The team at Sundance Spas is no stranger to innovation, but that wasn’t the only goal for its new line of hot tubs, the 980 Series. The birth of the 980 Series also came from customer and dealer feedback. “Features such as a large-footprint spa with a low profile for easy access are an example of how we are always rethinking consumer benefits as it relates to spa ownership and usage,” says Larry Ovalle, director of product marketing at Sundance Spas. “We validated our consumer insights with key dealer partners during the design process to ensure we were positioning the product design [to meet] a broad range of commercial needs.”
These spa models’ price points match previous price points of premium Sundance Spas, but the 980 Series offers a unique value when you compare the spas side by side. Part of the reason for that is the upgrades, several of which are exclusive to the 980 Series. “We ensured that the fundamentals of a premium Sundance spa are included, such as Fluidix jet technology, comfortable seating and MicroClean Ultra filtration featuring CLEARRAY UV-C technology,” Ovalle says. “In addition to these features, we’ve added series exclusives.”
One feature exclusive to the 980 Series is the cabinet design. The Sundance Spas team used a new manufacturing process to make the spa cabinet more like a sculpted piece of furniture, which means it will better integrate into modern backyards. When it comes to lighting, it drew inspiration from the auto industry. “Our hydrotherapy seat accent light was inspired by lighting trends in automobiles that highlight areas of a product with neon-like accents to provide underwater visibility,” Ovalle says.
Also included is a SunCooler cold-storage area — a convenience feature Ovalle says customers love. “We wanted to create a multipurpose space that consumers could also use to relax without getting all the way into the water or to cool down for a longer time in the spa,” Ovalle says. While it’s not uncommon to see a cooler built into a hot tub, the SunCooler integrates into the spa’s shell design. “A unique seal system features a latch and hinge to ensure minimal water intrusion from splashing or displacement,” Ovalle says. To remove melted ice, an interior drain leverages the spa’s hydrotherapy pump for a power-assisted drain.
The 980 Series includes a glass i-Touch panel, created to make the hot tub interface look and feel like a smart device. “Design elements such as swipe and scroll commands, combined with the glass-touch surface, give this control more elegance than a typical hot tub control,” Ovalle says. “When combined with our SunSmart 2.0 Wi-Fi control, the spa fits into today’s world of technology.”