The Kawasaki MULE (Multi-Use Light Equipment) is a series of very heavy
Utility Task Vehicle that have been built by
Kawasaki since 1988. Initially available with a
twin-cylinder engine in the original MULE 1000 model, the range has grown and been gradually updated over the years, and now includes both
petrol
Gasoline (; ) or petrol (; ) (see ) is a transparent, petroleum-derived flammable liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in most spark-ignited internal combustion engines (also known as petrol engines). It consists mostly of organic co ...
and
diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
variants.
History
In 1988, the first Kawasaki MULE was introduced in the form of the MULE 1000; it featured a
water-cooled
Cooling tower and water discharge of a nuclear power plant
Water cooling is a method of heat removal from components and industrial equipment. Evaporative cooling using water is often more efficient than air cooling. Water is inexpensive and no ...
twin-cylinder engine, which was fitted to an open-cab utility vehicle chassis.
The MULE 1000 also featured a
continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of gear ratios. This contrasts with other transmissions that provide a limited number of gear ratios in fixed steps. T ...
(CVT),
independent suspension
Independent suspension is any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump on the road) independently of the others. This is contrasted with a beam axle or deDion axle system in w ...
at the front and rear and a locking rear
differential.
The MULE 2010 was introduced in 1989, and featured a larger engine, a high/low CVT transmission, selectable
four-wheel-drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
and a