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Vehicle Production Group
The MV-1 from the Vehicle Production Group.
By Dan Carney, msnbc.com contributor
If you were hoping to find a way to make the Honda Element even uglier -- I found your dream car on display at the Detroit auto show.
The MV-1 (it stands for “Mobility Vehicle – One”) from the Vehicle Production Group looks like a stretched Honda Element. Despite its boxy, ungainly proportions, the car is beautiful to its intended customers -- people in wheelchairs.
Until now, wheelchair-bound drivers had to convert a minivan to accept a necessary ramp or lift. That process chops through major structural parts, leaving the hacked van with diminished ride and handling and uncertain crash protection, according to VPG retail president Dave Schembri.
“Converted minivans just don’t work because they don’t have separate bodies and chassis and it kills them when they are cut in half by converters,” remarked Harley Holt, a consultant on government regulatory issues for carmakers.
While the guys at VPG might not have put much effort into thinking of a name for the company, it looks like they’ve done their homework on their car.
The MV-1 uses a traditional body-on-frame design, with a Ford 4.6-liter V8 engine and rear wheel drive, just like the taxi stalwart, the Crown Victoria. And since the Crown Vic is going out of production, the MV-1 is a potential future taxi vehicle.
“It’s a great idea, and if it can survive New York taxi and limo use, it will be a winner,” Holt said.
Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images
Upscale sedans, electric vehicles and old-school muscle cars make their debuts at the 2012 North American International Auto show.
The indications are that it will because the design work was done by Roush Engineering. Yes, that’s the design and engineering branch of the Jack Roush racing team that’s famous for its NASCAR program. Assembly is by AM General, the Indiana company that builds the Army’s Humvee, using the factory that used to build Hummer H2s for General Motors.
The result is a purpose-built, made-in-America, rock-solid, unmodified vehicle that uses proven Ford powertrain components. The vehicle is also certified to meet government crash safety standards, unlike the modified minivans wheelchair drivers depend on today.
With a price tag of $41,000, the MV-1 is much cheaper than a converted minivan, Schembri pointed out. Military veterans have an $11,000 benefit to help pay for their vehicle, making it even more affordable for wounded vets. It even has optional natural gas power, which is not only cheaper to fuel, but also lets the MV-1 use carpool lanes in some states.
By building the MV-1 to accommodate wheelchairs from the beginning, VPG has made the floor low enough that the entry ramp has a much flatter angle to climb than on converted vans, for easier ingress and egress. Jay Leno liked what he saw when VPG visited his Big Dog Garage.
It looks like wheelchair drivers -- there are four million people in wheelchairs in the U.S., according to the company -- will think the MV-1 is a beauty.
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Leave a Comment:
I hate to rain on their parade, but a Ford 4.6L V8 engine, body on frame design, and the appearance in the picture makes me think that this is probably a Ford E-150. Didn't Ford recently announce that they are going to discontinue the E-series in favor of the Ford Transit?
If it's a front engine, rear drive design then there has to be a drive shaft hump. If the floor was built lower to the ground to decrease the angle of the entry ramp the the drive shaft hump would be higher. How do they get over it? Just curious.
I don't see a drive shaft hump in the picture. Maybe I am wrong about the van being based on an E-150? Or could an E-150 have been modified to FWD somehow? If I remember right, the 4.6L Modular V8 is a 90° design so it would be a little hard to cram that in sideways, unless it is a longitudinal engine/FWD design similar to the Dodge Intrepid.
I was very interested in this vehicle when I first heard about it some time ago. However, the standard configuration is NOT for handicapped drivers, it's set up for wheelchair bound PASSENGERS.
The vehicle still needs modifications to the driver's station to allow for transfers, etc. Additionally, I don't believe there is quite enough headroom to allow for taller scooter (not wheelchair) users like myself to get in without bumping the pumpkin on the side doorframe.
So my verdict is close, but no cigar.
The article repeats 'wheelchair drivers' and the assumption should be that it can be driven by those in wheelchairs
Bad reporting Dan Carney, bad reporting.
It will be a handicapped peoples hot rod. With the same engine thats in police cars imagine a person using a hand throttle to outrun the cops in this thing. It probably wont corner too well & they (cops) will catch up in the turns.
I HATE THAT TERM Wheelchair bound, like I'm duck taped to my wheelchair. I get in and out of my wheelchair you nuckle head. I am a person that uses a wheelchair for mobility. You sound like you are writting in the 20s.
I am a wheelchair user and was very excited to read about this vehicle a few years ago. I finally got to see one at the Abilities Expo (Edison, NJ) in 2010. The vehicle is a complete piece of garbage. One would think that building an accessible vehicle from the ground up would be an opportunity to do it properly, instead of struggling with existing body-types that weren't intended to be cut in half and converted. The MV-1 is a massive gas hog that has "contractor-grade, American craftsmanship" written all over it. The MPG is about 13 and no diesel model is available. Cheap and no attention to detail, I expected the price to be reasonable... not quite. It starts at $42K.
togspled nailed it, bad reporting Dan Carney.
Just for the record, I own a Honda Element converted. I don't love it, but considering the alternatives it's pretty good. The Honda is reliable, fairly agile, and reasonably sized. It was VERY expensive costing me $52K new, as the conversion costs is the same as the vehicle itself (I received funding for about 40% of the total cost through NJ's Division of Vocational Rehab).
For the record, just about ALL of the minivan converters follow Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The author needs to check his facts before posting stories for the impressionable world to read.
Hey Dan Carney, get the real facts here:
Better yet, how about you all view this article regarding the MV-1:
Well, apparently this site won't let you post links as a new user. Go the the National Mobility Equipment Dealer's Association's website for more information. They post the FMVSS results from all of the top vehicle converters.
w w w . n m e d a . c o m
These vehicles get terrible gas mileage compared to a minivan that is converted. 13 MPG, good job VPG. They also look terrible and scream "I'm in a wheelchair" when going down the road. The minivans that I've seen converted look like normal vans and you can't even tell they are wheelchair accessible. Also the ramp on the MV1 is super long and only available as a manual ramp. Wheelchair users want power ramps and need them. This vehicle is horrible. They wont sell. Google wheelchair vans and see for yourself who else is out there.
Did MV1 write this article for your Dan Carney? Do your homework first.
Great job by the manufacturer in identifying an ever growing market that is currently being under served. Between the aging population base and the steady stream of veterans/servicemen(wo) returning from war zones that will need a "modified" vehicle this market will see exponential growth.
It appears from the comments here that the mfg. should have, or needs to put together some focus groups consisting of potential users. All the better to avoid costly design & functionality errors prior to production.
The idea is golden though.
I am a wheelchair user and was very excited to read about this vehicle a few years ago. I finally got to see one at the Abilities Expo (Edison, NJ) in 2010. The vehicle is a complete piece of garbage. One would think that building an accessible vehicle from the ground up would be an opportunity to do it properly, instead of struggling with existing body-types that weren't intended to be cut in half and converted. The MV-1 is a massive gas hog that has "contractor-grade, American craftsmanship" written all over it. The MPG is about 13 and no diesel model is available. Cheap and no attention to detail, I expected the price to be reasonable... not quite. It starts at $42K.
togspled nailed it, bad reporting Dan Carney.
Just for the record, I own a Honda Element converted. I don't love it, but considering the alternatives it's pretty good. The Honda is reliable, fairly agile, and reasonably sized. It was VERY expensive costing me $52K new, as the conversion costs is the same as the vehicle itself (I received funding for about 40% of the total cost through NJ's Division of Vocational Rehab).
I don't even have a vehicle for myself yet and I can see that this is a piece of junk.
I have been all over this car, both at the plant where they are built and on the street. I can tell you the following:
there will be thousands in NYC by the end of 2012 - per the city itself. don't discount until you find out more. see the company @ www.vpgautos.com