Honda Announces ATV with automatic transmission
SEE ALSO: ATV's Are Kid Killers
13 September 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 9, 1999 Honda Announces ATV with automatic transmission Foreman Rubicon features revolutionary beltless design New Orleans, LA $B!>(BAmerican Honda Motor Company unveiled a dramatically new all terrain vehicle (ATV), the Foreman Rubicon to its motorcycle dealers yesterday. The Foreman Rubicon, Honda$B!G(Bs largest ATV, features a revolutionary new beltless automatic transmission called the Hondamatic. Motorcycle dealers assembled for the annual product show at the New Orleans Convention Center were excited to learn that the continuously-variable Hondamatic transmission is compact, quiet, maintenance-free, rugged, impervious to external contaminants, and features engine braking$B!>(Bqualities that existing belt-drive ATV transmissions lack. The liquid-cooled, 500cc, four-wheel drive Rubicon, named after a famous California trail, was displayed as a prototype 2001 model and is due to be released in May 2000. Although complete specifications are not yet available, it is clear that the Rubicon is going to be the ATV to beat in the popular large displacement multi-purpose market. ATV sales are booming and growing at an annual rate of 25-30% for the second year in a row, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council in Irvine, California. Honda expects to capture a significant portion of this growth with the Foreman Rubicon. In the predominant multi-purpose ATV segment, which encompasses farming, ranching, industrial, commercial, utility, and recreational uses, automatic transmissions have become increasing popular. Competitors, like Polaris and Yamaha, offer belt-drive systems that are susceptible to dirt and water and require frequent maintenance. The fully-sealed Hondamatic offers superior performance and reliability and will send competitors hurrying back to the drawing boards. Foreman Rubicon highlights The Rubicon is powered by a liquid-cooled, four valve, 500cc four-stroke single cylinder engine that Honda$B!G(Bs engineers claim outperforms all of its competitors. The engine is notable for several reasons. Engineers were determined to lower the engine$B!G(Bs overall height to improve ground clearance and still maintain a low center-of-gravity for superb handling. A four-valve head design was critical for performance, a feature that usually requires an overhead camshaft. By placing the engine$B!G(Bs camshaft below the cylinder head, the overall height of the engine was lowered. Similarly, the engine$B!G(Bs oil supply, traditionally carried in the bottom of the engine, was relocated to an external tank, further reducing the engine$B!G(Bs height. With over 100 patents pending, the continuously-variable Hondamatic transmission is unlike any transmission ever offered on an ATV - or any other motor vehicle, for that matter. Utilizing a hydromechanical design that Soichiro Honda first introduced on the Juno M85 scooter in 1962, the Hondamatic is compact, quiet, maintenance-free, extremely rugged, and impervious to external contaminants. Significantly, the Hondamatic features engine braking, an elusive feature in belt-drive systems that riders greatly appreciate when negotiating hill terrain. The Hondamatic features an equally versatile set of rider controls. A tank-mounted shifter lever selects Drive, Low, Neutral, and Reverse. A dash-mounted knob offers D1 for maximum torque, D2 for maximum performance, and a third position called ESP, Honda$B!G(Bs exclusive electric shift program. ESP allows the rider to "shift" the Hondamatic at the touch of a thumb using two push-buttons mounted on the left handlebar. Honda$B!G(Bs exhaustive testing of the electronic controls in extreme riding environments ensures trouble-free operation. The Foreman Rubicon features full-time four-wheel drive and an AP-type front differential that substantially reduces torque-steer for improved handling in all riding conditions. The Foreman Rubicon is Honda$B!G(Bs largest ATV, yet extensive weight saving measures have kept the Rubicon$B!G(Bs dry weight below 600 lbs, allowing this workhouse to be highly maneuverable and fun to ride when the chores are done. Basic specifications Engine - liquid-cooled OHV 500cc four-stroke single cylinder, four-valve head Lubrication - dry sump system with engine mounted oil tank Ignition - Electronic Starter - electric starter with auxilliary recoil Transmission - fully automatic hydromechanical, continuously variable with electronic controls Driveline - full time 4WD with AP-type front differential Suspension - Front: independent with 6.7 inches of travel. Rear: solid axle with twin shocks, 6.7 inches of travel Brakes - Front: hydraulic triple-sealed drums. Rear: hydraulic triple sealed drum Tires - Front: 25x8-12, aluminum wheels. Rear: 25x10-12. aluminum wheels Lighting - Front: twin 30-watt halogen headlights. Rear: twin 5-watt tail lights Instrumentation - digital readouts for speedometer, odometer/tripmeter, oil temperature, transmission mode, and clock/engine hours; lights for reverse, neutral, oil temperature warning Length - 81.5 inches Width - 46.7 inches Dry weight - 597 lbs Availability - May, 2000 Price (MSRP) - TBA END
