EUROPEAN ON-LINE MAGAZINE - September 2014

BusToCoach

TOP OF THE CLASS VAN HOOL, SOLARIS AND SCANIA AT IAA - IBE IN RIMINI - HESS/VOSSLOH KIEPE - DAIMLER - RENAULT TRAFIC - FLASH NEWS - HIGH TECH STORE

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ON-LINE MAGAZINE linked www.bustocoach.com - September 2014

BusToCoachEuropean on-line magazine

Editor in chiefMarino Ginanneschi

marino.ginanneschi@bustocoach.com

Managing editor and International relations

Elena Prearoelena.prearo@bustocoach.com

Photos and videos Marco Degano

marco.degano@bustocoach.com

AdministrationTransport Web di Marco Degano & C Snc

I 20149 MilanoVia Silva 33

E-mail: bustocoach@bustocoach.comInternet: www.bustocoach.com

Registration: Tribunale di Milano n. 140 del 16/03/2012

***BusToCoach® Magazine is a monthly e-mail delivered to 12,000 European

operators in the sector of bus passenger transport.

To subscribe to our mailing list, send an e-mail to:

bustocoach@bustocoach.com

SETRA Lowest fuel consumption for

the 13.3-metre S 516 HDH.

SCANIANew CityWide hybrid among

the models on display.

THINGS TO DISCOVER AT THE IAA IN HANNOVER

DAIMLERAutonomous driving is future of transport.

RENAULTHere comes the new Trafic. Also in the Combi version.

IN THE FOREGROUND

HESSTrolleybuses for Lucerne in

partnership with Vossloh Kiepe.

VAN HOOLNew EX Series with Paccard

Euro VI engines debuts.

SOLARISImportant changes for 12m

and 18m Urbinos.

INTERNATIONAL BUS EXPOItalian bus sector fair

in early October.

ROAD TESTCOLUMNS FLASH NEWS

Optare, ADL, Solaris, Iveco, Daimler e Volvo.

HIGH TECH STOREVoith, Allison Ziehl-Abegg

and TM at the IAA.

MEETING

USED BUS ON LINEOn www.bustocoach.com

websiteis on line the directory

dedicated to Used.

If you want to sell or buy a bus, here’s the right way.

You can make your insertion or search vehicles for sale.

***You can access through

the site, selecting the USED directory or going directly to

the linkwww.bustocoach.com/en/content/announcements

IVECO BUSAT IAA

I veco will take part to the 65th edition of the In-ternantional Commercial Vehicle Show (IAA) in

Hanover scheduled from September 25 to October 2, 2014. In a stand of over 2,500 square meters, Ive-co will offer visitors a complete sample of its range. In particular, Iveco Bus will present the New Daily

Minibus, a vehicle that offers all the ad- vantages of the new Daily combining the traditional qualities of the Daily to the skills of a leader in the field of public passenger transport, and a Crossway Low Entry in a length of 12 meters, a bus suitable for both urban and interurban transport. In an area dedicated to Euro VI engines, Iveco will again emphasize the technological Hi-SCR (High Efficiency SCR) catalytic reduction system patented by FPT Industrial. •

OPTARE FOR AUSTRALIA

AT the 2014 International Commercial Vehi-cles show (IAA) Daimler will present new

bus models and equipments. For the Mercedes-Benz brand it will be on show an additional variant of the Citaro G articulated bus optionally available with the compact, horizontally installed OM 936 h six-cylinder in-line engine. A key advantage is that, owing to the low engine weight and small installation space, the capacity of the Citaro G is increased by up to eight passengers. Another preview from Mercedes-Benz is the Tourismo with a new safety equipment (the SPA Lane Assistant and the AEBS Advanced Emergency Braking System). From Mercedes-Benz also the Travego touring coach with the new Active Brake Assist 3 (ABA 3) and the new Sprinter powered by Euro VI engine. Setra branded are the ComfortClass 500 MD coaches, a new family of mid-decker, the new S 511 HD in a compact size of 10,47 m and the S 519 HD with a length of 14,95 m, Setra’s longest touring coach. The Setra MultiClass LE is the new low-entry rural-service bus. •

MERCEDES / SETRA IN HANOVER

Australian Donric Group took delivery of two Optare Solo SR buses. Operated by Gold Bus,

one of the six companies within the group, the two vehicles are employed as Special Education School Buses in partnership with the Department for Education in Victoria, serving students with mild, moderate and profound intellectual disabi-lities associated with physical, social, emotional, behavioural, multiple and sensory impairments. The Solos have a low floor access and meet ECE-R66 roll over requirements. Donric Group is a family owned large bus and coach operator in Australia with a fleet of 360 buses and coaches. •

ADL PLAXTONFOR POLSKIBUS

A lexandeDennis (ADL) received an order for 20 Plaxton Elitei inter-deck coaches for PolskiBus.

com, a business that has carried over five million passengers since its launch in June 2011 in War-saw, Poland. The Elitei model was launched in the UK in 2012 and is attractive to customers with a requirement for high capacity, intercity and touring

coaches, particularly those who require rapid boarding and alighting for wheelchairs. The upper cabin can accommodate up to 71 passengers, the lower cabin up to a further four, or three and a wheelchair. It is available in both left hand steering or right hand steering for the UK and other markets. The 20 Elitei coaches for PolskiBus.com will all be based on Volvo Euro5 B11RT three-axle chassis with Volvo I-Shift transmission. •

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014 FLASH NEWS

V olvo Buses will officially launch the Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid bus at the IAA show in September. The vehicle

can run as an electric bus in selected areas, but performs as a hybrid on any route. The plug-in technology reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide by up to 75%, compared to a conventional diesel bus. Total energy consumption is reduced by 60%. Volvo Buses will also present at the IAA an auto brake technology for the coach range. Volvo’s Forward Col-

lision Warning and Emergency Braking functionality is able to brake also towards standstill objects in curves three years before the legal requirement comes in 2018. •

VOLVO RELAUNCHES THE HYBRIDS

SOLARIS INVESTS IN BOLECHOWO

S olaris Bus & Coach is increasing the production capacity through the expansion of its factory in

Bolechowo, Poland. The project, whose investment amounts to 11 mln EUR, includes the enlargement of the production hall by 7,500 square meters and the extension of the offices facilities by another 5,000 square meters. «The new production hall will be used for manufacturing the new Solaris Urbino, whose official premiere will take place at this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover», said PhD Dariusz Michalak, Solaris Deputy CEO. «We are now producing 1,300 vehicles per year and this number is to be increased in the coming years». The expansion of the plant started in August 2014 and will be completed in the second half of 2015. The 11 mln EUR project will be partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund. •

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

More articles about Van Hool: www.bustocoach.com/en/node/528/articoli-costruttore-europa

Van Hool will be introducing the world premiere of the EX line at the Internatio-

nal Motor Show IAA in Hannover, schedu-led from September 25 to October 2, 2014. It is a brand-new touring coach platform intended for the European market of passenger transport. The EX series will initially be marketed in two heights and three diffe-rent lengths. There are also plans for a fur-ther extension of the range, but no details have been re-leased for the time being.The two or three axle vehicles, depending on the configuration, can be used for the tran-sport of tourists, scheduled services or inter-city services. All EX models are equipped with Euro VI standards compliant Paccar MX11 engines with GO manual-shift gearbox. ZF Astronic

and ZF Ecolife automatic gearboxes are avai-lable as options.

«With the EX, Van Hool also wants to reach new customers throughout Europe and break into new markets», said Fi-lip Van Hool, the company’s

CEO. «The standardised EX range will be marketed at very com-petitive prices because the option list is being kept ra-ther limited and because the vehicle is being built in a country (Ma-cedonia) where

the overall production costs are lower than in Western Europe».The EX line models therefore will be built in the Van Hool plant in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Road debut is expected for the first quarter of 2015. •

At the IAA, the Belgian manufacturer to present EX linewith Paccar Euro VI engine. It is a brand-new touring coach platform

VAN HOOLLAUNCHESTHE EX LINE

More articles about Solaris: www.bustocoach.com/en/node/428/articoli-costruttore-europa

Likewise many other manufacturers, Solaris will also launch a new product at the IAA

in Hannover. In fact, the manufacturer from Bolechowo will present for the first time to the public the new Urbino bus range in the 12 metre standard version and the 18-metre articulated version. The latest gene-ration of Urbino buses will feature several improve-ments. First of all the vehicles will be lighter and are expected to lower fuel consumption. Despite being li-ghter, they are more robust. Furthermore the roof has been lowered without compromising he-adroom. With a lower centre of gravity the vehicle is also better and safer to drive. The use of new suspension also makes it easier to handle. In terms of design, the new Urbino prefers sharper and more dynamic lines instead of

the rounded lines of previous models, thus conforming to the stylistic appearance of the Solaris range. The interior offers greater comfort thanks to the absence of vibrations, to the brightness experienced in the passengers compartment, to wider and higher doors and to the wider

floor area with po-dest-free seats. The interior and exterior lighting is provided by ener-gy efficient LED lights. The driver’s cab is more ergonomic with a raised dri-ver’s seat. Alongsi-de, visibility is also improved by the panoramic wind-screen. The new Urbino

has been designed not just for the use of Euro VI diesel engines (small and large), but also for gas-fuelled engines, diesel-electric hybrid and full-electric drives. Production will begin early next year and or-der bookings will start immediately. •

The new 12m and 18m buses of the Solaris Urbino range will premiere at the IAA in Hannover.Production to begin early next year

SOLARIS RENEWS THE URBINO

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

More articles about Scania: www.bustocoach.com/en/node/516/articoli-costruttore-europa

Fuel consumption and the environment. These are the two items that increasingly

weight in the choices and the balance she-ets of transport companies. Manufacturers are responding to these requirements with specifically targeted research and technolo-gy development. Scania focused on these two factors in par- ticular and at the IAA in Hannover, in addi-tion to vehicles, it will also introduce solutions aimed at reducing fuel consumption and environmental fo-otprint. For instan-ce it will introduce the further-deve-loped version of Eco-roll, the ad-vanced system in which Scania Opticruise acts together with ‘Scania Active Prediction’ to save fuel. And the retarder that can be ordered in the version that decreases fuel consumption by mecha-nically disengaging when not active. It also provides higher braking power (4,100 Nm instead of 3,500 Newton meters). Regarding engines, the Swedish manufacturer

will showcase the new 13-litre Scania engine in the 450-horsepower version with SCR as after-treatment of exhaust gases. For the passengers transport sector, it will di-splay the Citywide with Scania’s hybrid dri-ve system. The vehicle is equipped with the Scania 9-litre Euro VI engine with a power of 250 hp and with EGR and SCR technology.

Measuring 12 me-tres in length and featuring three do-ors (two doubles and one single at the rear), the Ci-tywide hybrid fits 33 seated passen-gers. Among o the r buses on display, there will be the 14.2-metre long

Scania OmniExpress that fits 53 seated pas-sengers and that is equipped with the new 13-litre Scania Euro VI engine with 450-hp, with up to 100% compatibility with biodiesel. Also on display the 12-metre Scania Touring with 49 seats with equipment inclusive of kit- chen, Bosch radio and Actia CD/DVD/MP3 player and rear-view camera. •

New products and services aimed at reducing fuel consumption and environmental footprint to be presented at the Scania stand at IAA. Like the Citywide hybrid

NEWITEMS BY SCANIA

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

More articles about International Events: www.bustocoach.com/en/node/2440/articoli_nref_eventi

Tourism by bus will take centre stage at the sixth edition of IBE, the International

Bus Expo that will take place as part of the event TTG Incontri, the trade fair dedicated to professional tourism organised by TTG Italia (a company of Gruppo Rimini Fiera), currently in its 51st edition. The IBE sta-ge will not only showcase vehicles but also compo-nents, accessories and solutions re-lated to customer service. Among the big names in the bus sector there will be Evobus with the Mercedes and Setra brands, Iveco Bus, Irizar, Van Hool, VDL, Volvo. There will also be Isuzu and Optare Group, the latter well-intentioned to enter the Italian market through a local dealer whose name has not yet been officially announced.

Other exhibitors include minibus bodybil-ders, such as Indcar, Hi Tech Bus, Sitcar, D’Auria and German company Ov Steinborn. Sector associations and trade press, includi-ng BusToCoach representing the new media,

will participate as well.For the first time, at this edition it will be possible to test vehicles on a circuit specially set up outside the exhibition halls. The IBE will also be an opportuni-ty to give voice to sector players and to address the major issues in the bus transport segment through round tables and conferences or-

ganised in collaboration with ANAV, the National Association of Road Transport Travellers. The appointment with the International Bus Expo is for October 9-11 at the Rimini fair.•

Sixth edition of the International Bus Expo to be held at the fair in Rimini from October 9 to 11. It is the only opportunity in Italy to learn about latest bus products

THE BUS TAKESTHE STAGEIN RIMINI

INFORMATION IS ON THE NETwww.bustocoach.com/en

The “Vehicles” section in the website provides data sheets for all types of buses available on the market,

inclusive of photographs, as well as historical profiles and manufacturer’s details.

Equally comprehensive information can be found in the “Components” section.

There are also the Directories dedicated to the market of “Used buses”, including sale ads, professional sales agents across the Europe landscape and quotes for all

types of vehicle models.

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014 HIGH TECH STORE

T he new onboard kitchen Multi Plus 3G, an evolu-

tion of the previous Multi Plus model, will be on display at the TM booth (E08, hall 11).The CP40 coffeemaker has not only been improved in terms of functionality, but also un-derwent a major facelift. The entire cubicle of the onboard kitchen now has a much roun-der and slightly curved outline, thus perfectly fitting the styli-stic features of the bus industry. LED backlit handles make it shine even by night, providing a futuristic look to the kitchen. Customisation options include foldaway tables, an aluminium band on top of the front side where to place a company logo and the choice of having two CP40 coffeemakers. •

T he electric motor manu-facturer Ziehl-Abegg is

presenting the second ge-neration of the electric in-wheel hub motor ZAwheel at the IAA Commercial Vehicles. The gearless elec-tric drive for city buses was launched onto the market at the last IAA Commercial Vehicles in 2012. Since then,

VDL Bus & Coach, Hybricon and ebus Europe have opted for a co-operation with Ziehl-Abegg. The second generation of the ZAwheel is considerably more power: the torque was increased from 2,100 Nm to 2,700 Nm; the rated power rose from 99 kW to 113 kW per wheel. The optimized drive axle in low-floor version simplifies the conversion of diesel vehicles. A monitoring system allows the line operator to look virtually into the motor of every wheel on-line accurately to the second. Charging cycles can be optimised and possible critical operating points detected early in this way. •

AT this year’s IAA Voith will pre-

sent its product and service competency under the motto “Driven by Efficiency“. In Hall 17 on Stand A 14, the recently awarded VIAB Tur-bo Retarder Clutch, the mul-tiple prize-winning Aquatar-der SWR (Secondary Water Retarder) braking system and the DIWA.6 automatic

transmission for city and long-distance buses are on show. Voith also exhibits its newly developed VR 115 CT hydraulic retarder for the Chinese market, its LP 725 and LP 490 air compressors, the 115 HV Oil Retarder “remanufactured by Voith“ as well as the DIWA SmartNet telemetric system.The benefits and the high performance of the Voith compo-nents are illustrated at the Voith exhibition stand not only through full-size exhibits and product animations but also by multimedial presentations. In these media clips, end users and operators from South America, Europe and Asia have their say, talking about their experiences with the products and services from Voith in everyday business life. •

A llison Transmission will showcase its largest

range of transmissions ever in Europe at the IAA Com-mercial Vehicle Exposition, Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 in Han-nover. Products will range from 1000/2000 Series™ models for light-duty com-mercial vehicles to 3000 Series™ and 4000 Series™ for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and the 6000 Series™ off-highway unit.Other displays on view at the two-floor Allison exhibition building (N65, outdoor area south) will be the cross-drive steering transmissions for tracked military vehicles, the hi-ghly-efficient TC10TMfor road tractors and the Torqmati-c®Series transmission specially designed for city and inter-city bus and coach applications. Both H 40/50 EP™ and H 3000™ parallel hybrid systems will also be featured. •

THINGS TO DISCOVER AT THE IAAVOITH

ZIEHL-ABEGGALLISON

TM Technischer

COMPONENTS ON LINEFor a comprehensive list of Suppliers

of bus components in Italy and in Europe visit:

www.bustocoach.com/en

To search for individual company profi les visit:

http://www.bustocoach.com/en/content/suppliers-italy

http://www.bustocoach.com/en/content/suppliers-europe

Select products by category and read available components details:

http://www.bustocoach.com/en/content/components-italy

http://www.bustocoach.com/en/content/components-europe

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

The first of nine double-articulated trolleybuses built on Swiss company Hess chassis and with Vossloh Kiepe electric equipment delivered in Lucerne

ON June 12, 2014 the first new dou-ble-articulated Hess/Vossloh-Kie-

pe trolleybus LighTram4 BGGT-N2D was presented to the media. Transport company Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern ordered nine such vehicles. The commission amounts to approxi-mately 1.4 million Swiss francs each (about € 928,000). The last of the nine vehicles must be operational by December 15, 2014, at the latest.The remarkable white, red and blue pain-twork, which is unusual for Lucerne, gives the trolleybus a distinctive and eye-catching appeareance. The front resembles the looks of a tramcar or a motor coach of Swiss ra-

ilways. Another eye catching feature is the wheels covered on all axles, giving the illu-sion of a rail-engaged vehicle.The dynamically shaped front features a large panoramic window that improves driver’s vi-sibility, thus increasing safety. The appearan-ce of the Hess bodied bus is projected towards the future of Lucerne trolleybuses: part of the RBus regional transport system, in which “R” stands for rapid. The 24.7-metre long trolleybuses can fit up to 220 passengers, 56 seated and 164 standing. Wide passageways in the interior and a plea-sant, comfortable ride experience are a con-siderable improvement compared to its pre-

decessor. Five announcements inform about the line number and destination. Three double monitors provi-de information about the line course as well as connections along the route, while also enter-taining passen-

gers with news, weather foreca-sts and general i n f o r m a t i o n . LED lights pro-vide illumina-tion throughout the interiors. The transpa-rent articulation parts between windows offer uniform bright-ness in the passenger area, providing a ple-asant atmosphere.The new lighTram4 has an unladen weight of 25.4 tonnes. Gross vehicle weight is 40 ton-nes. Four double plug sliding doors are avai-lable for passengers while a single plug slidi-ng door is located near the driver’s cab. The entrance height is about 330 millimetres from the ground up. Three air conditioning units provide a pleasant climate in the passenger area. The first and fourth axles are steering; the second and third axles are driven by two electric motors with a nominal power of 160 kW each. Instead of diesel engines used in prior models, now lithium-ion batteries power the vehicle where there are no overhead con-

tact lines.The new vehicles will be deployed exclusi-vely on the line 1 between Kriens-Obernau and Maihof. The new design features the logo appearing on the exterior, on seats, on panels and on the ground as well as at the bus stops. It goes to underline the enormous significance of this route. With about 10 million passen-gers per year it is the mostly popular public transport line in Central Switzerland. In the future, most of the twin-axle Naw/Hess BT5-25 will no longer be used in Lucerne. Ten of these vehicles will be sold to Chile to take service with Empresa de Transportes Colectivos Eléctricos Ltda (ETCE) in Valpa-raíso. •

BI-ARTICULATED TROLLEYBUS IN LUCERNA

Daimler will present the Future Truck 2025 at the upcoming IAA. Autonomous driving system anticipating the future of scheduled transport service. Safer, more efficient and networked are its main features. Drivers to benefit from professional development

ONLY TO LOOK AT.FOR THE TIME BEING

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

Vehicle to Vehicle CommunicationWi-Fi / Range 500 m (1,640 ft)Vehicle to Infrastructure Communica-tion. Wi-Fi / Range 500 m (1,640 ft)Lateral Radar on both sides170° / Range 60 m (197 ft)Front Stero Camera45° / Range 100 m (328 ft)Full Range Radar18° / Range 250 m (820 ft)Short Range Radar130° / Range 70 m (230 ft)

HOW will driving be like in ten years? How will the relation-

ship between driver and transport vehicle de-velop? What will the driver’s new professio-nal profile be like? Daimler’s answers to these questions is the Future Truck 2025 with “Highway Pilot” sy-stem, an autonomous driving study project based on a Actros 1845 Mercedes-Benz (its finalised stage will be unveiled at the IAA in Hannover at the end of September), combi-ned into a semitrailer combination with Ae-rodynamics Trailer (already presented at the IAA in 2012) . It is an anticipation of the truck of the future, able to drive autonomously on the motorways and highways of Europe. It will be a reality for goods traffic in 2025 while, for the time being, we can only presume that a develop-ment of the same system, with sector-specific requirements, will be implemented for pas-senger transport. But how does it work? It is very simple, when driving on the highway and after the vehicle has been set on the right-hand lane at a speed of 80 km/h, the driver of the Future Truck 2015 activates the “Highway Pilot” (the technology is always optional) and the vehicle switches to autonomous driving. The driver can pivot the seat to

the right by 45° and get busy with other matters thanks to a centre console in the style of an office workstation, featuring a removable tablet computer with touchscre-en to perform other tasks and to commu-nicate with the outside world. The driver still has an active role in the cockpit. In

fact he/she must be able to resume manual control of the vehicle at any time. For this reason two cameras monitor the cockpit and a sensor the driver’s seat. Manoeuvres for overtaking, changing lanes or leaving the highway must be performed by the driver. Likewise, the driver’s own inter-vention is required in the emergence of spe-cial situations (roadworks or obstacles on the road). In these situations, before deactivation of the “Highway Pilot” system the driver is alerted by a visual notification followed by an audible warning, providing the time to resume manual control of the vehicle. At ‘normal’ cruising conditions the “Highway Pilot” system always keeps the safety distance of 60 metres from the vehicle in front, rapidly correcting the trajectory to keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane, or to move left or right to the centreline according to inputs it received (e.g. emergency vehicle approachi-ng or broken-down vehicle stationary in the emergency lane), to return to the centre of the lane afterwards. These changes are achieved thanks to radar sensors at the front and sides, a stereo camera behind the windscreen and precise three-di-mensional maps. “Highway Pilot” also fea-

tures V2V and V2I communication systems (Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastruc-ture) for the exchange of information between the truck and other vehicles, as well as with the world outside of the highway. The Future Truck 2025 integrates driver as-sistance systems already available on Mer-cedes-Benz’s heavy trucks: Proximity Con-trol Assist, Stop-and-Go Assist, Emergency Braking Assist, Active Brake Assist 3, Lane Keeping Assist and three-dimensional maps for the Predictive Powertrain Control system. In addition, there are the FleetBoard telemati-cs products ranging from fleet management to transport management to Apps for the driver and operator. In short, the Future Truck 2025 outlines a transport system centred on safety, fuel effi-ciency and connectivity that is conceived for a driver relieved from the stress of driving and that, thanks to the availability of electro-nic communication systems onboard the vehi-cle, can take advantage of the time provided by autonomous driving to carry out those or-ganisational activities that qualify him/her as “transport manager”. In this scenario Daimler is determined to be the technology leader in Europe. • More articles about Daimler: www.bustocoach.com/en/node/732/articoli-costruttore-italia

RENAULTTRAFICACT THREE

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014

French manufacturer introduces all-new Trafic. More practical, comfortable and spacious. Optimised fuel efficiency. Various configurations available also for the ‘combi’ version

34 years of market presence and 1.6 million units produced. These are the figures of

the Trafic, the light commercial vehicle by Re-nault, ahead of the launch of its third range re-newal. The new Trafic has a new look, upgraded

THE NEW RENAULT TRAFIC COMBIL1H1 L2H1

Seats n. 5 / 6 8 / 9 5 / 6 8 / 9Lenght mm 4,999 4,999 5,399 5,399Width mm 1,956 1,956 1,956 1,956Height mm 1,971 1,971 1,971 1,971Wheelbase mm 3,098 3,098 3,498 3,498Front overhang mm 933 933 933 933Rear overhang mm 968 968 968 968Luggage (litres) 3,200 1,000 4,000 1,800GWV (kg) 2,740 2,800 2,845 2,895Engine dCi 90 dCi 115 Energy dCi 120 Energy dCi 140Displacement c.c. 1,598 1,598 1,598 1,598Power cv (kW)/rpm 90 (66)/3,500 115 (84)/3,500 120 (88)/3,500 140 (103)/3,500Torque Nm/rpm 260/1,500 300/1,500 320/1,500 340/1,500

drives and equipment, as well as further enhan-ced loading capacity and improved comfort. From an aesthetic point of view, the third genera-tion Trafic is characterised by a slender and sturdy front with a bigger, more upright logo reflecting

Renault’s new brand identity, rearview mirrors integrated on the side windows, slender light units, protective and wrap-around front bumper. The interior look is now more resemblant of cars, combining user-friendliness and comfort. It comes with up to 14 stowage solutions for a total capacity of over 90 litres. Another important change pertains to size, with increases both in terms of length (+210 cm) and load volume. It is powered by the R9M engine available in two versions: the single variable geometry turbo version (90 or 115 hp) and the Twin Turbo S&S version (120 or 140 hp). In terms of fuel eco-nomy, the latest-generation Trafic consumes as little as 5.7 litres/100 km with the dCi 120 S&S. According to the manufacturer, customers will benefit on average from 1 litre/100 km decrease in consumption compared to the previous Trafic model, translating into saving of € 1,200 over a period of three years. In terms of active safety, latest-generation ESP comes as standard equipment for the entire range

together with advanced technologies in the field of active safety. To note also enhanced rearview visibility thanks to the

“Wide View Mirror”, parking camera and double aspherical door mirror. The Combi version of the new Trafic fits up to nine passengers with a luggage space ranging from one cubic metre for the L1 version to 1.8 m³ for the L2 version. It comes equipped as standard with a glazed sliding right-side door, comprehen-sive of opening window (left door is available as an option) and with tyre pressure monitoring system. A choice of several layouts is available thanks to the modularity of the two rear bench seats. The carrying capacity of the passenger transport version can also be enhanced by addi-ng a roof box or a bike rack attached on the roof bars or tow bar. With the launch of Trafic III production moves from the Spanish plant in Valladolid to the Re-nault site in Sandouville, France, while the new Master and Kangoo will continue to be manu-factured in Batilly and Maubeuge. The new Trafic is available in dealerships starting with the month of September. •

U nbelievable. Results from the road test of the Setra TopClass S 516 HDH leave

one speechless. Fuel consumption so low has never been seen on a three-axle super high decker. It is true that since its debut the 500 Series was presented as the sole champion in terms of fuel efficiency, thanks to the new Euro VI engines, but such a performance goes beyond the most optimistic expectations: 4.45 km/litre (22.47 litres/100 km) including the equivalent AdBlue fuel amount (2.72% com-pared to fuel used). That’s an unprecedented leap forward, considering that the target of 4 km/litre has always been a rather unatta-inable dream for three-axle touring coaches with Euro V.

A DREAM COME TRUE

Lenght mm 13,325 Width mm 2,550 Height mm 3,880 Wheelbase mm 6,300+ 1,350 Front Overhang mm 2,890 Rear Overhang mm 2,785 Luggage m3 11.4 Turning Circle mm 21,510 Fuel Tank litres 520 AdBlue Tank litres 40 Empty Weight kg 16,400 Test Weight kg 21,100

Routes km km/h km/litreMain Road 43.4 62.0 4.06Highway (up) 40.5 75.9 2.42Highway (down) 52.2 66.6 5.66Highway (plain) 206.3 94.5 5.11TOTALE 342.4 81.5 4.45

DIMENSIONS

0 9.07

FUEL COMSUMPTION

BusToCoach on-line Magazine - September 2014 SETRA - TopClass S 516 HDH

TESTkm

/litr

e

Performance Index

4.06

2.42

5.665.11

4.45

Main Road Down on the Highway TOTAL AVERAGE

Up on the Highway Plain on the Highway

The S 516 HDH features 4-star interior equipment. It fits 46

passengers (plus guide and driver and two small tables) on well equipped Setra Voyage Supreme seats, mounted on a raised base at 140 mm from the corridor, in turn located at 1,575 mm from the ground. The vehicle is entered through the central boarding area featuring five steps, with high-sheen aluminium edges, that are 250 mm in height, plus a bottom step that comes out automatically when the door opens. The front staircase comprises four steps, measuring 230 mm in height, plus two steps to access the corridor. Toilet and kitchen are located to the sides of the central entrance. In the interiors the elegance of the upholstery is combined with a pleasant sense of spaciousness re-sulting from the 2,100 mm of hea-droom and the wide tinted TopSky panoramic glass roof (with a total

expanse of some 13 m³).Behind the open luggage racks (1.5 m³ total capacity), under the ven-tilation duct there are the newly designed service set with air vents, LED reading lamps and fixed li-ghts. Two LED bands to the side

of the glass roof provide indirect lighting for overall ambience. Interior climate is controlled by a fully automatic integral air condi-tioning system with separate con-trol settings for driver cockpit and passenger compartment. Air con-

ditioning from the water/glycol system is blown through slits in the overhead racks and towards the side windows. Hot air is pro-vided via floor convectors by an axial fan which ventilates the pas-sengers feet area. •

PASSEGGERI Seats n. 46+1+1 Internal Height mm 2,100 Aisle Height mm 1,575 Aisle Width mm 355 Entrances Width mm 620/615 Raks Volume m3 1.54 Comfort Seats type Voyage Supreme A.C. automatic control Heater convectors Roof Hatches 2 manual Glazing double Audio/Video CMS, DVB-T Toilette yes Kitchen complete

THE TEST ROUTEPASSENGERS

As proved by comparing it with the previous model, the S 416 HDH Special Edition that was tested three years ago on the same route (see BusToCoach July 2011) and that also had a total weight of over 21 tonnes. At the end of the test drive, the indicator for fuel consu-mption rested on the 3.64 km/litre mark and average speed was 80.3 km/h, lower than 81.5 km/h acheived by the S 516 HDH. The new TopClass delivers record results in terms of reducing con-sumption: minus 18.2%, that is 5 litre savings every 100 kilometres. Consumers can take the pleasure of converting these figures into yearly saving, thus factoring in a return from the purchase price of the vehicle, that, in the case of the ful-ly-equipped test vehicle, exceeds 400 thousand euro. How has fuel consum-ption been lowered this much? The expla-nation can be found in the detailed design of each single element of the TopClass 500.

Lookingup

Positioned at just over a metre from the ground

and 50 cm below the cor-ridor, the driver cockpit features a completely rede-signed control panel, moved 50 mm closer to the driver and with a more wrap-a r o u n d e r g o n o m i c . The centre dashboard features a high-resolution colour display and four round indicators for vehicle speed, engine speed, current fuel and AdBlue levels. Pages on the display are selec-ted via the “Stacks & Cards” system with the function keys on the steering wheel for easy selection of individual menus (such as route information or continuous vehicle check) and submenus (cards). The multifunction steering wheel also features the keys to activate cruise control, other driver assist functions and the Coach Multimedia System.

Therefore the driver can easily activate all of these functions without ever taking the hands off the steering wheel, inclu-ding shifting gears controlled via the steering-column lever. The driver uses a multifunc-tion electronic key that thanks

to bidirectional communica-tion via wireless connection allows to remotely operate the Stack&Cards menu to check the status of the vehicle from a distance, but also to carry out lighting tests or to regulate the interior temperature. •

AUTISTA Platform Height mm 1,035 Cockpit Width mm 900 Cockpit Depth mm 1,950 Cockpit Height mm 2,170 Adjustment Seat mm 250 Equipments Seat type Isri 6860 Window electric Sunshade double, electric Blinds (left) Manual roller Fridge yes

DRIVERStarting with the external shape that, through extensive in-house wind tunnel tests, reached a aerodynamic drag coefficient (Cd or Cx) of 0.33, a record level comparable to automobi-les. This result was also achieved thanks to the lowering of the vehicle’s height by a few centimetres when running at highway speeds, through the electronic level control system (ENR) of the suspensions. Likewise for the new ComfortClass 500, the protagonist of such performances is the powertrain. Common to all TopClass 500 mo-dels, the 12.8-litre OM 471 is part of the new generation of Blue Efficiency Power engines by Mercedes, delivering high performan-ces, fuel efficiency and redu-ced maintenance costs. The S 516 HDH used for our test drive mounts the 510 horse-power engine version (375 kW), the most powerful. It is combined with the excel-lent GO 250-8 8-speed auto-mated transmission (Power-Shift 3) with Voith secondary water retarder. Furthermore, an additional reduction in fuel consum-ption is also provided by PPC (Predictive Powertrain Control), a system available on Setra models that auto-matically controls speed by acting directly on the gear-shift of the transmission to save fuel. Using GPS locali-sation, it is able to know in advance the approaching of downhill or uphill stretches, and therefore to intervene accordingly. For example, when driving downhill the system can take advantage of the EcoRoll function that shifts the transmission into neutral to reduce fuel consumption or to avoid downshifting when facing slight bumps. PPC can contribute to more than 4% fuel savings on long distance drives. More in general, the driving performance of the S 516 HDH is first class. Despite the al-most 3.9 metres in height, the electronical-

Relaxed driving

The heart of the S 516 HDH is the 12.8-litre Mercedes OM

471 engine with an output of 510 hp (375 kW) at 1,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 2,500 Nm at 1,100 rpm. An optional fitted to the test vehicle in place of the standard 476 hp (350 kW). The exhaust gas turbocharger is asymmetrical and, replacing the previous Pld, the common rail injection system now makes use of X-Pulse, that can raise the pressure up to 2,100 bar and provide a modular and extremely precise injection, as necessary to meet Euro VI standards. To this end, the system also makes use of cooled exhaust gas partial re-circulation to reduce NOx emis-sions, in turn held back by the injection of AdBlue (reduced by 40%) upstream of the SCR. The exhaust system is also equipped with a diesel particulate filter with long maintenance intervals

(first time after 360 thousand kilometres and then every 240 thousand). All components are combined into one housing.The engine also makes use an efficient 3 stages jake braking and a new maintenance-free and

wear-free clutch. The engine is coupled with the excellent eight-speed GO 250-8 PS3 automated transmission with Voith water retarder with 3,500 Nm braking torque. Among the many safety systems,

besides the Front Collision Guard for the driver, the S 516 HDH is equipped with ESP braking system, Lane Assistant (SPA), adaptive cruise control with di-stance adjustment (ART) and Ac-tive BrakeAssist (ABA 2). •

ly controlled suspensions give the vehicle ground stability, quickly dulling roll-over effects after turning, while the third axle and short overhangs (less than 2.9 meters in the front and 2.8 in the rear) eliminate any possi-bility of pitching on viaducts. Precise steering is delivered by the ZF Servo-com 9098 with an outside wheel turn angle of 58°. Thanks to the third axle with electro-hydrau-lic steering below 50 km an hour, the vehicle has a turning circle of 21.5 me-tres (minimum internal diameter is 7.55 meters). The same as driving a 12 metres vehicle. Everything else regardi-ng the S 516 HDH con-firms the excellence of the vehicle, both for the comfort of passengers, that benefit from com-prehensive equipment (such as the toilet, the kitchen or the roof glazing for a truly panora-mic view), and for the driver who can count on a new ergonomic instrument panel as well as safety and driver assistance systems that are not available on competing vehicles. The external appearance of all TopClass 500 stands out for its elegant lines, while fea-turing a marked aggressiveness at the front when compared to the previous 400 Series. To note, the black header that incorporates the metallic Setra lettering encased by chro-me underlinings. Direction indicators as well as daytime running lamps are LED, while low-beam and high-beam headlamps are bi-xenon. Windscreen wipers are by Aqu-ablade, with flat blade that distributes the washer fluid directly from the front upper edge of the wiper blade. •

MOTORE MERCEDES OM 471 LA Displacement cc 12,803Bore/Stroke 132/156Geometry vertical 6 in linePosition backPower 510 cv (375 kW)/1,800 rpm Torque Nm 2,500/1,100 rpmInjection Common rail with X-Pulse Compression Ratio 17.3:1Oil Tank litres 29Pollution Class Euro VI Gas Treatment Egr+Scr+FilterLife test vehicle km 10,990

TYRESContinental HSL2+ EcoPlus295/80 R 22.5 152/148M

SUSPENSIONSFull pneumatic with level’s electro-nic control (ENR). First and third axle with indipendent wheels.BRAKESFull disc brakes. Electronically con-trolled EBS pneumatic system with ABS, ASR, Brake Assist (BAS) and Retarder.SAFETYESP, Font Collision Guard (FCG), Adaptive Cruise Control (ART) with Active Brake Assist (ABA2), Lane Assistant (SPA), Tyre Pressure Mo-nitoring System (TPM), Engine fire detection. Rear view camera.

TRANSMISSIONThe tested vehicle has the automated Merce-des GO 250-8 PowerShift 3 with eight speeds and the Voith integrated water retarder.Transmission Ratio 3.583Acceleration 0-100 km/h sec. 40.8rpm/min

Km/h

COACH: 3-AXLES COMPAREDModel km/h km/litre Index

Setra S 516 HDH 81.5 4.45 9.07Van Hool TX16 Astronef 82.5 3.52 7.26Setra S 416 HDH 80.3 3.64 7.30

GEARBOX

Nm

2,500

1,800

1,100

kW

375

360

330

300

270

2401,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800

14.6 23 34.9 55.1 76.3 95.8 120.5 151.4

0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150

rpm/min

1,8001,500

1,000

500

0

ENGINE

8a 7a 6a 5a 4a 3a 2a

1a

Maximum power

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