This is actually pretty cool. It's the first ever purpose-built disable access vehicle, and it's being built at the old AM General plant.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/06/2011-vpg-autos-mv-1-quick-spin-review/
Reading the article you find it's body-on-frame, has Ford interior parts, and is powered by a 4.6L 2V SOHC V8 with a 4-speed auto...
Yup. It's the Panther chassis! Wonder if P71 suspension goodies will swap under?
I wonder if it would be available in non-disabled access trim. Looks like it would make a neat camper/tow rig
i saw that earlier. i usually like the ugly and obscure but not that.
looks kind of like a honda element had a baby with a london taxi, then it grew up horribly obese. the car on its own looks like it might be eligble for a handicap placard.
i get what they are doing and its a really good niche market that could use some attention. but dear god does it have to look like that?
why the hell did they make it look like the hideous honda element?
Have you seen Disabled-Access conversion vans people? 
High center of gravity much? Rollover risk? Horrific ride? 1980's spec plastic cladding?
My guess is that it will be classed as a medium duty truck so as to avoid some mpg and crash test requirements. The difference is that this is a manufactured vehicle not a conversion of a production vehicle.
I see that they are offering CNG fuel options. This leads me to believe that they plan to go after some taxi and ambulette style businesses.
A cargo van "tradesman" type version my be an interesting way to boost production volumes.
javelin, I think there would be more than a few vehicle manufacturers willing to dispute the claim of "...first ever purpose-built disable access vehicle." Admittedly, the vast majority of them are in Europe and have stopped making their disabled access vehicles. But Reliant, yes, THAT Reliant built up quite a niche for themselves in the U.K. building vehicles that were specially designed for disabled drivers. And there are/were? others.
But of course, we haven't had it here in the U.S....so it never existed til now?
Sorry, I don't mean to be bitchy-sounding, but I guess I'm amazed no one has done a better job til now, serving this market, and it's a shame this market is growing.
For those folks who don't like the looks of what is currently available, you do realize that all these vans must have re-inforced floors and chassis/suspensions to carry the weight of the motorized ramp system? The "ugly" plastic cladding is neccesary to keep these vans from looking like 4X4 vehicles.
failboat wrote: i saw that earlier. i usually like the ugly and obscure but not that. looks kind of like a honda element had a baby with a london taxi, then it grew up horribly obese. the car on its own looks like it might be eligble for a handicap placard. i get what they are doing and its a really good niche market that could use some attention. but dear god does it have to look like that?
^^^ This is what I was ready to type.
Doesn't look like a panther rear axle setup almost looks like IRS.... Front suspension looks panther-esque though. Probably had to move a ton of stuff around to have that amount of overhang F&R compared to a CV/GM
sweeeet
I would rock one for business. all my equipment is in roadcases on wheels.. be nice to roll it right into the van like that
Johnny cab
aussiesmg wrote: Johnny cab
Only if Robert Picardo is the driver...
integraguy wrote: javelin, I think there would be more than a few vehicle manufacturers willing to dispute the claim of "...first ever purpose-built disable access vehicle." Admittedly, the vast majority of them are in Europe and have stopped making their disabled access vehicles. But Reliant, yes, THAT Reliant built up quite a niche for themselves in the U.K. building vehicles that were specially designed for disabled drivers. And there are/were? others. But of course, we haven't had it here in the U.S....so it never existed til now? Sorry, I don't mean to be bitchy-sounding, but I guess I'm amazed no one has done a better job til now, serving this market, and it's a shame this market is growing. For those folks who don't like the looks of what is currently available, you do realize that all these vans must have re-inforced floors and chassis/suspensions to carry the weight of the motorized ramp system? The "ugly" plastic cladding is neccesary to keep these vans from looking like 4X4 vehicles.
Its only fitting that reliant supplied them,the three wheel robin caused half of the disabled drivers!
Our buddy Jay tested one of these out over the summer.
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras/green-garage/vpg-mv-1/
Nitroracer wrote: Our buddy Jay tested one of these out over the summer. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras/green-garage/vpg-mv-1/
And that backs up my earlier post... Similar, but different. IRS, might be a panther front subframe.
It's not as ugly as it could be, we have a few of these rolling around up here
In reply to Wally:
looks like a Chevy Colorado mated w/ a '54 Chevy wagon, ugh...
A late HS friend would have been interested in this, but I find it odd they aren't offering a hand control version. Also, that ramp system would be difficult in most parking lots vs a lift set up.
As a disabled driver I appreciate a new player in the market. However - there's no way that long ramp would work in any retail parking lot around here. I drive a GMC Safari, with a lift - I picked this as it's the only mini van chassis they could install a lift in without having to hack up the chassis or adding a roof extension, neither of which I was willing to have them do. Like was mentioned earlier - I like relative stealth, not wanting to scream 'disabled driver' to the masses - so this new offering might not be right for me. I do applaud them though for offering this, and hope they do find a market for it.
Around here, fat lazy people hog all the handicapped spaces anyway. (where do they get those temporary placards anyway?) I vote for a push bar on the front to push illegally parked cars out of the handicapped spaces!
(and I know that there are legitimate uses for temporary tags..I am not talking to you. Please don;t be offended. I am speaking to the people who had foot surgery ten years ago and still use their tag to literally run into Wal Mart to get smokes and bacon.)
New van, US made, V8 powered, funky good(?) looks? I'm on board. Count me as among those interested in a tradesman version.
When I first looked at the picture, I thought that it had Ford design elements. Maybe it's just me.
pinchvalve wrote: Around here, fat lazy people hog all the handicapped spaces anyway. (where do they get those temporary placards anyway?) I vote for a push bar on the front to push illegally parked cars out of the handicapped spaces! (and I know that there are legitimate uses for temporary tags..I am not talking to you. Please don;t be offended. I am speaking to the people who had foot surgery ten years ago and still use their tag to literally run into Wal Mart to get smokes and bacon.)
not all the placecards are temporary. My father lives in Mass and his perminent tag hangs from the mirror. He has two artificial hips, so there is nothing temporary about his problem (they were done in the early 70s, before artificial hips were that good.. so his mobility is NOT good)
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