Volvo unveiled its all-new platform for tourist and line-haul coaches to the public at IAA. With striking design, fuel-saving aerodynamics and safety of the very highest level, the premium coach manufacturer took another great leap forward to extend its leadership in global markets.
The range encompasses two models: the luxurious Volvo 9900 and the versatile Volvo 9700. Both feature a dynamically designed exterior with crisp lines, smooth sides and rounded corners to give low air resistance. The new “Z-shaped” side window line, combined with the sloping theatre floor of the Volvo 9900, marks a totally new design language for coaches.
“I’m immensely proud to present our new premium-class coach platform at IAA. It marks our biggest investment in this segment in more than 20 years, and our customers have given the new platform a particularly enthusiastic welcome,” said Håkan Agnevall, President – Volvo Buses. “With our all-new, modern coaches and flexible service packages, we have a highly competitive holistic offer to the market. Put simply, we make it easier for our customers to offer first-class service and to make money.”
The new Volvo 9900 offers an extra-high floor level and large glass panels to provide exceptionally good views both to the front and sides. The interior roof is eight centimetres higher than before, and a straighter transition between walls and roof creates an airy feeling with a far greater sense of space. The versatile Volvo 9700 is available with a variety of equipment alternatives for medium range line-haul or premium tour and charter operations.
Inside the vehicles the design team concentrated on both the visual and tactile quality. Passengers encounter a harmonic, well-balanced colour palette, and tasteful combinations of cloth and leather with details accented in metal.
To give passengers a high-quality travel experience Volvo Buses has also invested heavily in comfort-enhancing solutions such as ergonomically designed passenger seats and a well-insulated interior with a low noise level. The climate system has undergone significant development to ensure a uniform and pleasant temperature throughout the bus, irrespective of outside conditions.
The integrated driver’s environment, featuring a new steering wheel and instrumentation, gives him the right preconditions for working efficiently and without disruption. Driving is made easier, thanks to the vehicle’s lower centre of gravity, which ensures excellent stability and manoeuvrability – properties that are improved still further with Volvo Dynamic Steering.
The new 9000 range stays true to its Volvo heritage, with technology that makes it one of the safest coach ranges on the market. Both the Volvo 9700 and the Volvo 9900 feature a comprehensive suite of solutions for active and passive safety. Among the new features are more robust front impact protection (FIP) and a Driver Alert system that monitors the vehicle’s movements and issues alerts if the driver is tired or not concentrating on the road.
The buses’ low air resistance and lighter weight make it possible to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to four per cent. And, with the optional Dynamic Chassis Lowering and Volvo I-See* the potential savings are even greater.
Volvo Buses’ electromobility solution was represented at the show by the Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid (plug-in hybrid) and an OppCharge station for quick-charging of the vehicle’s battery pack. The Volvo Buses range of electrified models also covers all-electric propulsion – the Volvo 7900 Electric – and hybrid buses. All told, Volvo Buses has served as a pioneer in electromobility and has to date sold more than 4,000 electrified buses globally.
At IAA, Volvo Buses also introduced Volvo Bus Care, a comprehensive solution encompassing vehicles, services and financing, designed to make things easier for the customer operations.
Volvo 9900 & 9700 Luxury Coaches – Breathtaking & safe
By Sarada Vishnubhatla
TrendingNow: Volvo 9900 is a new platform with an integrated concept as against the body shop concept. The luxurious coach in the tourist and line-haul segment boasts of many attractive features. Said Mr. Hakan Agnevall, President – Volvo Buses: “It is a new platform for the European market. We have put in much effort on the design base and have unveiled the new design at the show. It offers telematic solutions, reduced fuel consumption, weighs lighter… well, it is really a new coach.”
The highlight of the 9900 luxury coach is the shape line of the side window combined with the sloping theatre floor that naturally contributes to the aesthetics. Besides, it has improved aerodynamics. Mr. Agnevall added: “It is market ready and the response has been extremely good. The design has been well liked because when we were looking at the design concept, the Volvo heritage and the brand value, though indicated a more conservative design, yet we also wanted to make something new that was not the usually available concept. And hence the new smooth design that the coaches are boasting. We have been working on this for four years.”
Alongside the 9900 platform, the 9700 series was also unveiled much to the delight of the global audience. Mr. Agnevall mentioned: “Both the platforms come equipped with a range of active and passive safety features. The Volvo Bus Safety Zone Management till recently was applicable to our city buses only but now we have it in both these series.” The concept is based on geo-fencing which enables the speed of the bus to be automatically limited in pre-defined areas.
GlobalFirst: The new series have an integrated service concept very well appreciated, according to the officials. Mr. Agnevall said: “This marks the biggest investment in this segment in more than 20 years. This is also pegged as a highly competitive holistic offer to the market that will earn robust income for our customers along with giving first-class service.”
He also added that the integrated driver environment now boasts of a new steering wheel and instrumentation which adds to the extra high levels of safety.
IndiaCentric: It will be some time before the new coaches will set foot on the Indian soil, if one goes by the official responses. Mr. Agnevall agreed: “The Indian market needs to pick up for us to make that kind of investment. Currently, the market is growing slow.”
WhatWorks: Those customers wishing to custom-build buses are offered the brand’s safety solutions work. Interested and potential customers were able to experience Volvo Dynamic Steering at the various simulator machines. The interior roof is eight centimeters higher than before, creating a spacious feel.
Driver Alert System, stronger Front Impact Protection (FIP), Dynamic Chassis Lowering and Volvo I-See are some of the new attractive features of the luxury coaches. The new series is also designed to reduce CO2 emissions by up to four per cent. What also works for the new launch is that the body is made with ‘newly developed’ corrosion-preventive material and the ‘sandwich construction’ roof leads to the low weight of the bus and the low center of gravity.