CHARLOTTE, Mich., March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Spartan Specialty Vehicles, a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) (“Spartan” or the “Company”)—a global leader in specialty chassis and vehicle design, manufacturing, and assembly—and Entegra Coach®, a division of Jayco, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO), is set to unveil the 2019 model year Entegra Coach Cornerstone® and Anthem®, which features new Spartan Connected Coach™ technology, at the Family Motor Coach Association’s (FMCA) 97th International Convention & RV Expo in Perry, Georgia.
For Spartan, this year’s chassis improvements began with a concerted effort to improve the driver interface. Introducing Spartan Connected Coach, a technology bundle that today includes a new 15-inch digital dash displaying typical automotive gauge functions, with the ability to switch to the navigation screen. The surrounding screen features include a tire pressure monitoring system, blind spot indicators, fuel and DEF level, and more. Spartan Connected Coach also features Spartan Passive Keyless Start, which provides the convenience of starting the coach with the push of a button. Also new to the 2019 model year is the ability to disable Adaptive Cruise Control and adjust following distance while Adaptive Cruise Control is enabled, with three levels of following distance adjustments offered.
“The technologies offered by Spartan Connected Coach are a true example of Spartan bringing proven automotive technology to the RV market,” said Steve Guillaume, President of Spartan Specialty Vehicles. “We are excited to partner with Entegra Coach on the chassis design and showcase the measures we have taken in the engineering process to create a product completely focused on improving the driver interface and the owner experience.”
Spartan Safe Haul™ — the industry’s only chassis-integrated air supply for tow vehicle braking systems, is a new addition for Entegra Coach in 2019. Entegra Coach’s inclusion of Spartan Safe Haul on their Cornerstone, Anthem, Aspire®, and Insignia® models saves owners the time and expense required for coach-side installation. Spartan has partnered with Air Force One to provide the tow vehicle kits which will be available for owners to purchase, providing seamless integration between their Safe Haul equipped coach and their tow vehicle. This industry-first integrated tow vehicle braking system will be available through all motorhome dealers selling Entegra Coach products. Kits will be available for existing customers at the FMCA Rally. Additional features of the latest Entegra Coach Class A luxury diesel models include an auxiliary air compressor for extended stays while leveling on air springs, on both the 2019 Cornerstone and Anthem.
“Entegra Coach is thrilled to offer Spartan Connected Coach on both the 2019 Cornerstone and 2019 Anthem models. Improving the driver and overall owner experience is extremely important to us at Entegra Coach. This new digital dash technology will provide owners with a more incredible driving experience than any other coach on the market today,” said Pat Carroll, Senior Director of Product Development, Jayco Motorhome Group. “In addition, having the ability to see the GPS in the coach’s dash improves safety, as you no longer need to take your eyes off the road. This is yet another example of how our partner, Spartan, is a leader in luxury motor coach innovation.”
FMCA is an international organization for families who own and enjoy the use of self-contained, motorized recreation vehicles known as motorhomes. The association maintains its national headquarters in Cincinnati and currently has more than 70,000 active member families.
To see a video tour of Spartan Connected Coach and its digital dash display for Entegra Coach, please visit: info.spartanmotors.com/connected-coach.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. is a leading designer, engineer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of specialty vehicles, specialty chassis, vehicle bodies, and parts for the fleet and delivery, recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, defense forces, and contract assembly (light/medium duty truck) markets. The Company’s brand names — Spartan Motors, Spartan Specialty Vehicles, Spartan Emergency Response, Spartan Parts and Accessories, Smeal, and its family of brands, including Ladder Tower™ and UST®; and Utilimaster®, a Spartan Motors Company — are known for quality, durability, performance, customer service, and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 2,300 associates, and operates facilities in Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota; Saltillo, Mexico; and Lima, Peru. Spartan reported sales of $707 million in 2017. Visit Spartan Motors at theshyftgroup.com.
About Entegra Coach
Headquartered in Middlebury, Indiana, Entegra Coach, a division of Jayco, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, Inc., manufactures and markets luxury diesel and gas motorhomes. For additional information about Entegra Coach or its products, go to www.entegracoach.com or call 800-945-4787.
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SOURCE Spartan Motors, Inc.
Media Contacts: Samara Hamilton – Corporate Director of Marketing, Spartan Motors, Inc., 517.997.3860, [email protected]; Matt Jackson – Senior Director, Lambert, Edwards & Associates, 616.233.0500, [email protected]
