Scania to offer Touring in UK – Tri-axle will be first Chinese built model
It was announced on Tuesday that Scania is to start importing the Touring coach model to the UK with the first Euro6 examples expected to arrive in the UK around November time
Bodied in China by Higer Bus on lines dedicated to European production, the coach has been offered in Europe since 2009 and after a slow start, is now selling reasonably well
The initial vehicles will be 13.7m long three axle coaches but the two axle variant is anticipated for 2015
Tony Tomsett, Bus, Coach and Engine Sales Director of Scania (GB) Ltd
Tony Tomsett, Bus, Coach and Engine Sales Director of Scania (GB) Ltd, commented, ‘The Scania Touring is a versatile, high quality, comfortable and quiet vehicle which is equally at home in the city or on long distance touring. Furthermore, the fact that it is a fully-built-up Scania product means that customers will benefit from a single point of contact when it comes to aftersales requirements. As such, we are confident the Scania Touring will soon establish itself as a firm favourite with Great Britain’s coach operators.’
Having earlier said it would offer ‘financial benefits’, Tony told B&CB, that it would be very competitively priced with a standard specification figure of £250,000 mentioned. He said it would complement and effectively complete the existing range. Scania already offers tri-axle coaches with both Irizar i6 coachwork and it’s own 14.1m OmniExpress body.
I understand that the standard specification will be 57 European built Kiel Avance seats, a factory fitted toilet and courier seat, with a peage window option under development.
Mechanically, the engine will be the SCR-only Scania DC13.115 unit rated at 410hp matched to the Scania GR875R Opticruise gearbox. It will have an ESP electronic stability programme, Emergency Braking System, lane departure warning and alloy wheels.
No orders for the steel framed Touring have yet been placed but considerable interest is reported. Tony commented, ‘there is already significant interest. We know there’ll be a fight for the first ones coming in later this year.’
Claes Jacobsson, MD of Scania
(Great Britain) LtdEarlier, Claes Jacobsson, MD of Scania (Great Britain) Ltd had said that ‘we will continue to have a fully fledged bus range in the UK. The customers are there.’
i3 bus orders
In another development, it was revealed that the first examples of the Scania K250 UB4x2 chassis with 250bhp DC09.111 Euro6 engine and Irizar i3 low entry single deck bus bodywork have been ordered by Menzies. The order is for six units.
Scania will also be offering the full low floor Irizar i2 body on the N250 UB4x2 chassis with the same engine as well as the ADL Enviro300 body on the K.UB4x2 with either 250hp diesel or 280hp CNG engine options and the double deck Enviro400 on the N250UD4x2 chassis. The i2 and i3 mounted products will be made available to TfL specifications.