BraunAbility and West Coast Customs Unveil Concept SUV for Wounded Warrior

Tricked out Ford Explorer part of long-range plan to change perception of mobility vehicles. End Quote

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (1888PressRelease) June 28, 2013 - With its sliding double-door driver entry, military-inspired custom camouflage paint and the automatic raising and lowering of the body - the concept mobility SUV unveiled by BraunAbility and West Coast Customs is not your typical wheelchair accessible vehicle.

And that is exactly what reality television's West Coast Customs and accessible vehicle manufacturer BraunAbility wanted.

With the turning over of the tricked out Ford Explorer's keys to Wounded Warrior Lance Corporal Mike DeLancey as part of a reveal event filmed by West Coast Customs, BraunAbility hopes to open the door to a new era of innovation in accessible vehicles.

"There is a whole new mobility market emerging,'' said Kevin McMahon, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BraunAbility. "This vehicle was originally built in tribute to Americans like Lance Corporal Mike Delancey who have served our country, but it's also a revolutionary concept. We hope it will change how people everywhere think about mobility transportation.''

Surrounded by fellow Wounded Warriors and veterans, VA and government officials, his family and friends, Lance Corporal Mike DeLancey was overwhelmed when he saw the converted Ford Explorer for the first time at the reveal event held at Custom Mobility in Largo. DeLancey - a Pinellas Park native and ambassador for Wounded Warrior Project - has dedicated his time to helping disabled veterans since a sniper's bullet to his spine took away his ability to walk in 2006.

"It's just incredible, it blows my mind," said DeLancey. "This vehicle shows exactly what I tell the guys coming back from war with critical injuries: just because you've been injured doesn't mean you have to change or settle for something that's not you."

Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports and HP helped fund the concept car more than a year in the making. Presented by West Coast Customs host Ryan Friedlinghaus, the SUV includes the following special features:
• Accessible driver's area to allow for easy entry and exit
• Door opens automatically, exposing a wheelchair platform surface
• Vehicle automatically lowers for wheelchair access and then raises to normal driving position
• Custom wheelchair complete with an HP Elite Pad 9000
• 42 inch widescreen LCD monitor for tailgating
• 22'' Gloss black brushed accent wheels

The SUV will be highlighted on a West Coast Customs show this fall on Fox Sports.

Friedlinghaus, owner of West Coast Customs, noted the importance of the shop's work for the Wounded Warrior Project. "We have worked on hundreds of vehicles over the years, but this project is one of the most important our shop has ever done because it could help change the lives for thousands of American heroes.''

Sam Schmidt, co-owner of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports said, "BraunAbility and our sponsors sought out West Coast Customs because we wanted to radically change how people think about mobility vehicles. This fantastic mobility concept SUV is a mission accomplished.''

BraunAbility, based in Indiana, has not set an exact timetable for a production model. "We are not going to rush this. It is too important for the industry and it is too important for our customers that are calling for a combination of style and function,'' said McMahon.

About BraunAbility
BraunAbility is the largest manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vans, ramps, and wheelchair lifts worldwide and enables people with physical disabilities to regain mobility and lead active and independent lives. The Indiana-based company was founded by Ralph Braun, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at a young age and unable to walk by age 15. Ralph was motivated by his disability to invent the world's first electric scooter (the Tri-Wheeler) and wheelchair lift (the Lift-A-Way) in his parents' garage. Word spread and demand for the product increased, resulting in the birth of Save-A-Step Manufacturing, which ultimately became BraunAbility. The company offers the most diverse line of vehicle platforms in the industry. For more information, please visit www.braunability.com.

About Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports
Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports (SHM) fields the No. 77 Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car driven by Simon Pagenaud in the IZOD IndyCar Series. The partnership, comprised of former racing rivals Sam Schmidt and Davey Hamilton as well as sponsor Hewlett-Packard, enabled Simon Pagenaud to capture 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and a fifth-place championship finish in his first full season of IndyCar competition.

Pagenaud and SHM scored their first IZOD IndyCar Series at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in 2013. Pagenaud is joined on-track by teammate Tristan Vautier, rookie driver of the No. 55 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car.

About West Coast Customs 
Headquartered in Corona, CA, West Coast Customs was founded in 1993 by Ryan Friedlinghaus. West Coast Customs is known by car enthusiasts as the premiere high-end modification shop that can transform any vehicle into a work of art. West Coast Customs is not only known for building cars but delivering dynamic television content to a wide range of viewers. Owner Ryan Friedlinghaus and his shop have been doing exclusive custom builds for the MTV show Pimp my Ride, TLC's Street Customs, Street Customs Berlin and now on his new show West Coast Customs. Ryan and his crew are world-renowned for their extreme vehicles, outrageous features, and next level designs.

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