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BakerDavid.com : Work : Portfolio : Independent Mobility Systems announces new offerings, unveils new concepts at NMEDA |  |
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Rear entry Toyota Sienna and Scion xB top the bill at the conference of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association in Dallas, TexasDallas, TX—February 26, 2004—At this year's annual meeting of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), Independent Mobility Systems (IMS) announced several products to increase diversity in its already broad line of mobility products. Two of these newly announced products—the Sienna Rampvan RE and the Scion xB xRamp—are concept vehicles displayed to gauge dealer and industry reactions, without any specifically stated information on availability. The other two products are immediately available through IMS-approved mobility dealers. These include the IMS Rampvan built on the XLE and XLE Limited versions of the popular Toyota Sienna minivan, and the innovative Quad Command Center Seating Kit, which provides second-row seating in vans with the IMS Infloor conversion. Sienna Rampvan RE concept vehicleIt's been a number of years since IMS offered a vehicle with a rear entry ramp. After evaluating the Toyota Sienna, IMS engineers felt that this chassis was a great candidate for a state-of-the-art rear-entry conversion. At NMEDA, attendees got a first glimpse of the benefits a rear-entry Sienna has to offer. The most innovative feature of the Sienna Rampvan RE is its "offset channel" design. Rather than bringing the lowered portion of the floor straight up the middle of the vehicle, IMS engineers created a lowered channel that veers slightly to the right. This design has a number of advantages. First, it allows IMS to use the original driver-side second-row seat in the original position, increasing safety for the left-side passenger. Second, it provides ample room for IMS to re-use the original fuel tank in the conversion, providing an additional level of safety and economy. The converted vehicle also re-uses Toyota's original equipment in the powered rear door. Both the door and lowered-floor seating area are fully ADA compliant, with at least 56 inches of clearance in ramp, entry, and lowered-floor. As an added cosmetic bonus, the rear bumper cutout has been integrated with the rear door, creating a clean, unmodified appearance when closed. IMS anticipates that the Sienna Rampvan RE conversion will carry a price tag of around $14,000 (not including the cost of the minivan chassis). Final pricing will be announced when IMS releases information about production and availability. Scion xB xRamp concept vehicleThe biggest surprise at NMEDA this year was IMS's xRamp concept vehicle, built on the Toyota-built Scion xB chassis. The xRamp features a rear-entry ramp, a surprisingly roomy interior and a "cool factor" never before seen in a mobility vehicle. With a relatively modest 49-1/2 inches of clearance in the entry, and 48-1/2 inches of clearance in the rear seating position, the xRamp will not be ideal for everyone. For those who can use it, however, it has much to offer. With an integrated one-touch rear door, ramp, and kneel system, it's a wheelchair-friendly vehicle that's easy to drive and park, and is also economical at the gas pump (with an estimated 30 mpg city/36 mpg highway). The conversion uses the OEM fuel tank and powered back door—and even has the original spare tire in its original location. Like the Sienna Rampvan RE, the xRamp features "stealth mobility," appearing exactly like its unconverted counterpart when closed. It's a mobility vehicle that doesn't look like a mobility vehicle. Best of all, with an estimated chassis cost of $14,500 and a target conversion cost of about $10,000, the Scion xB xRamp is a sub-$25,000 mobility vehicle. More details about pricing and availability for the Scion xB xRamp will be announced in the future. Sienna XLE and XLE LimitedWhen IMS first began producing its lowered-floor minivan conversion built on the completely redesigned Toyota Sienna, the company limited initial availability to Sienna LE chassis with the specially-configured AX mobility package. This single-spec production model is common in product rollouts, helping to simplify the complex process of bringing a new offering online. Now that the Sienna Rampvan is available nationwide, IMS is offering Sienna Rampvan lowered-floor conversions based on Toyota Sienna minivans with both XLE and XLE Limited trim levels. Because IMS can not currently order XLE and XLE Limited chassis with the AX package, an extra $2,000 charge applies to XLE and XLE Limited chassis to upfit these minivans with additional features required for an accessible conversion. Full details about the various Toyota Sienna features and options can be found online at http://www.toyota.com/sienna/. Second-row seating for Rampvan InfloorWhen IMS introduced the Rampvan Infloor in February, 2002, it proved to the industry that an under-floor ramp could be safe, reliable, and easy to maintain. The single drawback to the Rampvan Infloor was that the ramp cavity—located between the floor and lowered undercarriage—prevented installation of set-in receivers for second-row seating. With IMS' Quad Command Center Seating Kit, second-row seating for Infloor conversions becomes a practical reality. This dealer-installed option enables the mounting of up to two OEM center seats, allowing a converted Rampvan Infloor to double as a seven-passenger van. The mounting brackets easily snap in and out of L-track receivers, allowing the Quad Command seats to be installed and removed as needed. Best of all, the L-track receivers mount flush with the vehicle floor, so wheelchairs and scooters roll over the mounting hardware with ease. The Quad Command Center Seating Kit is a marked improvement over the raised receivers used in competing second-row seating systems, which effectively turn a van's lowered floor into a wheelchair obstacle course. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the seating kit has been set at $550 per seat. About Independent Mobility SystemsA privately held corporation, Independent Mobility Systems, Inc. (IMS) was founded in 1987 in Farmington, NM. IMS was built on the philosophy that all Americans deserve reliable, accessible personal transportation. Further information about IMS and its products can be found on the company's home page at http://www.imsvans.com.
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