Whether it is a luxury coach with a bistro upgrade, an application-optimised city bus or intercity bus, individuality, innovation and interactivity were fully reflected in the MAN product range displayed at this year’s Busworld Kortrijk show. All the bus models from MAN Truck & Bus, with a central theme of fuel efficiency and safety, attracted a large number of visitors to the company pavilion.
Following its premier at MAN BusDays 2015 in Ankara, the MAN Lion’s intercity was showcased for the first time at Busworld. The intercity has been adapted without compromise for use in long distance transport and shuttle services and as a robust school bus, combining first class comfort with both a high level of functionality and outstanding safety in the very best MAN quality. The vehicle sets standards not just with its striking, aerodynamically-optimised design and its excellent driving characteristics, but above all with its efficient fuel consumption and low life-cycle costs. The concept behind the low total cost of ownership is the consistent use of light weight components. Good aerodynamics and ease of servicing and repair also contribute to the low operating costs. MAN showcased the vehicle in the 12-metre and 13-metre long versions at the show.
Focus on safety and efficiency
MAN has further developed the active safety of buses, based on years of extensive accident research. This has resulted in assistance systems now being provided as standard. These assist drivers in situations which have been proven to be the most common causes of accidents and include the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the advanced emergency braking system (EBA) and the lane guard system (LGS). The latest generation of safety systems is available for all coaches and intercity buses. Rain and light sensors will be offered as an option from the start of 2016 long before these become a legal requirement.
At the Busworld exhibition, MAN presented an alertness assistant that was developed for long-distance holiday traffic. The system accesses data from the LGS and, based on the stored records, can determine whether the driver’s attention has decreased and recommends that the driver takes a break. This is another system in the safety cascade for accident prevention.
The MAN Lion’s intercity is the only such bus on the market where EBA and LGS can be fitted as an option. In addition, the intercity bus already complies, again, uniquely for its segment, with the ECE R66.02 standard which is valid from 2017 and governs the strength of the body for protection in the event of a rollover.
The MAN Lion’s Coach impresses with the MAN EfficientLine design as well as enhanced long-distance equipment, including 230 volt connections by the seat, ergonomic comfort seats, toilets and galley kitchen as well as destination display. The coach comes with all the latest generation safety and assistance systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), lane guard system (LGS), advanced emergency braking system (EBA), brake assistant (BA) and MAN EfficientCruise and Maximum Speed Control (MSC).
The NEOPLAN Skyliner’s drag coefficient of cw=0.41, is equivalent to that of a modern mid-size van. This represents: around five per cent lower fuel consumption and one of the lowest CO2 emission values on the market. The vehicle thus sets the benchmark in the double-decker segment. MAN EfficientCruise and the advanced emergency braking system are new to the Skyliner.
As an established element of the NEOPLAN portfolio and as a genuine cutting edge classic, the proven Cityliner sets the standard with its modern safety technology, outstanding levels of comfort and highly efficient drive technology.
Lion’s City
MAN has a broad city bus portfolio which meets the requirements of different cities in terms of mobility solutions. This includes the transport capacity aspect such as vehicle length and vehicle concepts (number of doors, internal design, low-floor, low-entry) as well as different drive types. The option of being able to operate virtually all Lion’s City bus types using biodiesel means that MAN is offering a complete product range of alternative drives alongside the tried and tested Lion’s City Hybrid. In addition, there is a wide range of biogas capable gas buses.
Sales of over 8,000 units since 2000 (buses, chassis and engines) make MAN the market leader in gas drive technology. Overall, this represents a broad spectrum of future technologies which are well-engineered, sustainable, CO2 efficient and at the same time economical.
This motto of “Sustainable Mobility” at this year’s Busworld was reflected more than anything in the evolution of the MAN Lion’s City buses. Over the last three years, the Lion’s City product has undergone consistent product optimisation in order to be able to offer the best quality and maximum benefit to the customer. The main measures taken have been weight optimisation, improved ease of maintenance, increased passenger capacity and significantly reduced fuel consumption.
NEOPLAN Tourliner
The NEOPLAN Tourliner 2+1, a 5-star bus with VIP seating for 33 passengers received a special award for its outstanding level of comfort. In the IBC comparative test, which is conducted annually, the coach impressed the jury in the comfort category with its level of equipment and specification. For example, with the comfortable 2+1 seating arrangement with a row of single seats on the left hand side, and double seats on the right. This arrangement is already used very successfully by long-distance business travel operators in Turkey.
An additional highlight is the passenger seat itself, sumptuously tailored and upholstered with arm supports on both sides and adjustable headrests – a level of workmanship otherwise found only in air travel. The NEOPLAN Tourliner entry model has become the favourite of bus companies since its introduction in the market.
Buses for very special requirements
MAN brings together its expertise in buses at the Bus Modification Centre (BMC) for MAN and NEOPLAN brand buses and coaches. The aim here is to work together with customers and to search for ambitious solutions to meet the individual requirements of the customer concerned.
The BMC makes it possible to offer customers turnkey solutions from a single source for their specialist requirements. The range of work undertaken here is varied and involves customers’ exclusive special-purpose vehicles, specialist buses for use in the justice system or mobile library buses as well as buses for special customers, including presidents or pop stars.
The range of services extends from rear lounges and special toilets to dispensing equipment, catering equipment and baths through to HI-FI, W-LAN or customised video solutions. High-end painting technology is used, for example, for very personalised colour requirements.
e-Mobility in focus
Providing the optimum drive technology for each area of application has always been and is an important claim for MAN. Today, the MAN city bus family offers, alongside diesel technology, a wide range of alternative drives in all length variants: MAN offers one of the largest portfolios on the market, including biodiesel, CNG and biogas as well as hybrid models.
With its Lion’s City Hybrid, MAN has had a tried and tested, reliable pure electric drive on the market for many years now. On this basis and with unique experiences to their credit, MAN’s engineers are now working at full speed on a completely zero-emission battery-powered bus. They are aware of the high market demand for a mature solution in terms of reach, transport capacity and economy. To meet this objective, a corresponding charging, storage and drive technology is needed. Here, among other things, MAN relies on synergies within the Volkswagen Group.
In keeping with the plans of many cities to minimise emissions from short-distance public transport, MAN will be presenting a pre-series battery bus (BEV) to the public as early as the next Busworld in Kortrijk in 2017. By the turn of the decade, MAN intends to offer 100% electrically-powered city buses as a standard product.
Chassis worldwide
MAN offers a solution for every application with its comprehensive bus chassis product portfolio. The range covers the low-floor, low entry, high floor and front engine segments for body lengths of 10.2m to 27m, emission stages Euro 3 to Euro 6 as well as natural gas engines for city and intercity use. For countries with a high sulphur content in fuel, MAN offers the coach chassis with SCR technology in Euro 4 and EEV. These are also available as component kits (Chassis in the box – CIB) for countries with import duties on chassis.
The chassis are mainly produced in Germany, Poland (low floor) and India (CLA), as also in Pinetown (South Africa). All coaches and intercity chassis are available with the latest safety and comfort systems: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), advanced emergency braking system (EBA) and the lane guard system (LGS). Rain and light sensors will be offered from the start of 2016 long before these become a legal requirement for all city bus and coach chassis.
MAN collaborates with over 80 body manufacturers worldwide. This collaboration is being further strengthened in order to ensure a permanent high quality of vehicles for customers.
MAN honoured the best body manufacturers with the MAN Body Builder Award at a special function held at the fair.