Segway rolling out three new people moving machines

updated 8:47 a.m. ET March 3, 2005

BEDFORD, N.H. - Segway LLC is rolling out three new models of its self-balancing, two-wheeled machines.

A rack transforms one version into a single-person golf cart, and wide tires outfit another for off-road riding.  The final model looks more like previous versions, but comes in sportier colors like red and yellow.

Each new Segway also features better batteries for longer ranges.  They can travel twice as far, up to 24 miles in some cases.

But suggested retail prices aren't coming down.  Each one costs at least $5,000 with the new batteries.

Analysts have been skeptical about the company's future, arguing that prices must drop sharply for Segways to be mass-market successes.  The machines were unveiled in December 2001.  A September 2003 recall revealed only about 6,000 had sold.

Company officials claimed U.S. sales doubled last year in a 10-week period staring on Oct. 25, but the privately held company doesn't release financial figures.

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