in contention, via the Force Dynamics partnership's Cheetah vehicle.

March 6/09: Oshkosh Defense announces a $1 million contract with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for government purchase of the 2 production-ready Oshkosh M-ATVs that were delivered on Feb. 23rd. This contract award is one of the required phases in the U.S. military's evaluation of M-ATV submissions, and is awarded after the delivered vehicles are certified to meet the government's initial design requirements.

All other M-ATV candidates also receive these awards, with 1 exception (see March 11/09).

Feb 23/09: M-ATV candidate vehicles are due from vendors for 2 months of testing and evaluation. Several of them announce deliveries on this day: BAE Systems, Force Protection ($1 million contract), Navistar, and Oshkosh.

Feb 19/09: An Oshkosh release claims that its M-ATV team can produce the military's most probable delivery order of 2,080 M-ATVs "within months of an awarded contract." The Oshkosh team says that it is able to produce several hundred to 1,000 M-ATVs on a monthly basis, and Oshkosh Defense President John Stoddart adds that:

"Oshkosh's warm production lines coupled with our mature M-ATV design allow us to ramp up production of this vehicle without impacting our current military programs."

Of course, the same is true for competitors like BAE and Navistar, both of whom have MRAP production lines that are closing out, and substantial military truck production lines that continue to run.

Jan 15/09: Force Protection, Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems Inc.'s Force Dynamics, LLC joint venture has focused on delivering Cougar MRAP vehicles, but Force Protection's Cheetah vehicle had been excluded – until now. The joint venture announces that it has submitted the Cheetah for the U.S. Army's MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) solicitation.

The Cheetah began development in 2005 has completed Force Protection-sponsored blast testing at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, and initial mobility and durability testing at the Nevada Automotive Test Center. It has undergone a range of enhancements since it was first developed, including the addition of independent suspension. Force Protection is commencing low-rate production at Force Protection's Ladson, SC plant.

Jan 9/09: Oshkosh Corporation submits its M-ATV proposal, based on the combat-proven Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) medium truck chassis. The firm has produced about 10,000 of these trucks for the US Marine Corps, which have been deployed all over the world. Oshkosh release.

Nov 14/08: The US government issues a pre-solitication notice for a subsidiary competition called M-ATV, essentially an "MRAP Lite" bridge buy to the JLTV. FBO pre-solicitation #W56HZV-09-R-0115 states a buy that begins an an expected order of just 2,080 vehicles, but could reach up to 10,000.

M-ATV's top weight is just 12.5 tons empty, which is heavier than a Hummer or JLTV, but lighter than an MRAP. Even so, the RFP still demands significant protection against both conventional and EFP land mines. A draft issued on Nov 25/08 stated that M-ATV would receive the same top-priority DX production rating employed by the original MRAP program, adding that the first vehicles are expected to be fielded in the fall of 2009.

Additional Readings

US FedBizOpps (Nov 13/08) – 23—JPO MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV)

TACOM – JPO MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Competition page with all documents.

Oshkosh Defense – Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP All Terrain Vehicle

Oshkosh Defense – TAK-4 Independent Suspension

Global Security – Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR)

DID FOCUS – JLTV: Hummer v2.0, or MRAP Lite?

IDGA – Dave Hansen of JPO MRAP on the M-ATV. Podcast interview.

Oshkosh Defense (June 5/09) – Oshkosh Defense Global Aftermarket Capabilities Ready to Provide in-Theater M-ATV Support

Motley Fool (May 7/09) – M-ATV Bids: The Pentagon Picks Its Winners

Oshkosh Defense (Feb 26/09) – Mission-Proven Vehicle Components and Technologies Featured in Oshkosh M-ATV Vehicle Design

Defense News (Dec 11/08) – In RfP, DoD Outlines Small-MRAP Needs

WIRED Danger Room (Oct 16/08) – Afghanistan Diary: MRAPs Suck!

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plus 2, Michigan Coupon Program Includes Online Web Presence and Marketing ... - PRLog (free press release)

2010-03-27T15:05:00.001-07:00

plus 2, Michigan Coupon Program Includes Online Web Presence and Marketing ... - PRLog (free press release)

Michigan Coupon Program Includes Online Web Presence and Marketing ... - PRLog (free press release)
Metro Detroit Retail Coupon Platform Reaches New ... - PRLog (free press release)
Sylvan Sport GO tent trailer - Examiner

Michigan Coupon Program Includes Online Web Presence and Marketing ... - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 06:25 AM PDT

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 27, 2010 – Ted Cantu wants everyone to stop blaming the bad economy and start embracing technology. This ex art director from New York City and Chicago started out in Metro Detroit. He has returned to bring a new style of online marketing that many S.E. Michigan businesses have never fully utilized. This type of marketing does not rely on traditional media sources. Detroit has had a newspaper collapse with the Ann Arbor News and Eccentric newspapers. Cantu has developed a smarter way to get the word out without having to use any pay per click advertisements.

This is a hit with big businesses. In just three months after rolling this out Cantu has amassed a portfolio that includes health care companies, Michigan restaurants, automotive, green businesses, Yamaha atv part dealers, Kawasaki dealers, beauty suppliers, import and export businesses, legal, retail and even rock bands. His big claim to fame is taking any company and putting them on page one of Google, Bing, Yahoo and MSN in under an hour. This type of marketing is getting him a lot of attention.

Hot Metro Finds is the brainchild of International art business marketer Tracey Vitkay and Ted Cantu. They work with viral web video, press releases and viral media. They have put their clients on the Detroit Free Press, PBS Channel 56, Hour Detroit, USA Today, Wall Street Hour, Green Technologies , NBC, CBS, and ABC online media. This is very strong way for Michigan companies to get the recognition that they deserve.

"I am rolling out a coupon program in conjunction with our search engine optimization and web video capabilities. We didn't accept any type of investor dollars when we built our marketing company. We wanted something that was genuine and that served Michigan businesses without charging them a fortune. Now we got something that works" says Ted Cantu. "There are coupon sites out there right now that do absolutely nothing but point links to third party web sites. Our businesses in Michigan deserve better than that".

Ted Cantu knows the advertising gambit inside and out. He served for 15 years as an art director. Among his many talents he has put together coupon displays for Sunday circulars for major advertising agencies such as Foote Cone and Belding, Mars and Burrell. On top of that he has sat through five generations of multimedia from CD-ROM's to the dot com era. Cantu has seen search engine technology grow from a conception to its present day state. Now he is back in Metro Detroit sharing his knowledge with his fellow associates in the Michigan business community.

"This is more than Twitter and Facebook. This is about people coming together and working hard to save our city and making a big impact" says Ted Cantu.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Metro Detroit Retail Coupon Platform Reaches New ... - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 09:21 PM PDT

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 27, 2010 – Getting new customers to do business with you is paramount if you want to stay in business in Metro Detroit. Reaching new consumers is becoming more challenging due to a recent newspaper media collapse in S.E. Michigan. The last few months Metro Detroit lost several publications including the Ann Arbor News, Eccentric newspapers and Phenemenews just to name a few. Now Metro Detroit businesses are scrambling for new ways to get the word out. Many are looking for venues online and that's is where our story begins.

Online master marketer, Ted Cantu, is somewhat of a PR wizard. Some even call him a genius. For the last seven years he has been busy putting companies on page one of Google, Bing, MSN, and Yahoo. He has created several online vehicles that deliver any business on page 1 of the search engines. This enables any company to offer coupons, product videos, and reach a wide number of people in a matter of minutes.

"We have tested and tested this program to a science. We can honestly say that we can put any company on page 1 in under an hour. We can do that with press releases and videos, and classified ads. We can do all of this without the expense of traditional media and best of all there are no air time fees." Says Ted Cantu. Air time fees are typically associated with traditional media advertising when it comes to television and radio.

"Our clients don't have to worry about air time fees. We are using bandwidth on the web and that is paid for by big time online advertisers. We are able to jump on and take a free ride for a lot of this type of promotion. Then we crank it up with our own promotion on top of that. We optimize your web site, create a traffic funnel and make sure that your company is out there front and center." Says Cantu.

Ted Cantu comes to Metro Detroit as an ex art director from the mean streets of Chicago and New York City. He brings 15 years of experience to the table with his new media company Hot Metro Finds. He works side by side with Metro Detroit art marketer Tracey Vitkay. The two of them have masterminded a powerful advertising system and have created 80,000 links for their clients. They have helped Yamaha atv parts dealers, automotive groups, green businesses, import companies, restaurants, retail, beauty suppliers, legal, financial groups, and more.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sylvan Sport GO tent trailer - Examiner

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 06:51 AM PDT

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March 23, 2010

The Sylvan Sport GO camping trailer may be just about the best idea for outdoor adventurers since the Bowie knife. Light, simple and flexible, it has a place for all your gear and still provides a fully functional home "away from home". But maybe the best part is that you don't need to trade in your MINI for a minivan to enjoy the outdoors or buy an 8,000 lb 4wd truck to get you and all your gear to where you're going. And when you get back home, you won't have a 50 foot long motorhome taking up space in your driveway until your next vacation.

The versatility of the American made GO is remarkable. It can be configured to haul kayaks and canoes, bicycles and ATV's, or just about anything else you want to take along. There's even a large storage compartment in front that holds sleeping bags and other gear. The 2 bed tent sets up in a jiffy and provides a comfortable dining area, too. Whoever thought of this is a genius!

For more information, visit the Sylvan Sport website.

Source: Tree Hugger.

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plus 1, 2010 Polaris Trail Blazer 330 ATV Review - Motorcycle USA

2010-03-26T15:10:00.001-07:00

plus 1, 2010 Polaris Trail Blazer 330 ATV Review - Motorcycle USA

2010 Polaris Trail Blazer 330 ATV Review - Motorcycle USA

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 01:14 PM PDT

Getting into the sport of ATV riding can be daunting, expensive and dangerous. Polaris wants to attract new customers with its line of entry-level quads, and the 2010 Polaris Trail Blazer 330 is at the heart of its sport demographic. Cheap, efficient and simple, the Trail Blazer is just what a newbie needs when looking to get a foot in the door with the ATV crowd.

As the Editorial Director at MotorcycleUSA, Ken Hutchison has ridden more motorcycles and ATVs than most. Now he's passing the sport down to his kids, one of whom is exactly what Polaris is targeting with the Trail Blazer. Ken's oldest daughter, Ariel, already has experience on small youth quads, but she can only outgrow so many pairs of boots before it's time to upgrade the ATV as well. Making a jump from sub-200cc machines commonly found in the youth market is a pretty big deal. Not only do riders need to adjust to a physically much larger machine, but they have to cope with the increased power as well. Fortunately, the 329cc air-cooled Single tucked inside the Trail Blazer is very rider-friendly.

Ariel was a little nervous her first time on the larger 330, but after spinning a few laps through some beginner-friendly trails she took an immediate liking to the Indy Red machine and was confident trying more advanced terrain. Top speed is mellow and our heavier and more experienced riders constantly had the thumb throttle pinned, but the Polaris was gentle enough to make a great novice ride. Towing capacity is a claimed 850 pounds at the accessory hitch and 1263 lbs for trailer-pulling capacity, but we never hooked the two-wheel-drive machine up to any heavy equipment or a weighted sled.

A large part of why this machine is so user-friendly is the Polaris Variable Transmission (PVT). Fully automatic, the PVT is a one-speed tranny. Riders never have to worry about shifting once the gear lever is engaged forward or reverse. The Blazer idles contently once in gear and doesn't move forward until throttle is applied, though it takes more from the carbureted engine than you would expect for a beginner quad. Considering this is an entry machine, it's surprising the amount of rpm that is needed to get it moving, and once the revs are high enough, the Blazer lurches into motion. It takes awhile to get used to. Heavier, more aggressive riders who hammer the gas right away won't have any problem, but it caught Ariel by surprise several times. Fortunately the overall power from the air-cooled engine isn't overwhelming.

A note about the shift lever: Located on the right-hand side, our larger rider (5'11") complained that his knee would hit the lever when cornering aggressively. When the lever is in the reverse position, the problem is compounded and is very noticeable when trying to turn and look over the left shoulder. This is a rare occurrence and our shorter testers never had any issues. The ergonomic package as a whole is a little tight for tall riders. Polaris utilizes a very tall handlebar which makes it somewhat more comfortable, but it was a long reach for Ariel. The controls are simple and minimal with no clutch lever to worry about and only a single hand brake. A plastic lever is mounted on the left side which operates the hydraulic front discs. The rear is a hydraulic unit as well with braided steel lines all around. However, where the front is exceptionally good, the rear is moderate at best, and both binders have some issues.

Power from the front brake is exceptional, easily handling the speeds Polaris' mild motor can produce, but the plastic lever is cheesy. It works, but we kept waiting for a reason to replace it with a new one. Technically there's nothing wrong with it, but we prefer the feel of an aluminum lever and so will any rider, novice level or otherwise. The rear brake is actually good as well, but good luck finding the lever. Without a hand lever available, only the right-side foot control will engage the disc unit. The lever itself is positioned so high that even our riders with the largest feet had a difficult time finding it. Mild terrain isn't such a big deal since it's easy to remove a foot and find the pedal, but once the pace increases and your feet are bouncing around, it's nice to have the lever closer to the toe where it can be accessed.

Riders will get 8.2 inches of travel from the front Sachs shocks though we doubt that we ever maxed them out. They work very well for larger pilots, but it looked as though Ariel was barely compressing the springs, and the rear end is even stiffer. Only the shock offers adjustability in the form of preload settings. Just pressing on the rear grab bar makes the shock seem pretty supple, but even our heaviest rider thought it was stiff out on the trail. As such, we never tightened down the preload and also never felt like we used the full 10.5 inches of travel. The forks and MacPherson strut worked much better for us, though they too were pretty rigid. We felt a lot of the jolts and impacts through the seat foam which is comfortable at first but turns soft very quickly. Around the edges were especially squishy and our butts hit the frame rails underneath quite often during turns.

Speaking of turns, the Polaris is somewhat tippy. The combination of suspension that doesn't want to settle and a weak motor which struggles to break the rear end loose equate to some handling woes. We had the inside tires raising off the ground an awful lot with our faster pilots, but in all fairness, the true entry-level tester had nothing to say regarding the issue. Her wheels were firmly on the ground at all times. Just keep in mind that once riders become comfortable with the Polaris and start to challenge its limits, the tall handlebars, 35-inch seat height and 49-inch width will start to conspire against extra speed. The handling isn't bad and one of the major issues is that the soft motor and lack of a manual clutch make it difficult to get the rear wheels spinning. We were able to ride around this most of the time, though it requires extra body English, muscle and pre-planning to get the straight-axle rear end stepped out. Sport quads are all about pitching the rear through turns and the Polaris is a bit reluctant to do that without being high in the rpm and aggressive with your bodyweight.

There are indications throughout the machine that demonstrate the low MSRP, but at the same time it has some nice features as well. For instance, the footpegs/floorboards are all plastic, offering some grip but not enough for wet or aggressive riding. A cam-style chain adjuster is controlled by two pinch bolts. It's a simple design that makes doing basic maintenance easy. Polaris included an O-ring chain for low-maintenance and it's a nice feature considering the $4299 pricetag. We were also impressed with the aesthetics and we definitely liked the overall styling of the Trail Blazer. Sport bodywork is derived from Polaris' Outlaw lineup and gives the 330 a modern, aggressive look. Black steel rims also add to the sport attitude along with knobby Carlisle tires. Polaris also sells the Trail Boss 330, which is virtually identical but with sport utility bodywork and racks front and rear.

Thick plastic skidplates protect the front bumper area and the swingarm. With only 4.75 inches of ground clearance, the Blazer needs what it can get. We got hung up multiple times on obstacles we thought should pass right under. Almost always it was a log which bounced one of the rear wheels off the ground. Once that happens, a lack of 4WD means you'll either be rocking a whole lot, or just get off and lift the Polaris off – not necessarily an easy feat for smaller riders considering it weighs in at 530 pounds with a five-pound bias on the front end with a full four gallons of fuel.

The instruments are simplistic with only neutral and reverse lights, fuel gauge and a high-temp light. A key starts the engine with an automotive-style ignition. Rather than turning the key and then hitting a starter button, like most electric starts, this one requires cranking the key like you would in any car or truck. A choke knob is located on the left side of the display though it actually made little difference for us. In all, the Polaris is a bit cold-blooded. Once warm, however, it starts with barely a full crank. A backup pull-starter is located down by the rider's right boot. It too starts the engine with little effort.

By the time our experienced riders were through, they were obviously left wanting more out of this entry-level quad, but the Polaris surprised them with its capabilities, climbing more hills and conquering more obstacles than expected from our shrewd evaluators. There's plenty of fun to be found in the Trail Blazer and that definitely was the mindset of our young female rider. Riders with less skill will find the 330 a willing ride that offers the next, or first, step into sport ATV riding. It's friendly, has attractive styling and you can probably get it from a dealer for about four grand, exactly the requisites we expect to see from this type of machine.

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Michigan Health Care Industry Business Owners Win With ... - PRLog (free press release)

Posted: 26 Mar 2010 01:50 PM PDT

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 26, 2010 – The topsy turvey economic conditions have caused many Michigan business owners to rethink their advertising budgets. Some have put everything on hold and are watching what is happening with their competitors before they dive in. Others have had to take that dive and they are reporting that the water is fine. Health care companies are shying away from traditional advertising such as billboards, radio spots and television but more importantly – Yellow Pages. The newspaper industry has taken a serious tanking too namely ill fated Ann Arbor News.

So where are the health care companies turning for help? They are going to PR experts like Hot Metro Finds creator, Ted Cantu, an online marketer who has created 80,000 links for his companies. In just a few simple weeks Cantu has given new life to Yamaha atv parts dealers Powers Edge. He has also created more limelight for beauty suppliers Windsor Beauty with their OPI nail care line. The portfolio he represents online is quite diverse. Quite recently Cantu has even picked up a automotive green technology company based out of Metro Detroit.

"We recently created a lot of exposure for an MRI company based out of Michigan that offers treatment for cash!" says Cantu. "The response online has been massive and we have created a lot of exposure for this Metro Detroit based health care company. We are finding health care companies growing their practice online and really enjoying the benefit of smarter advertising through web communication."

Nonstop promotion is the key behind this type of success. Cantu is finding out that many companies that come to him are enjoying a secret hidden benefit to promoting online. Press releases are a phenomenal way for many Michigan businesses to land third party credibility. Cantu explains, "We are getting a lot of companies who are getting on page 1 of Google but also are ending up in top media spaces like USA Today, Wall Street Hour, ABC Media, Dbusiness Magazine, Hour Detroit, CBS Media and more. That is where things get really exciting for us because now we are giving Michigan companies a second wind and propelling many of them into bigger cash spending arenas. We create popularity and credibility."

Michigan companies have two choices. They can fight harder or they can curl up and die and believe it or not many Michigan business owners have chosen the later. Over 20,000 people are reported to leave Michigan on a monthly basis and many storefronts have boarded up as business owners called it quits. That leaves business owners with the traditional media advertising options. And in this cash poor economy those high end expense options are not attractive enough to lure spending.

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The “Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item”

2010-03-25T15:26:00.001-07:00

The “Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item”

Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 11:54 PM PDT

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The “Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item”

2010-03-24T15:07:00.001-07:00

The “Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item”

Patrick Amirault, 54 - Daily Item

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 11:26 PM PDT

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The “Sylvan Sport GO tent trailer - Examiner”

2010-03-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

The “Sylvan Sport GO tent trailer - Examiner”

Sylvan Sport GO tent trailer - Examiner

Posted: 23 Mar 2010 06:51 AM PDT

Comment Subscribe

March 23, 2010

For more information, visit the Sylvan Sport website.

Source: Tree Hugger.

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The “PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide”

2010-03-20T15:09:00.001-07:00

The “PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide”

PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 03:28 PM PDT

PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race

SURPRISE, Ariz. – By any measure, the recent inaugural PIAA 8-Hour WORCS UTV/ATV Endurance Race, held at Speedworld Raceway in Surprise, Ariz., on Saturday, January 12, was a spectacular success, drawing 40 teams and more than 160 riders, ranging from factory teams to local ATV enthusiasts.

Josh Fredrick and Brandon Smith of Team Motoworks/Can Am took the midnight checkered flag for a wire-to-wire victory. Fredrick and Smith grabbed the lead in the first hour and never looked back, riding their DX450 to the Overall ATV Pro title. Overall runner-up was Temecula Motosport's Mike Cafro and Levi Marana, who picked up $500 in PIAA contingency cash. Third place overall went to Oregon's Brandon Brown.

The PIAA 8-Hour also featured the first-ever UTV endurance showdown, with Travis Peterson scoring the overall UTV victory. And in a performance that showed the mettle of a stock Yamaha Rhino, Derrick Elliott won the Stock UTV class and second overall driving a Side X Side Magazine-sponsored machine.

"PIAA couldn't be happier with the turnout and success of this first-time event," said a thrilled Gordon Robertson, PIAA Powersports manager. "Everyone here had a great time. It was a safe, challenging, and fun event, and we were thrilled to be the sponsor. Thanks to Sean and Pepper Reddish and everyone at WORCS for putting on such a great race. And thanks to all the racers who took up the challenge."

Reddish, president of WORCS, was equally enthusiastic: "I was pleased to see the turn out for this inaugural event. PIAA put a lot of work into this, and the overall atmosphere of this event was great. Endurance racing is awesome."

PIAA Sponsors 8-Hour ATV Race 2-2-2-2

Here are the class winners: ATV Pro - Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nevada; ATV A - Cody Mitchell, Las Vegas; ATV B - Michael Brown, Stillwater, Okla.; ATV C - Missy Mayo, Taft, Calif.; ATV Ironman - Justin Sessions, Terlton, Okla.; ATV Masters 40+ - Rick Ellsworth, Parker, Ariz.; UTV Unlimited - Travis Peterson, Escondido, Calif.; UTV Modified - Rudy Ludeke, Alpine, Calif.; and UTV Stock - Derrick Elliott, Beaumont, Calif.

While there are a handful of ATV endurance races held in the U.S. (such as the 12 Hours of ATV America each fall), the PIAA 8-Hour was the first endurance race to include the popular UTV/side-by-side vehicles. The race course featured a 6-mile loop that started on the Speedworld motocross circuit before heading out into the desert.

PIAA has been the acknowledged leader in innovative automotive and Powersports products since its founding in 1963. PIAA products, created in PIAA's Technical Design Center in Japan, are known for their visionary design, inspired engineering and quality components.

PIAA Corporation, USA is located at 3004 NE 181st in Portland, OR 97230, 503-489-6666, www.piaa.com.

All photos are copyright © Michael Rodriguez and are used with his permission. No images may be copied, stored, manipulated, published, sold or reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission.

Press Release:

8-Hour UTV/ATV Endurance Race
PORTLAND, Ore. – PIAA Corporation, a leader in Powersports lighting and accessories, has teamed up with the World Off-Road Championship Racing Series to host WORCS' first ever PIAA 8-Hour UTV/ATV Endurance Race, announced PIAA Powersports Business Unit Manager Gordon Robertson. The event will be held on January 4, 2008, at Speedworld Raceway in Surprise, Ariz., and will feature competition for a variety of UTV and ATV classes.
In addition to brainstorming the concept for the inaugural race, PIAA will be the presenting sponsor, providing financial support as well as offering a lucrative contingency program that will encourage racers to use PIAA halogen and HID lighting products. And, since the race starts at 4 p.m. and finishes at midnight, having a PIAA-equipped vehicle will be a distinct advantage.
"PIAA is excited about helping this inaugural event be a success," Robertson said. "This is a great opportunity for us to show the ATV, UTV and Powersports industry that PIAA lighting products are indeed the best in the world, proven everywhere from the Daytona 24 Hour sports car race to the World Rally circuit."
While there are a handful of ATV endurance races held in the U.S. (such as the 12 Hours of ATV America each fall), the PIAA 8-Hour will be the first time an endurance race will include the wildly popular UTV classes. "UTV racers will have the opportunity to prove who is the fastest as well as the toughest," Robertson said.
"Everyone knows that WORCS races are the ultimate test of man and machine," explained WORCS owner Sean Reddish. "Teaming up with the industry leader in performance lighting and putting on an UTV- and ATV-only 8-hour endurance race was a perfect fit."
It will be a standard endurance event with teams racing non-stop for eight hours around a 5-mile loop that starts on the Speedworld motocross circuit then heads out into the Arizona desert. There will be separate overall winners for both divisions, UTV and ATV.
For UTVs, racing classes include Unlimited, Modified, Stock, and Ironman/woman; for ATVs, classes will be Pro A, B, and C; Women's Pro A and B; Veterans 30+; Masters 40+; and Ironman/Woman.
PIAA's contingency award should inspire all competitors: Overall finishers will be awarded $1000 for first, $500 for second, $250 for third. In addition, each class winner will receive $250. To be eligible, vehicles must be using PIAA HID or Halogen lamps and run PIAA decals
For entry and class information, plus rules and regulations, visit www.worcsracing.com, or call 435-635-1597. For details on all PIAA UTV and ATV lighting products, visit www.piaapowersports.com.
PIAA has been the acknowledged leader in innovative automotive and Powersports products since its founding in 1963. PIAA products, created in PIAA's Technical Design Center in Japan, are known for their visionary design, inspired engineering and quality components.
PIAA Corporation, USA is located at 3004 NE 181st in Portland, OR 97230, 503-489-6666.
PIAA will make the PIAA lamp kits available at a reduced price to competitors through Rocky Mountain ATV, a WORCS Series sponsor and title sponsor of this event.

Links:

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The “2011 Honda ATV Models First Look - Motorcycle USA”

2010-03-19T15:21:00.001-07:00

The “2011 Honda ATV Models First Look - Motorcycle USA”

2011 Honda ATV Models First Look - Motorcycle USA

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 06:22 PM PST

ATVs and dirt bikes aren't exactly flying off the showroom floor these days, but apparently some are still doing pretty well as Honda has recently released the first wave of 2011 models. Four utility ATVs are confirmed back as early-release units: Honda Recon, Honda Foreman, Honda Foreman Rubicon and Honda Rincon. All are available in multiple options including electronic shifting, power steering and GPS-equipped.

"Honda has enjoyed an extremely positive rollout of 2010 models," said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino in a press release. "We've asserted our leadership role by introducing 11 brand-new models for 2010, all of which have been received with great enthusiasm. Now we're moving forward with the introduction of early-release 2011 models, beginning with these four popular ATVs. Relative to this model release, we'd like to recognize all the associates at the Honda South Carolina (HSC) plant who produce these machines."

Honda FourTrax Recon / Recon ES
The FourTrax Recon comes with a manual-shift or electric shift (ES) five-speed transmission with reverse. It's a full-size quad with a small, user-friendly motor. Honda's Recon features a carburetor-fed, 229cc engine longitudinally mounted in the chassis. Electric start makes it simple to get going and a direct rear driveshaft is low-maintenance. A straight axle out back transfers the power to the ground. The new model is available in Red and Olive colors.

Honda FourTrax Foreman 4x4 / Foreman 4x4 EPS / Foreman 4x4 ES / Foreman 4x4 ES EPS
The Foreman model is also available in manual or electric-shift trim. Each version is also available with power steering which means owners will have four options for the 475cc machine. The motor uses a 36mm carburetor and a sealed shaft drive. The rear end uses a straight axle but is suspended with dual shocks. Honda's Traxlok and torque-sensitive front differential provide selectable 2WD/4WD operation. It's available in Red, Olive and Natural Gear Camouflage and has flexible fender flares.

Honda FourTrax Foreman Rubicon / Foreman Rubicon GPScape
The Rubicon adds another spoonful of displacement and some additional technology. A fully automatic Hondamatic transmission negates the need for a clutch lever. The 499cc ATV uses a 92 x 75mm bore and stroke to churn out power to the front and rear wheels. It uses independent double wishbone front suspension and a straight-axle rear end with dual shocks. It's also the smallest of Honda's utility quads to offer GPScape. This feature provides GPS navigation wired directly into the machine for a constant power source, and integrated into the digital handlebar display with oversized buttons for better user interface. It gets the Traxlok system and comes in Red, Olive and Natural Gear Camouflage.

Honda FourTrax Rincon
Honda's largest utility ATV is back again with a 675cc engine. This one trades in the carb for a fuel injection system and makes use of Honda's automotive-style automatic transmission which uses a hydraulic torque converter to power forward and reverse gears. Fully independent suspension allows the rear end to articulate over obstacles and smooth out inconsistent terrain. It's also the only work quad in the lineup to feature disc brakes front and rear. It's available in Red, Olive and Natural Gear Camouflage.

Utility ATVs that are on the 2010 model line but have yet to be announced for 2011 include the FourTrax Rancher and FourTrax Rancher AT, which we are currently reviewing.

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The “ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine”

2010-03-18T15:04:00.001-07:00

The “ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine”

ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine

Posted: 15 Mar 2010 11:36 PM PDT

If you have any tips that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Heck, you might even save someone's ride. We'll be sure to give you credit for your remedy here in the pages of ATV Rider Magazine. So get them to us! Email us at atvrider@sorc.com.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

The “PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide”

2010-03-17T15:02:00.001-07:00

The “PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide”

PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race - UTV Guide

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 03:28 PM PDT

PIAA 8 Hour Endurance Race

PIAA Sponsors 8-Hour ATV Race 2-2-2-2

PIAA Corporation, USA is located at 3004 NE 181st in Portland, OR 97230, 503-489-6666, www.piaa.com.

Press Release:

8-Hour UTV/ATV Endurance Race
PORTLAND, Ore. – PIAA Corporation, a leader in Powersports lighting and accessories, has teamed up with the World Off-Road Championship Racing Series to host WORCS' first ever PIAA 8-Hour UTV/ATV Endurance Race, announced PIAA Powersports Business Unit Manager Gordon Robertson. The event will be held on January 4, 2008, at Speedworld Raceway in Surprise, Ariz., and will feature competition for a variety of UTV and ATV classes.
In addition to brainstorming the concept for the inaugural race, PIAA will be the presenting sponsor, providing financial support as well as offering a lucrative contingency program that will encourage racers to use PIAA halogen and HID lighting products. And, since the race starts at 4 p.m. and finishes at midnight, having a PIAA-equipped vehicle will be a distinct advantage.
"PIAA is excited about helping this inaugural event be a success," Robertson said. "This is a great opportunity for us to show the ATV, UTV and Powersports industry that PIAA lighting products are indeed the best in the world, proven everywhere from the Daytona 24 Hour sports car race to the World Rally circuit."
While there are a handful of ATV endurance races held in the U.S. (such as the 12 Hours of ATV America each fall), the PIAA 8-Hour will be the first time an endurance race will include the wildly popular UTV classes. "UTV racers will have the opportunity to prove who is the fastest as well as the toughest," Robertson said.
"Everyone knows that WORCS races are the ultimate test of man and machine," explained WORCS owner Sean Reddish. "Teaming up with the industry leader in performance lighting and putting on an UTV- and ATV-only 8-hour endurance race was a perfect fit."
It will be a standard endurance event with teams racing non-stop for eight hours around a 5-mile loop that starts on the Speedworld motocross circuit then heads out into the Arizona desert. There will be separate overall winners for both divisions, UTV and ATV.
For UTVs, racing classes include Unlimited, Modified, Stock, and Ironman/woman; for ATVs, classes will be Pro A, B, and C; Women's Pro A and B; Veterans 30+; Masters 40+; and Ironman/Woman.
PIAA's contingency award should inspire all competitors: Overall finishers will be awarded $1000 for first, $500 for second, $250 for third. In addition, each class winner will receive $250. To be eligible, vehicles must be using PIAA HID or Halogen lamps and run PIAA decals
For entry and class information, plus rules and regulations, visit www.worcsracing.com, or call 435-635-1597. For details on all PIAA UTV and ATV lighting products, visit www.piaapowersports.com.
PIAA has been the acknowledged leader in innovative automotive and Powersports products since its founding in 1963. PIAA products, created in PIAA's Technical Design Center in Japan, are known for their visionary design, inspired engineering and quality components.
PIAA Corporation, USA is located at 3004 NE 181st in Portland, OR 97230, 503-489-6666.
PIAA will make the PIAA lamp kits available at a reduced price to competitors through Rocky Mountain ATV, a WORCS Series sponsor and title sponsor of this event.

Links:

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The “Automotive > Motorcycles/ATV (2) - Waseca County News”

2010-03-16T15:14:00.001-07:00

The “Automotive > Motorcycles/ATV (2) - Waseca County News”

Automotive > Motorcycles/ATV (2) - Waseca County News

Posted: 15 Mar 2010 12:16 PM PDT

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The “ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine”

2010-03-15T15:20:00.001-07:00

The “ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine”

ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 03:17 AM PST

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The “2010GenevaMotorShow Subscribe - autoblog”

2010-03-14T16:19:00.001-07:00

The “2010GenevaMotorShow Subscribe - autoblog”

2010GenevaMotorShow Subscribe - autoblog

Posted: 14 Mar 2010 03:02 PM PDT

Aol Autos.

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plus 3, Oshkosh To Supply M-ATV Kits For TACOM Life Cycle - Automotive Business Review

2010-03-13T15:13:00.001-08:00

plus 3, Oshkosh To Supply M-ATV Kits For TACOM Life Cycle - Automotive Business Review

Oshkosh To Supply M-ATV Kits For TACOM Life Cycle - Automotive Business Review
2011 Honda ATV Models First Look - Motorcycle USA
M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh - Defense Industry Daily
ATV Maintenance and Repair - Pro Remedies - ATV Rider Magazine

Oshkosh To Supply M-ATV Kits For TACOM Life Cycle - Automotive Business Review

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 12:42 AM PST

The Oshkosh M-ATV features survivability capabilities and off-road mobility needed to operate on mountainous terrain and unimproved roads, the company said.

According to Oshkosh, the patented TAK-4 independent suspension system, the M-ATV has a 70% off-road profile capability and 16-inch of independent wheel travel.

In addition, the TAK-4 system is being retrofitted on more than 2,400 legacy MRAPs for improved mobility in Afghanistan. It is featured on more than 10,000 Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR), and the Marine Corps' Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) and the Army's modernized Palletized Load System (PLS), which are also built by Oshkosh.

To date, the company has received awards valued at more than $4.75bn for 8,079 M-ATVs, and spare parts kits, upgrade kits and aftermarket support.

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2011 Honda ATV Models First Look - Motorcycle USA

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 06:22 PM PST

Utility ATVs that are on the 2010 model line but have yet to be announced for 2011 include the FourTrax Rancher and FourTrax Rancher AT, which we are currently reviewing.

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M-ATV: A Win, at Last, for Oshkosh - Defense Industry Daily

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 10:33 AM PST

New mine roller kits, more in-theater support personnel, 2 new variants. (March 5/10)