Eclipse Riding Greens Mower will be Available from Jacobsen in 2009



February 01, 2009

Following its debut as a prototype at the 2008 Golf Industry Show and after months of field testing on golf courses around the nation, Jacobsen, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces that the all electric version of the Eclipse™ 322 riding

Eclipse 322

 The all-electric Eclipse 322 riding greens
mower delivers an exceptional quality-of-cut
and is almost silent in operation.

greens mower will be in production in 2009. The new Eclipse 322 has been designed according to specific customer feedback and is the most advanced greens mower available for today's golf industry.

There is no better test of a mower's durability than day-to-day use, and Jacobsen put the Eclipse 322 to the test under every imaginable condition. After final field tests throughout 2008 on some of the nation's leading golf courses, Jacobsen learned that the all-electric Eclipse 322 is the quiet, economic, productive and environmentally friendly mower superintendents are looking for now.

"We are completely committed to building the machines superintendents need to stay on the leading edge of the golf industry today," said Quinn Derby, Jacobsen product manager of greens mowers. "The Eclipse 322 was designed according to detailed customer valuations and was validated through an extensive testing program over the last four years to make sure it was exactly what golf maintenance professionals wanted."

With a simple battery-powered system, the Eclipse 322 reduces noise, maintenance needs and fuel consumption, resulting in lower cost of ownership than traditional hydraulically driven machines. The mower features electric drive systems using no hydraulic fluid, so the possibility of a potentially damaging fluid leak or spill on the turf is completely eliminated. The Eclipse 322 will also be available in gasoline and diesel hybrid versions.

Like all mowers in the Eclipse line, the 322 allows superintendents to independently control mow speed, reel speed and frequency-of-clip to adapt the mower's cutting performance to any course condition. Also, the operator station is ergonomically designed to optimize both functionality and comfort, reducing fatigue while providing an unobstructed view that makes it easy to maintain precise, straight mowing lines.

"The Eclipse 322 is easy to use, simple to maintain and is extremely eco-friendly," Derby said. "The golf community has made it clear that they are ready for the next generation of electric and hybrid technology, and the Eclipse 322 represents a new standard for the industry moving forward."

The Eclipse 322 will be available in late 2009. For more information about the Eclipse 322 or any other Jacobsen products, visit www.Jacobsen.com, contact your local Jacobsen dealer, or call 1-888-922-TURF.


About Jacobsen
With over 90 years of experience in the turf maintenance industry, Jacobsen has built a legacy of precision craftsmanship, legendary quality of cut and unmatched expertise. Dedicated solely to delivering perfectly groomed turf, Jacobsen equipment is used on some of the finest golf courses, sports fields and other formal turf areas across the United States and the world, through an extensive distribution network and the international Ransomes brand. Additional information about the company can be found at www.jacobsen.com.

About Textron
Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

For further information, please contact:

Adam Slick, Public Relations and Communications Manager
Jacobsen
704-504-4867
aslick@textron.com