Big Red MUV700 Release

Introducing the Biggest News in the Off-Road Vehicle World - the Honda Big Red MUV, the real go anywhere work truck for Kiwi Farmers. You’ve seen the other side-by-side off-road vehicles out there. Now get ready to experience the only one good enough to be called a Honda. Big Red, the Multi-purpose Utility Vehicle (MUV) was officially launched in New Zealand 10am Wednesday 10th June at Fieldays, Hamilton.

It is more stable than anything else available. It is better handling than anything else. It has better grip than anything else. It's more utility work-tool than anything else.

All other side-x-side off-road utility vehicles were derived from the grounds-care and leisure trailing products of the USA markets. As the last into the market Honda has been careful to focus in on one market and be the best in that - utility farming use.

Grounds-care vehicles are designed to be low ground-pressure and for use in flat land small holdings covering short distances. Low ground-pressure for this class and weight of vehicle means low grip on hills and uneven terrain! Short distances means low speed and short range commonly diesel powered and you can get away with a CVT belt-drive auto, this spec just doesn't cut it though on slopes and over longer distances, burning away work time.

Leisure trail Off-roader vehicles are designed to be fast, lively, do jumps, have light edgy steering and slide the rear wheels about. Fast, lively and jumps means long travel sports suspension for high speeds and flat land use, this means poor stability on slopes and over-spec tuning. Edgy steering and rear wheel slide means poor all-terrain grip and an imbalance at low speed manouvering.

So, if you want a true utility farmers tool - back to the drawing board - which is where Honda went.

Big Red has a powerful liquid-cooled efi petrol engine provides light-weight torque and power. An innovative mechanical direct shaft drive automatic puts any other side-by-side out to pasture, BIG RED is ready to get to work. The engine and drive train is longitudinally mounted to reduce transfer diff losses, so a Big Red achieves more power to the wheels with less cc - which also means lower fuel consumption and a lighter engine, perfect for longer distance range and helping with the weight balance and power-to-weight ratio needed for hill work!

The other big feature not seen on any other product in this sector is the Honda Double Wishbone Suspension. This has several benefits; it keeps the wheels vertical to the ground when compressed, avoiding wheels angling in or out on corners, which means a larger tyre surface contact is maintained at all times and steering remains light and consistent. Result - more grip, better handling, nicer ride, less steering load and better cornering and slope stability. Perfect for hill farmers!

The growing popularity of multi-purpose utility vehicles in New Zealand is no surprise - but it is a surprise that it has been achieved with compromise products not really designed solely for farm use, with very few exceptions, competitors have been designed for compromise covering more than one market, with bits added or swapped to adapt to customer demands. The result is that the new Honda is an all new single market sector product - it is designed to be the best work tool - not off-roader and not grounds-care.

The Big Red MUV with its superior handling, secure surefooted feel and outstanding functionality is destined to be the number one choice for Kiwi farmers. Its multiple patents and numerous automotive-based technology features separate it from all other contenders.

Honda chose to focus its design on being the best all-terrain remote access vehicle, because that's what a farmer will need. The gearing is low and ECM controlled to make it capable of 70km/h while also have real engine braking downhill. The drive is selectable 2WD and 4WD - with diff locks on both, reducing slippage and maintaining traction on the 25x 10-12 tyres all round. This is also a differentiator from most competitors; the largest wheels and same size tyres all-round front and rear, provides balance and even grip - a must on hills and uneven or wet terrain. Perfect for hill farmers!

"If you're looking for a do-it-all workhorse side-x-side, then look no further than Honda's Big Red."

-Motorcycle-usa.com

Big Red is lighter than all other work MUV competitors, meaning less fuel used and greater manoeuvrability. It has a wider wheel base too, meaning more stability. It has the largest ground clearance of the utility competitors, but the best Centre of Gravity - making it even more stable and very clever with almost non-existent bodyroll when cornering or on slopes. Perfect for hill farmers!