Svaartaron L-Ute
| Svaartaron L-Ute | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ottonian Motor Cooperative |
| Also called | Otmo Buro, |
| Production | 1950 - present |
| Assembly | Torsfeld, Innia, North Ottonia |
| Designer | General Utility Vehicle Committee |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mini-SUV/Minitruck |
| Body style | 3-door wagon 2-door pickup |
| Layout | Front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Platform | OMC L-Utility Platform |
| Related | Svaartaron M-Ute (many shared components, developed in-tandem), Svaartaron C-Truck (shared components) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Turbocharged 657cc I3 engine (Daitoa) Turbocharged 1.0L I4 engine (LEV) 1.4L I4 engine (sport trim) |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual 4 speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2250 mm |
| Length | 3390 mm (kei variant) - 3650 mm (sport variant) |
| Width | 1475 mm (kei variant) - 1650 mm (standard) |
| Height | 1725 mm |
| Curb weight | 1030 kg (kei variant) - 1130 kg (sport) |
The Svaartaron L-Ute is an all-terrain Mini SUV and microtruck produced by North Ottonian automaker OMC under its Svaartaron marque. It is one of the oldest models in OMC's product line under either the Svaartaron or Otmo brands. The vehicle traces its lineage to the 1930 OMA Model B, which was refined in 1934 and 1942, with a final rework finishing in 1950 that created the first version of the vehicle to be available to private consumers, dubbed the L-Ute.
The L-Ute is noted for its boxy appearance and its mechanical simplicity and ruggedness. The L-Ute was the first mass-produced consumer four-wheel drive vehicle to reach six digit production numbers. Since 1950, the vehicle has been popular with tradesmen and farmers, especially in areas where the roads are prone to adverse conditions or maybe poorly-maintained. Specially-built variants of the L-Ute and its sister vehicle, the M-Ute, are used by the Ottonian Federal Postal Service and Ottonian Federal Guard to this day.
The line is also noteworthy for the relatively few changes made to its design over the years; the drive systems are overall almost unchanged, although refinements have been made to the systems along with ever-improving engines. Its reliability, ease of repair, and mechanical simplicity have made it popular among workers and off-roaders alike.
With the exception of a special "sport" trim, the Buro conforms to Ottonian LEV regulations, and as such qualifies for special tax and regulatory incentives. A variant is also produced that conforms to Daitoan kei vehicle regulations.