Hybrid
Design Lets XC Go Where No Mule Has Gone
Before
For more than two decades you’ve
trusted Mule™ utility vehicles to
help you get more work done more easily
than ever. But Kawasaki also offers a more
dirt-worthy Mule design for those who like
to venture a bit farther from the jobsite
– the 2011 Kawasaki Mule 610 4x4 XC.
If the XC designation makes you think ‘cross
country,’ well, you’d be right
on target, for this Mule looks like it’s
had a serious dose of Kawasaki Teryx™
off-road DNA injected into its flanks.
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| Maxxis
Bighorn tires will keep you planted
and moving forward while out on the
trail or around the stickier parts
of your ranch or home |
The primary visual giveaway is the Mule
XC’s aggressive, 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn
2.0 radial tires, each of which is mounted
on a 12-inch wheel for a higher degree of
off-road ability. But there’s also
a load of features designed to complement
the XC’s more aggressive nature and
infuse it with a large helping of what can
only be described as cool factor.
The standard Mule 610 4x4 can go just about
anywhere, but the new 4x4 XC takes that
functionality quite a few steps further.
Not only do those burly 26-inch Maxxis tires
provide loads more traction, their extra
width increases the Mule’s track by
1.3 inches. Their greater height also gives
this Mule a full 8.1 inches of ground clearance.
Combined with longer front and rear suspension,
this helps the Mule climb over larger obstacles,
while standard skid plates protect vital
systems.
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| The
Kawasaki MULE 610 XC comes with the
sport steering wheel found on their
Teryx Sport UTV models - giving you
some extra grip while blazing a trail
or working hard |
When designing the XC, Kawasaki engineers made room for those large tires by kicking
the Mule’s front bumper forward 1.2
inches. And while they were at it, the team
added sporty graphics, a comfortable seat
covered in a pliable material and a small-diameter
sport steering wheel lifted straight from
the Kawasaki Teryx.
In spite of its wide-ranging capabilities
and radical design, you can be sure of the
XC’s reliable and economical drivetrain.
A durable, 401cc fan-cooled overhead-valve
engine mated to a continuously variable
transmission (CVT) feeds power to all four
wheels as needed, and simple automotive
controls mean it couldn’t be much
easier to operate. An enrichening system
partially opens the throttle for easy engine
starts, hot or cold, and the Mule can be
started in forward (Hi or Lo) or reverse
gear, provided the brake pedal is applied.
Select 2WD or 4WD and away you go.
MacPherson strut front suspension and rack-and-pinion
steering combine great bump absorption with
light handling, while the Mule’s mid-engine
layout and swingarm rear suspension provide
plentiful traction in back. A powerful braking
system brings it all to a reliable halt.
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| The
MULE XC's 400lb capacity tilting cargo
box allows you to get more work done
than ever before, & when you're
not hauling, you can tow 1,100lbs
with the rear hitch as well |
As fun as it looks, the XC is all about hard work. A special black-texture paint
applied to its 400-pound-capacity all-steel
tilting cargo bed allows even greater aesthetics
and durability, while a 1,100-pound towing
capacity means you can haul whatever gear
you need. Dual cup holders help keep riders
hydrated while on the clock, a capacious glove
box can carry more than just gloves, and the
front hood pops open to reveal more than 12
gallons worth of storage. Popular accessories
include an enclosed cab, snow plow, winch
and soft or hard tops, all available through
Kawasaki dealers.
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