Detroit Auto Show debuting its first lawn tractor

The new Ford Fusion. The 2012 BMW 3 Series. The Lexus LF-LC. The Craftsman CTX-series... lawn tractor? Indeed, as odd as it sounds, you can count the latter among the many debuts scheduled for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show when the doors open to the public.

Craftsman's new premium tractors go on sale in February and will range in price from $3,000 to $6,500, with two yard tractor and two garden tractor models available. (The garden tractors are the most flexible, able to accommodate the full spectrum of towed, front-mounted, and ground-engaging attachments, which are sold separately.)

Power comes from Briggs & Stratton, whose available 30-horsepower engine allows for a top forward speed of 8 miles per hour (3 mph in reverse). It's mated to a hydrostatic automatic transmission. Key features include electronic fuel management, automatic traction control (power is independently split between the rear drive wheels), a quick-release mowing deck, electronic cutting height adjustment, digital instrumentation, cruise control, tilt steering, and the obligatory cupholder. The evolution of creature comforts for these rigs will continue as well. In an interview with The New York Times' Jim Motavalli, a Craftsman spokesperson says that an iPod jack is planned as a future enhancement for its tractors.

The Craftsman CTX will be displayed in the concourse/lobby area of the COBO Center, so Dodge needn't be concerned about it stealing the Dart's thunder on the main show floor. Regardless, that placement ensures plenty of eyeballs for the new tractor as the public files in and out of the exhibition. And if you think the CTX seems like an absurd product to showcase in Detroit, consider this: it's at least more viable and relevant to American consumers than the Chinese-car vaporware that has occupied premium floor space at the venue in the past.

You can read the full press blast from Craftsman after the jump.

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Detroit Auto Show debuting its first lawn tractor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/31/detroit-auto-show-debuting-its-first-lawn-tractor/

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