2 new coaches available on UFO

[Wishin'&Hopin']

There will be a 37' and 39' coaches available
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...28/030003.html

[Wishin'&Hopin']

There will be a 37' and 39' coaches available
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...28/030003.html

[tderonne]

And a new entry level model Vista/Sunstar. Hmmmm...

And IRV2 wasn't the first place to post it, wow!

[ISLAPP]

I'm kinda surprised that the Destination/Latitude will be offered on both the gas UFO and the Freightliner XC. I thought one of the reasons for the UFO was that there wouldnt be that hump in the back for the engine. And that next year, you could get the UFO with the diesel. Now with the Freightliner XC you are in a traditional diesel pusher complete with air ride and I assume a 330HP engine, whereas the UFO will eventually only have a 300HP diesel available and no air ride. I wonder what the cost difference is between the two chassis'.
I also wonder if other OEM's are considering offering both the UFO and existing diesel pusher chassis' in the same floor plans.

[FrontRangeRVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ISLAPP:
I'm kinda surprised that the Destination/Latitude will be offered on both the gas UFO and the Freightliner XC. I thought one of the reasons for the UFO was that there wouldnt be that hump in the back for the engine. And that next year, you could get the UFO with the diesel. Now with the Freightliner XC you are in a traditional diesel pusher complete with air ride and I assume a 330HP engine, whereas the UFO will eventually only have a 300HP diesel available and no air ride. I wonder what the cost difference is between the two chassis'.
I also wonder if other OEM's are considering offering both the UFO and existing diesel pusher chassis' in the same floor plans. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The UFO will be standard, and the Freightliner XC will be optional.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tderonne:
And a new entry level model Vista/Sunstar. Hmmmm...

And IRV2 wasn't the first place to post it, wow! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nice post, great thunder stealer though....

I just got off the phone with the iRV2 contingent in attendance in Louisville and they were headed back to the room to post this.....oh well, at least THEY SAW IT IN PERSON and not from a magazine article.

Thanks just the same for sharing the information...

[RV 4 2]

It will be interesting to see some Destination/Latitude literature. Hopefully someone will post a couple of pictures soon. Bummer that they are not incorporating a UFO on the high end gas lines without offering new models. Oh well, can't have everything.

[FrontRangeRVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RV 4 2:
It will be interesting to see some Destination/Latitude literature. Hopefully someone will post a couple of pictures soon. Bummer that they are not incorporating a UFO on the high end gas lines without offering new models. Oh well, can't have everything. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

WOW! This is a good point...I am wondering why Winnebago doesn't put the Adventurer on the UFO!!

[rebelsbeach]

In the case of the Adventurer, an old wise man once said....If it ain't broke, don't FIX it!!

[DriVer]

Returning from the RVIA Show here in Louisville I couldn't wait to get on the computer so that we could release the news. Yes indeed Winnebago Industries in a major Press Announcement made by Mr. Bruce Hertzke this morning at about 9:30 revealed from under a black curtain 2 new models of motorhome which are not just mere carbon copies of existing models but totally new coaches from top to bottom. Mr. Hertzke in his introductory comments said that Winnebago Industries gave a great deal of input to Workhorse in the process of engineering the new coaches.

The names of the models are the Winnebago Destination and the Itasca Latitude. These rigs are available in 2 different floorplans the 37G and 39W. The interior of the coaches feature extensive usage of rounded cabinet doors and absence of hinges. The front cabin area of the coach over the driver's station features a semi circular array of cabinets that give more than the appearance of just a pretty face but they also have deep storage capabilities from left to right.

The interior of the coach features quite a bit of detail lighting by means of rope lights which are located up high in the corners of the woodwork out of sight. A very nice effect in deed.

The passenger's seat is set back both off from the dash and from the side wall in order to give the occupant the feeling of space and so that when the chair is rotated aft it looks more like a piece of furniture rather than a passenger seat.

The interior of the coach features a large wide screen flat panel display and it's located midway up on the wall on the right side of the coach. There was no mention of a front mounted TV.

The coach features a one-piece windshield with low mounted wiper blades and arms similar to an automobile or pickup truck

The bedroom area features a center island type bed on the 37G with a closet slideout on the street side. The slideout on the 39W has a queen or king bed option, closet, pantry, refrigerator and the kitchen counter. The slideout looks like it's about 20 feet long.

The interior of the 39W has a center wall with a walk through bathroom similar to the 38T bathroom. There's plenty of room in the bath and there's plenty of room for your stuff.

The Standard chassis for these motorhomes is the 26,000lb. gas-powered UFO chassis. Reviewing the weight and loading sheet on the Latitude UFO the CCC was 2,700+ pounds. This should be plenty of weight carrying capacity for more owners given this is a 39 foot motorhome with a very long street side slideout.

The 39W Winnebago Destination was presented on a 28K Freightliner XC RDP that features the 300HP 6.7L Cummins ISB engine. In an interview with Winnebago executives Winnebago has an in place agreement that they will only use diesel engines of any kind in Freightliner Custom Chassis. The CCC on this coach was 3,610 pounds.

The Workhorse UFO will be only available in gas if you want to buy a Winnebago or Itasca motorhome. Now that's not altogether a bad thing unless you absolutely must have diesel. The Workhorse UFO is a dream to drive and it has more than enough power to meet and exceed the requirements of most owners. In an interview with a Winnebago executive he told both Bill and I that by placing the gas engine in the rear that things such as squeaks and rattles would be more readily apparent. If they were to exist extensive testing was done on the Winnebago test track in order to defeat the possibility of squeaks and rattles detracting from the quality of the ride. The UFO is remarkably quiet when going down the road.

Looking over at the air conditioning system, it remains a basement model located on the street side. On the other side of the motorhome is a side mounted A/C condenser. The One Place continues as it always has by placing all the coach controls in a single location. I made a comment to the product planner of the coach that a ceiling downlight for the One Place would be needed since Winnebago customers like to see the light there.

Some of the features of these new motorhomes are:

<LI> Workhorse UFO Gas Pusher - Standard
<LI> Freightliner XC DP -Optional
<LI> Full Body paint w/ Film Graphics
<LI> Mid Coach Entry
<LI> Pass Through Storage
<LI> Automatic Leveling Jacks
<LI> Flexsteel Ultra Leather Cab Seats
<LI> Three Decor Choices
<LI> Two Wood Choices Honey Cherry Wood or Honey Cherry with Washed maple Accents
<LI> Curved Cabinet Doors
<LI> 30" TV w/ Built In Entertainment Center
<LI> Side-Hinged Exterior Doors
<LI> Abundant Interior Storage

There isn't a driver's door on these coaches which may be a disappointment to some. All the models are mid-entry. The driver's position on the UFO features the "new" 2007 IP which features 5 background colors to match your mood. Adjustable pedals and touch pad shifting are standard. The steering cut on the rig is 55 degrees which is better than any other gas rig.

In an official statement today which will soon come out in a more formal press release the Workhorse UFO and W-Series motorhomes will features the GM, 5 year 100,000 mile warranty on the engine. The transmission is already there as warrantied by Allison.

I witnessed a motorhome today that has a 7 in the 10th position in the VIN# and it had the new cool pack without the auxiliary cooling fans and the new IP. So you can look for that ol' number 7 when you go shopping for your new motorhome and those features should be standard on Winnebago Industries motorhomes going forward.

I hope to download the pictures I shot and provide you folks with more information by Thursday or Friday. I will also be putting up additional materials and product information as soon as they become available.

Regards .. Live from Louisville, KY.

[rebelsbeach]

NICE JOB MIKE!! Wish I could've been there, but you and Bill are doing a GREAT job of seeing the "firsts" for the new models and then being able to bring them back to our members here at iRV2.

[tderonne]

Great info Mike. Puts some meat on the bones of the press release.

Is there a Vista/Sunstar there too? Or is that just some shuffling of the Sightseer/Sunova models? Perhaps another bunk model? The 35J seems to be very popular right now. Maybe they'll play some "wait and see" to see if the demand continues?

As for replacing the Adventurer? Sure they could have slapped Adventurer on the new coach, but why? The Adventurer is quite strong by itself, let it continue on for a while, the tooling is surely paid for already. But on the other hand, Vista/Sightseer/Voyage/Adventurer/Destination may get a bit combersome. Not to mention the overlap of the Destination into the Journey/Tour/Vectra arena. Although, if I had to guess, I don't think there's a weak line in the bunch right now that would be a candidate for dropping.

One of these years I'll make it to the RVIA show, it's got to be a lot of fun.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ISLAPP:
I'm kinda surprised that the Destination/Latitude will be offered on both the gas UFO and the Freightliner XC. I thought one of the reasons for the UFO was that there wouldnt be that hump in the back for the engine. And that next year, you could get the UFO with the diesel. Now with the Freightliner XC you are in a traditional diesel pusher complete with air ride and I assume a 330HP engine, whereas the UFO will eventually only have a 300HP diesel available and no air ride. I wonder what the cost difference is between the two chassis'.
I also wonder if other OEM's are considering offering both the UFO and existing diesel pusher chassis' in the same floor plans. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I heard the new Freightliner chassis will have a flat floor in the bedroom because the engine has been lowered. The wheel cramp has been increased to 60 degrees.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tderonne:
One of these years I'll make it to the RVIA show, it's got to be a lot of fun. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tim, with all respect to me not knowing your line of work, the RVIA show is a closed show to the public and thus is only open to those in the RV related industries as well as the press corp.
If in fact you're in an RV related biz, I apologize and would love to meet you next year in Louisville.
I was unable to make the trip this year at the last minute,but after speaking to Warpath on the phone this afternoon I had to get a new phone as drool ruined the one I had.