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Brasileira com sotaque alemão

A nova nomenclatura não deixa dúvidas. A versão mais recente da trail de entrada da BMW foi feita para o fora-de-estrada. Mais precisamente, para o nosso fora-de-estrada. Apresentada em outubro durante o Salão Duas Rodas 2011, em São Paulo (SP), a G 650 GS Sertão é o primeiro lançamento mundial da marca bávara feito no Brasil e para celebrar esse fato a moto foi batizada com o nome da região mais árida de nosso País.

Da mesma forma que a versão anterior, a nova GS será montada na fábrica da Dafra em Manaus (AM), no mesmo processo CKD, como acontece atualmente. A novidade, entretanto, é que ela já está sendo fabricada em Berlim, Alemanha, e com a mesma nomenclatura. Ou seja, a Europa terá que aprender como se pronuncia “Sertão”. Segundo a marca, a moto chega ao mercado nacional em maio por R$ 32.800, um pouco superior ao valor de R$ 29.800 cobrado pela G 650 GS (ambas sem frete).

Na parte estética, a Sertão adota os mesmos traços da versão 2012 da GS, mas traz pintura personalizada (em branco e azul, com a inscrição "Sertão" na lateral do falso taque de combustível). A nova versão adota alguns acessórios que reforçam as suas características off-road. O para-lama dianteiro ficou mais alongado e agora conta com um protetor emborrachado na ponta, mudanças também no para-brisa, trocado por outro mais longo e as manoplas ganharam protetores de mão. As rodas também são diferentes e abandonaram o desenho sofisticado da liga leve para adotar os raios de alumínio das motos de enduro.

“A BMW Sertão conta com características mais esportivas, uma habilidade off-road ainda maior e um desejo mais intenso por aventura”, explica Rolf Epp, Diretor da BMW Motorrad Brasil, sobre as qualidades da versão mais radical da linha G 650 GS.

Em time vencedor... pode mexer!

Para a alegria dos fãs da trail alemã, o motor não foi alterado. A versão Sertão conta com o mesmo propulsor monocilíndrico de 652 cm³ refrigerado a água. A potência gerada continua sendo de 48 cv a 6500 rpm e o torque máximo permanece em 6,1 kgf.m a 5000 rpm. Na ciclística, há algumas diferenças. O conjunto de suspensão com curso de 170 mm na dianteira e 165 mm na traseira na GS tradicional passou para 210 mm de curso em ambas as rodas da versão Sertão, deixando-a mais apta para enfrentar terrenos acidentados.

O assento também acompanhou a altura da moto e passou dos 800 mm para 860 mm na Sertão que, por sua vez, pode chegar a 900 com o auxílio de um acessório especial. No comprimento total, ela também está 20 mm mais longa e ganhou um quilo a mais de peso seco, chegando aos 193 kg.

Entre os itens de tecnologia embarcada, pelos quais a BMW é famosa, a Sertão também conta com a opção de habilitar/desabilitar o sistema de freios ABS para rodar na terra. Além disso, a nova GS Sertão compartilha da mesma gama de acessórios disponíveis para as outras motos da marca, como sistema de alarme anti-furto e aquecedores de manopla, cavalete central, soquete 12 Volts e assento rebaixado.

Ambas à venda

Embora venha com uma série de melhorias, principalmente para uso longe do asfalto, a Sertão não irá substituir a G 650 GS, que continuará sendo vendida aqui. Trata-se de outra versão para complementar o line-up e atrair pilotos com perfil mais aventureiro, como acontece com as Yamaha XTZ 660Z Ténéré e XT 660R. Resta agora esperar a moto chegar ao mercado e ver se esta BMW faz jus à proposta. Só para recordar, a moto terá preço sugerido de R$ 32.800.

FONTE: Msn Motos


Honda lança nova geração de quadriciclo

TRX 420 Fourtrax foi desenvolvido para ser usado em trilhas ou no trabalho agrícola.

Veículo será vendido em duas versões a partir de R$ 16,8 mil.

TRX 420 Foutrax pode atravessar riachos, lamaçais e atoleiros (Foto: Divulgação)

Quadriciclo também é usado por agricultores (Foto: Divulgação)

A Honda anunciou nesta quinta-feira (27) o lançamento do quadriciclo TRX 420 Fourtrax, um veículo muito utilizado para fazer pequenas trilhas off-road ou para o trabalho agrícola. O modelo chega para substituir a versão TRX 350, que no ano passado vendeu mais 1 mil unidades no país.

O quadriciclo será oferecido em duas versões, com tração 4x2 ou 4x4, motor de 420 cc com 26,5 cavalos de potência e torque mais elevado, com um ganho de 27% de força em relação ao modelo anterior, de acordo com o fabricante.

Outra novidade do TRX 420 Fourtrax é o sistema de injeção eletrônica que garante menor consumo de combustível.

O quadriciclo tem preço público sugerido de R$ 16.800 (versão 4x2) e R$ 18.900 (versão 4x4), para o estado de São Paulo. O valor não inclui frete e seguro. O modelo tem garantia de um ano.

FONTE: G1

UV'S: uma nova tendência no Brasil

VERSATILIDADE

Com dimensões similares a um quadriciclo convencional, os “side-by-side”, também chamados de UTV's, podem andar nas mesmas trilhas só que têm concepção de verdadeiros carros, com os ocupantes sentados lado a lado. Esses modelos conquistaram o mercado norte-americano pela versatilidade e segurança, e com proposta diferente aos quadriciclos. Com suspensão independente nas quatro rodas, transmissão automática e capacidade de carga até 800 kg, podem atender às mais diversas aplicações e transportar até seis pessoas. Os destaques são os modelos Razor, voltados ao uso recreativo, e Ranger, trabalho agricola, em construtoras, mineradoras, parques, condomínios, complexos turisticos e aplicações militares. 

FONTE: Opovo

Diesel UTVs Working Into The Market 

By Guido Ebert

Sales of Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) – also commonly referred to as Side-by-Side Vehicles (SSVs) – more than sextupled during the past 20 years, from 37,000 units sold in 1990 to 240,000 units sold in 2010. Think of these vehicles as something more capable than a golf cart but easier to operate than a standard All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV).

Available in two- and four-wheel drive configurations and powered by internal combustion engines – or increasingly, electric motors – UTVs typically have bench seats for one or more occupants, feature long-travel suspensions capable of traversing a variety of terrain, are often outfitted with roll cages and seat belts for occupant safety and usually offer some sort of rear dump bed or cargo platform. These help classify the vehicles as light-duty (1200 lb. and under capacity), medium-duty (1201 to 1800 lb. capacity) or heavy-duty (over 1800 lbs. capacity).

The UTV market can most simply be split between commercial and consumer users. While recreational UTVs, led by the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris Rangers and RZRs, Arctic Cat Prowler, Kawasaki Teryx and the more recent Can-Am Commander, have been responsible for a great deal of the market’s growth in recent years, cannibalizing the consumer market for large displacement utility ATVs. Studies suggest an even larger percentage of UTV buyers use the vehicles for commercial utility purposes, whether for farming, use on large tracts of land such as ranches or for industrial applications (i.e. manufacturing and warehouse applications, railroads, mines, oil fields and pipelines, chemical plants, contractors, site & survey crews, logging, etc.).

Power Products Marketing (PPM) has been studying the UTV market in depth for over 10 years by annually identifying unit sales of all types of UTVs by OEM and model. Our findings suggest farmers, ranchers, estate and golf course groundskeepers, industrial applications and government purchases account for a full 67% of UTV sales (with the remainder split between recreation and the hunting market).

Diesel-powered models make up a small but growing share of the UTV market destined for commercial utilization. Of the 240,000 UTVs sold in the United States in 2010, PPM found that 29,000 units (12%), were diesel-powered – a big jump from the 7000 to 8000 diesel units sold in 2004.

Diesel UTVs are generally used for utility applications, and there is an increasing potential for sales of diesel UTVs in the overseas markets, with Deere’s diesel Gator, Toro’s diesel Workman, Kubota’s diesel RTV, and Kawasaki’s diesel Mule all selling in significant numbers overseas. In fact, leading diesel UTV suppliers include names you likely know: Kubota, Deere, Kawasaki and Bobcat. Lets take a look at how each of these companies arrived at where they are today with their diesel UTV offerings.

Kubota manufactures its UTVs in Gainesville, Ga., where some sub-compact tractors and ZTR mower products are produced.

Looking to capitalize on its huge compact tractor and mower products customer base, Kubota offered its first entry into the UTV market with the RTV900 4×4 diesel vehicle featuring a hydrostatic drive as an early-release 2004 model, in 2008 introduced a new RTV 1100 integral cab model to complement the lone RTV900 model, and in the spring of 2009 introduced the RTV 1140-CPX 4-passenger vehicle.

Kubota’s lineup of seven models of UTV for 2010 included six diesel-powered models, the RTV900 ($12,470) and 900 Camo ($14,220), RTV1100 ($18,750) and 1100 Camo ($19,500), and RTV 1140 CPX ($15,995) and 1140 CPX Camo ($16,470). PPM research suggests Kubota accounted for 62% of the total diesel UTV market in 2010.

Deere’s current UTV line-up consists of two Gator HPX 4×4 models, five T Series models, three XUV models and the CX 4×2. The genesis of these vehicles dates to 1992 with the introduction of the six- and four-wheel Gators. In 2003, after more than three years in development, a new Gator program culminated with the introduction of two new series – two compact UTV models with payloads of 800 lb. and a five-model HPX series consisting of 4×2 and 4×4 gas and diesel engine models.

In 2004 a third series made its debut, the Traditional-series, or T-series, consisting of four models. Then, in 2007, the company began selling its XUV series consisting of two units, the Kawasaki-powered XUV 620i and the Yanmar diesel-powered XUV 850D. Those two XUVs were joined by a third model for 2011: the company’s first true recreational machine, the 50 hp gasoline-powered XUV 825i.

Although Deere manufactured at other locations in the past, the UTVs are now exclusively designed and built in Horicon, Wis. Deere built its 500,000th unit there in September 2010.

Deere’s line of 11 models of all-terrain UTVs for 2010 included three diesel-powered models, the XUV 850D ($11,239), Gator TH 6×4 Diesel ($11,439) and HPX Diesel 4×4 ($10,599). PPM suggests Deere accounted for 8% of the total diesel UTV market in 2010.

Kawasaki introduced the Mule (Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment Vehicle) to market in 1988 with the Mule 1000. Initially designed for turf and light-duty industrial applications, the vehicle family later became influenced by automotive styling cues and performance features to attract a larger audience in the recreational market.

The first diesel model – the Mule 2510 Diesel, powered by a 953 cc three-cylinder liquid-cooled engine – was added to the line-up in 1999. A second vehicle, the newly-designed Mule 3010 Diesel, powered by the same engine as the previous model, was introduced in 2003.

The introduction of the Mule 3010 Trans4x4 Diesel in 2006 heralded new designs and a flagship model that could convert from a two-passenger unit to a four-passenger unit that is also capable of carrying cargo. It became an immediate hit in the utility market and with recreational users such as hunters. That best-selling model was then followed by the Mule 4010 4×4 Diesel in 2008 and the Mule 4010 Trans4x4 Diesel in 2009.

Kawasaki builds its Mule product alongside Jet Skis and ATVs at the company’s factory in Lincoln, Neb. Kawasaki’s lineup of 15 models of UTV for 2010 included two diesel-powered models, the Mule 4010 Trans 4×4 Diesel ($12,199) and the Mule 4010 4×4 Diesel ($11,199). PPM suggests Kawasaki accounted for 8% of the total diesel UTV market in 2010.

Bobcat, a major manufacturer of skid-steer loaders (SSLs) and mini excavators, supplies a customer base of construction contractors, farmers and rental companies. During 2002, Bobcat introduced its Workmate 2100 UV, which was manufactured by Club Car, another Ingersoll-Rand subsidiary. It was a clone of the XRT 1200 with the same drivetrain but sporting a white front cowl.

In the second half of 2007, Ingersoll-Rand sold Bobcat to Doosan Infracore, formerly known as Daewoo, a large Korean conglomerate that manufactures light construction equipment. Then, in early March 2009, Polaris announced a strategic alliance with Bobcat for the two companies to penetrate commercial market segments globally. The partnership would center on co-development of a new series of UTVs that were targeted for the second half of 2010.

 Today that four-model line features the 3200 4×2, 3400 4×4, 3400XL 4×4 and 3450 4×4. Three of the four models feature diesel engines – the 3400 Diesel ($12,109), 3400 XL Diesel ($14,071) and 3450 4×4 Diesel ($15,313). PPM figures suggest Bobcat accounted for 2% of the total diesel UTV market in 2010.

Guido Ebert has served as a powersports industry press representative, speaker, analyst and consultant for businesses in the U.S., Europe and Asia. A former editor at two trade publications serving the U.S. powersports industry, he now spends time as a consultant working with Power Products Marketing, a market research firm that provides detailed market share data and research services to the global power equipment industry. Power Products Marketing is at 7525 Mitchell Road, Suite 203, Minneapolis, MN 55344. Phone: (952) 893-6870