John Deere Expands Line-Up of Crossover Utility Vehicles
OutdoorHub 11.30.11
Cary, NC — Now it’s easier than ever to conquer tough terrain and bring your buddies and gear along for the ride. The new John Deere GatorTM Mid-Duty XUV 550 and 550 S4 crossover utility vehicles offer off-road performance, improved comfort, cargo versatility, and the ability to transport up to 4 people across the most challenging landscapes.
“These new vehicles provide an unparalleled balance of off-road performance and work capability at a very affordable price,” said David Gigandet, tactical marketing manager, Gator utility vehicles. “The new John Deere Gator XUV 550 and 550 S4 are a great compliment to our popular line-up of XUVs, and offer the most comfortable way to get you, your crew, and all your supplies to those hard-to-reach destinations.”
With best-in-class, fully independent, double wishbone suspension, the Gator XUV 550 and 550 S4 provide 9-inches of wheel travel, and up to 10.5-inches of ground clearance to smooth out the ride. In addition, for the 550, you can choose from either standard high back bucket seats or bench seats. The 550 S4 comes standard with 2 rows of bench seats.
“Operators will not only appreciate the smooth ride, they’ll love the all new ergonomically designed operator station,” continued Gigandet. “The development of these new Gators started in the operator’s station, so they offer ample leg room, storage and dash mounted, automotive-type, controls.”
The Gator XUV 550 and 550 S4 deliver mid-duty work capability with speed and ease. Both vehicles have a top speed of 28 mph, and 4-wheel drive to quickly traverse all types of terrain. The 16-hp, 570 cc, air-cooled, v-twin gas engine provides greater speed and horsepower than most vehicles in its class, and the cargo box can carry up to 400 lbs of gear. In addition, the 550 is small enough to fit in the bed of a standard pick-up truck.
For a larger crew and cargo versatility, the 550 S4 provides rear seat flexibility. Two additional passengers can be transported in the rear seat, or if more cargo capacity is needed, the rear seat flips down to become a cargo rack.
“The rear seat flexibility in the Gator XUV 550 S4 is truly innovative,” said Gigandet. “The S4 can transport up to 4 people, but for the times when you need to carry more gear, the back seat can become more useful in seconds and increase your cargo space by 32 percent.”
The new Gator XUV 550 models are available in Realtree Hardwoods™ HD Camo ortraditional John Deere green and yellow. There are also over 75 available attachments and accessories to customize all Gator XUV models, such as, cabs, brush guards, and custom alloy wheels.
In addition to the XUV 550 and 550 S4, John Deere also offers the 625i, 825i and the 855D to round out its full line of crossover utility vehicles.
Visit your local John Deere dealer or www.JohnDeere.com/Gator to learn more.
