Mercedes-Benz Tourismo Euro6 launch

Tourismo M 16 RHD

The first tri-axle Mercedes-Benz integral that Daimler Buses has offered in the UK, the Tourismo M16 RHD is 12.96m long, 2.55m wide and 3.62m high with wheelbases of 6.08m/1.35m.

It is available with up to 55 seats with centre sunken toilet, or up to 59 seats with no toilet. A demountable toilet option is also available. In the UK the options are up to 53 seats and a mid mounted toilet or 55 seats with the top of the toilet compartment demounted.

The standard engine is the 394hp unit which produces that figure at 1,800rpm and maximum torque of 1,900Nm at 1,100rpm. The standard UK transmission is the ZF EcoLife six-speed fully automatic, though options are the six-speed manual G0-190 and the automated manual G250-8 Powershift unit. At the front the ZF RL75E independent suspension unit is employed with the similar ZF RL75A serving as the trailing axle. The drive axle is the Mercedes-Benz RO440 single reduction hypoid unit with a ratio of 3.909:1. This requires 11-litres rather than 15-litres of oil and service intervals for it have been extended to 240,000km. The new AdBlue tank holds 40-litres and is mounted, with its pump, at the front alongside the 490-litre fuel tank, which is now constructed of plastic.

Compared with the previous generation of engines used in the Tourismo, Mercedes-Benz are now confidently predicting that engines will save fuel to the tune of around 3%, which, because they always have to be cautious in what they claim, probably means that more is achievable.

If the Tourismo M 16 RHD is to win over those operators previously committed to the Setra range, it is important that they and their customers feel that they are able to buy a vehicles that is, in every way, comparable. To this end a considerable list of options is to be made available, some of which are not offered in left hand drive markets. It was pleasing to see that the launch coach had been equipped with high specification seats that illustrated what can be achieved.

Managing Director, Jan Aichinger talked me through some of the options. They include: a rear saloon toilet on the offside; larger saloon monitors; wood effect flooring; E-Leather trim; a wider range of seating options including all variants previously offered in the Setra range; extra dark tinted glazing; and LED passenger reading lights (in addition to the main light units which are already LED). Also new on the options list is the Kinemax side lift unit that many readers will have seen mounted on the Setra S516HD displayed at the Kortrijk Show. This has a lighter and slimmer cassette than previously offered and because it does not swing out as far it does not require as much space to operate in. Finally, the range of fabrics available for the interior has been extended and everything you were previously able to specify in a Setra can be supplied in the Tourismo. It means that an operator wanting to maintain the same interior look can switch to the Tourismo and achieve that continuity.

And if nothing but a Setra will do, then you will need to move quickly because, having built extra examples to meet a late surge of demand, the number of new right hand drive Setra S416GT-HDs available from Coventry can be counted on one hand, and when they are gone there will not be any more.

You’ll need to get a move on too if you want to hold off from buying Euro6 and stick with new Euro5 for your new Mercedes-Benz purchase. Although extra examples have been ordered, the number now available runs to only two hands. While the Tourismo is continuing

in right hand drive, there will be no opportunity to build additional coaches equipped with Euro5 engines.