Moab, Utah, is a rough and rocky area and if this Deere was going to run it would have to have nimble feet to get over the many obstacles in our path.

The Gator line has a lineage that dates back many years, but the sole purpose of these vehicles has been work with a slight hint of off-road, after-hours fun.

It wasnt until the craze of the side-by-side nation began growing that we would see John Deere step into the world of recreationalutility UTVs and come to market with a real competitor in the industry.

This is not the first year of UTV production for John Deere, but in 2013 it will be the most notable for sure.

Out in the wild lands of Moab, Utah, we had our chance to get a closer look from the drivers seat.

First impressions are everything, and with a little help from Mother Nature the reveal of this machine was fast-forwarded just a bit.

Revealed to us was the classy styling of the forward-thinking engineers at John Deere.

The sleek lines and cowl-induction-style hood scoop gave the machine an aggressive look that was a hit with this old school hot-rodder.

A huge Baja-style bumper also gives the racing enthusiast something to convince the competition to move aside while protecting the front of the machine.

The wide over-fenders covered the wheels well, and drifting down the drivers side of the Gator RSX850i the factory-installed doors flowed really well with the design.

The bed of the RSX850i seemed a bit small, but looking at the specifications we found it holds 8.9 cubic feet of space that will carry a massive 400 lbs.

Also, if towing is a must, the limit for this machine is set high at the 1200-pound block.

This machine is bound to get some work done no matter what it is.

Everything is well positioned, from the dash-mounted 2WD4WD4WD front lock switch to the automotive-style digital dash layout to the sporty steering wheel.

The driver has control of the gear selection simply by reaching down between the seats and pulling up or pushing down on the shift handle.

This model has a parking brake mounted to the lower dash in the forward floor area to hold the Gator steady no matter the terrain.

Other items to note were the dual drink holders on the center top of the dash and a huge glove box for all the things you wouldnt want to be bouncing around the cab as you gas on down the trails.

Built by a company called Piaggio, this V-twin model 839cc fuel-injected powerhouse puts out a claimed 62 horsepower.

With an available torque rating of 57.5 ft.-lbs., the low-end grunt of this new Gator should make it excellent for any towing duties.

Liquid cooling is the norm these days, and after all, keeping a workingmans machine at the correct temperature is very important.

Coupled to the engine of the Gator RSX850i is a belt-driven CVT clutch system that incorporates Low, High, Reverse and Park as its choices, and Low is at the bottom with Park being the top position.

The front dual-wide-arch-arm design gives the rider 9 inches of travel and the rear yields 9 inches as well while utilizing an exclusive multi-link semi-trailing-arm setup.

With hired guns such as fabricators and suspension designers from the world of NASCAR and Formula One consulting on the complete system, it should perform like a champ.

John Deere Gator Loses Dash Power