For its final edition in Kortrijk, Busworld Europe can count on a record number of participating vehicles for its Busworld Awards competition: no less than twenty-one in total.
All twenty-one vehicles will be tested both on the premises of Kortrijk Xpo as well as on the surrounding public roads in Kortrijk on October 14, 2017.
In the category ‘Coach’ nine manufacturers are participating with twelve vehicles: Anadolu Isuzu with Turquoise, Daimler Buses with Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, Integralia with IN-vip and One, MAN Truck & Bus with Lion’s Coach, Otokar with a new undisclosed vehicle, Temsa with LD13 and Maraton 12, Van Hool with EX16, VDL Bus & Coach with Futura and Yutong with T12 and ICe 12, the last one being an electric coach.
In the category ‘Bus’ eight manufacturers are participating with nine vehicles: Alstom with Aptis, Anadolu Isuzu with Citiport and Visigo, BMC with Neocity, Daimler Buses with Mercedes-Benz Citaro, Ebusco with High Voltage 2.1, Iveco Bus with Crealis, VDL Bus & Coach with Citea Electric and Yutong with E12.
The Jury, existing out of nine specialised jury groups, is in full preparation and eager to start. The different groups are called Driving Test Coach, Driving Test Bus, Driver Comfort, Passenger Comfort, Guide Comfort (for coach only), Ecology and Maintenance, Emissions, Safety and last but not least Design. Each group consists of one president and one or more members, depending on the need of that specific specialism. In total thirty jury members will work an entire day to evaluate all the vehicles, giving their evaluation on 180 different aspects and features.
The Busworld Awards consist of two overall prizes for the vehicles: the Grand Award Coach and the Grand Award Bus. On top of these Grand Awards, vehicles can also earn a Label when they excel at one of the following fields: Ecology, Safety, Comfort or Design.
The winners of 2017 will be announced during the newly installed Awards Night on the evening of October 19, 2017 in Kortrijk Xpo.