According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, full-size vans and minivans are still the vehicles of choice for most drivers who have disabilities (63 percent combined, compared to 34 percent for passenger cars and 4 percent for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles). With that in mind, here's a look at some of the trends in the mobility vehicle industry.

Cars

The Ford Crown Victoria, by CTI

Freedom Motors USA has created quite a stir with the introduction of its new 2001 PT Kneeler and PT Driver models. Billed as the first wheelchair- and scooter-accessible cars, both PT models start with Chrysler's new PT Cruiser.

With the touch of a button on a remote control, the PT Kneeler lowers to the ground. Then the rear door opens and a ramp unfolds. The PT Driver, on the other hand, features gull-wing rear doors with a driver's side ramp.

Care Transportation International (CTI), in partnership with Ford Motor Corp., is putting the finishing touches on its newest disability vehicle — the Ford Crown Victoria. Designed for those who prefer the handling of a luxury car, the Crown Victoria will include two gull-wing doors, swing-out seats and hand controls. The car is expected to be available through Ford dealers in January, at a retail price of approximately $35,000.

Travel Vans

The Leisure Travel Vans' Independence with Crow River Vangater II lift system (also featured at top of page)

Travel vans are said to offer the comforts of a motor home with the easier handling of a van.

The Independence, by Leisure Travel Vans of Walhalla, N.D., was designed with the disabled traveler in mind, complete with a Crow River Vangater II lift system that boasts a lifting capacity of 600 pounds. The Independence comes with a wheelchair-accessible shower and plenty of heavy-duty grab bars.

A motor home or travel van may seem prohibitively expensive (they can run anywhere from $60,000 to $300,000, depending on the size and number of features), but you may be able to secure long-term financing for your motor home, based on its ability to serve as a second home. Be sure to check with your accountant first.  

The Infinity, by Four Winds

Motor Homes

Traveling too often brings nightmares — inaccessible hotel rooms, wheelchairs damaged during flights, and costly air fare and rental vehicles. There's an alternative: taking your own portable, fully accessible hotel room with you.

The Four Winds brand from Thor Industries offers the Infinity and Windsport models, both with Easy Access floor plans, featuring Braun hydraulic lifts, free-standing dinettes, oversized showers and extra-wide aisles for easy maneuverability.

The Winnebago Sightseer

Under the aegis of its Ability Equipped program, Winnebago Industries dealers offer four different motor homes — the Winnebago, Itasca, Ultimate and Rialta. Each of these motor homes can be custom-outfitted to meet your unique needs.

Vans and Minivans

Dan Delie of Associated Rollx Vans, however, believes the van will continue to reign supreme in the mobility vehicle industry.

"Over the years, we've seen the minivan picking up in popularity because of its front-wheel drive, fuel economy and that sort of stuff," he says. "Now we also see the full-size business picking up. We build a full-size van that's very similar to the minivan, where the floor is dropped from front to rear with quick-release seating, which gives you lots of flexibility in the inside."

Delie reports that the industry's focus today is on fine-tuning existing choices, rather than coming up with new ones.

"It's perfecting more of what we have," he explains. "Chrysler came out with a lot of improvements last year, with their power sliding doors and some of that stuff. So we're improving what we have, to work with what they have. We're getting a product that's pretty darned nice at this point."