Chicago,
IL - February 17, 2003 -- Today, Avanti Motor
Corp. announced that plans to roll out the 2004
Studebaker Xtreme Utility Vehicle (XUV)
will move forward, despite a recent lawsuit filed by General
Motors Corp. General
Motors' suit contends that Avanti's
Studebaker XUV "knocks off" the shape of GM's
Hummer H2 and will confuse the public.
The
story of David and Goliath came to mind when Avanti Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer Michael E. Kelly was questioned
about the recent lawsuit filed by GM. "There will
not be any confusion on the part of the car-buying public,'
said Kelly. "Put both vehicles side by side, and
there's no question that the Studebaker XUV is distinctly
different."
Kelly
stated that Avanti Motor Corp. never considered using GM,
Hummer or H2 designs for their Studebaker XUV. It was also
noted that no GM parts were used to build the the new Studebaker
XUV. "There are no parts of an H2 Hummer that fit
on a Studebaker XUV," Kelly said. "Furthermore,
the Studebaker is based on original concepts and designs
developed by Avanti Motor Corp. The Studebaker XUV has a
completely different body style, from the front end to the
rear gate, and it has sliding rear side doors and a sliding
rear roof, the same as a 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire."
The two vehicles in question share absolutely no common
parts.
The
Avanti Studebaker is more than two feet longer than the
H2, and features a rounded hood, distinct front grille,
and unique body molding. It also includes several features
not found in the GM offering, including power-sliding rear
doors and a power-retractable rear roof.
Avanti
believes that this frivolous lawsuit was presented to the
small manufacturer by General Motors in order for GM to
create a monopoly on the market of boxy, utility-type vehicles,
thus preventing Studebaker, Ford, or even Chrysler from
producing this type of vehicle in the future.
The
Hummer H2 is no stranger to legal action. Ironically, last
year Daimler-Chrysler
sued GM over the design of the vehicle,
claiming the grill was a knockoff of the Jeep's classic
seven-slot front.
About
the Avanti Studebaker Xtreme Utility Vehicle
The
2004 Avanti Studebaker XUV measures 80 inches wide, 79.6
inches tall and 215.5 inches long, with a 134-inch wheelbase
and a curb weight of 5,900 lbs. It will be offered with
either a 325-horsepower, 6.0-liter turbo-diesel V8 or a
310-hp, 6.8-liter V10. The V10 may be equipped with an optional
supercharger, which raises the engine rating to
425 hp. A five-speed automatic transmission will be offered
with both engines. The Studebaker's use of the Ford F-250
platform will enable the vehicle to be serviced by an established
dealer network.