Tomcar

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The Tomcar is a type of off-road utility vehicle.

The Tomcar was designed originally to bridge the gap between all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which are very maneuverable but also dangerous [1] as they do not feature a rollcage or seatbelts and which cannot be driven for long periods, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which are less adept at off-road work, and more expensive.

The Tomcar’s rigid one-piece steel frame was originally designed and built for the Israel Defence Forces, and has grown commercially from within the high performance motor sports community. The Tomcar is made in one, two and four seat models, and is powered by both unleaded petrol & diesel engines. It also uses a CVT transmission system, and a chain driven final drive system, giving the cars a total ground clearance of 38cm (15")[2].

The Tomcar's chain-driven swing arms increase ground clearance & suspension articulation, and they also create "anti squat" or lift (force).

Under acceleration, a vehicle normally squats in the rear due to the physics of conventional drive-trains. In the Tomcar that torque is displaced causing the swing arms to be “pulled” down and under the vehicle, creating rear-end lift.

The Tomcar was developed in Israel over the last 15 years, and was designed to fit into a Sea Knight or Chinook helicopter [3]. It is currently used by the Israeli military to patrol its borders and carry out various military missions. The Tomcar is also available to the public for both commercial and recreational use.

[edit] References

  1. ^ NT Country Hour - 30/12/2003: ATVs are dangerous for your health
  2. ^ Diesel Builder Magazine Oct. 2007
  3. ^ ATVmag.com - The Official Website of All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine

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[edit] External links

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