By Grant Shepherd

SYDNEY: Dyson has just announced what it is calling the ‘next generation’ of handheld vacuum cleaners. The DC30 and DC31 are fitted with a new motor that delivers twice the output of a conventional motor, but at half the weight and size.

According to Dyson, the new motor took 10 years to develop and enabled engineers to design smaller, lighter handhelds with longer battery life for increased run time, performance power, and no loss of suction.

The company commented that conventional handhelds often lose suction as the bin fills up with dust particles. Dyson’s patented Radix Cyclone technology spins dust and dirt out of the air, so it doesn’t lose suction as it cleans.

The new Dyson handheld models offer a 10 minute run time with constant high suction. The DC31 also gives consumers that little extra boost with a dual power mode that allows you to switch to six minutes of higher suction.

The DC31 Motorhead also has an independently motorised brush bar, which is designed to quickly and easily clean pet hair, human hair and lint that cling to surfaces. A pivoting soleplate ensures the machine’s head is in contact with surfaces at all times.

The digital motor in Dyson's new handhelds is also much more energy efficient when compared to other handheld motors, which Dyson claim waste battery power instead of using it to clean.

The new DC30 and DC31 handhelds and a new line-up of uprights will be available from 1 September 2009.

DC30 RRP: $249
DC31 RRP: $299
DC31 Motorhead RRP: $349

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