Blaguss drives towards future with new Setra bus generation

New buses with a new company design. True to its guiding principle that everyone has goals (“Weil jeder Ziele hat”), the Viennese bus company “Blaguss” has reinforced its claim to operate exclusive and innovative touring coaches by investing in the S 515 HD. The Vienna-based large fleet operator decided to introduce a change of generation with the two-axle vehicle and took delivery of its first vehicle in the new Setra ComfortClass 500.

The luxury coach is part of a framework agreement for a total of 100 buses from the new generation of Setra coaches, to be delivered by 2015 – and as such the largest order for ComfortClass 500 coaches in the whole of Europe. “The large-volume order is a vote of confidence we reserve only for the Setra brand,” promised managing director Thomas Blaguss, during the official handover at the EvoBus ServiceCenter in Wiener Neudorf: “In our eyes, the concept behind the Setra ComfortClass 500 is a thoroughly successful combination of environmental and safety technology, economic performance and state-of-the-art design and it absolutely meets all our requirements 100 percent.”

Dr Thomas Rohde, CEO of EvoBus Austria GmbH, is appreciative of the praise: “With the handover of the first ComfortClass 500 to Blaguss, we begin a new chapter in our joint success story that will have a significance well beyond the boundaries of the city of Vienna. The framework agreement is a clear vote of confidence for our product and for the Setra brand and sends out a strong signal in the Austrian market.”

Throughout Europe with the S 515 HD

The long-established, family-owned company from the Burgenland region of Austria is to deploy the ComfortClass 500 on long-distance routes and for European travel. Guests will enjoy the comfort of the 49 touring seats, which feature footrests, armrests and leather head sections, and fortify themselves with snacks and beverages from the on-board galley. Extended seat bases create additional space for even greater freedom of movement and extra comfort for passengers. The Coach Multimedia System (CMS) guarantees high-quality audio and video entertainment and information, and features a DVD player, iPod and iPhone jack with free Wi-Fi connection. Blaguss also showed an eye for detail in equipping the S 515 HD. Thanks to a d.c./a.c. inverter, passengers can use 220 V sockets to charge all kinds of electronic devices during the journey or while at a standstill.

Austria’s second-largest private bus operator switches to state-of-the-art bus fleet

Bus operator Blaguss can look back on a long and successful history. Paul Blagusz founded the original “Lohnfurhwerk” company in 1929 and the “Blaguss Reisen Gesellschaft m.b.H” was established in May 1970. Today Blaguss is the second-largest private bus company in Austria, with subsidiaries in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and is led by Familie Dr Robert Blaguss, Thomas Blaguss and Paul Blaguss. The company owns around 330 vehicles, which in total clock up almost 16 million kilometres on national international routes every year. The average age of its bus fleet is two and a half years. With a workforce of 550 employees, the company has bought almost 900 buses from the traditional Ulm brand Setra since 1978.

ComfortClass 500 sets benchmarks for economy and comfort

With the pioneering ComfortClass 500 series, Setra sets new benchmarks in economy, value, comfort and safety. The new premium touring coaches impress with their streamlined design, achieved as part of a holistic wind tunnel development process.

Furthermore, the hybrid light-weight design offering even greater rigidity for considerably less weight, as well as an intelligent fuel consumption and energy management system, turn the new Setra touring coaches into attractive added-value vehicles. The ComfortClass 500 already meets the EURO 6 emission standard, which comes into force for new vehicles in 2014, as well as many other safety guidelines and legal regulations for the years ahead.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Setra secures largest ever order from Sweden

It is the largest order which the Setra Bus and Coach unit has ever received from Sweden. The bus brand of Stuttgart-based Daimler AG is to deliver 65 vehicles from the Setra MultiClass 400 series for use on school and regular bus services in the Scandinavian country. Delivery of the two-axle S 416 UL and three-axle S 417 UL for the region of Region Kronoberg extends over a ten-year period, with the first buses being delivered in June 2013.

The order has come about as the result of a tender which has been won by four bus operators from the province of Småland in southern Sweden. No less than 50 of the buses are to go to the company Karlssonbuss i Vaggeryd and the subsidiaries Sven Carlsson Trafik, Moheda Buss and Grimslövsbuss. The remaining 15 vehicles are to be brought into service by the bus companies Gerts Busstrafik, Tingsryds Buss and Ryssbybygdens Buss. Driven by Euro V engines featuring BlueTec technology, the vehicles are fitted with double doors at the rear point of entry, wheelchair lifts, monitoring cameras and a modern infotainment system, among other features.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to support the bus operators with an attractive overall package, which in addition to a high technical specification for the vehicles also comprises a comprehensive service offering. The buses of the Setra MultiClass 400 series meet all of the requirements of the customers and will contribute to making the local public transport in the region more efficient, more comfortable and safer", explains Till Oberwörder, Director of Marketing, Sales & After-Sales of Daimler Buses, commenting on the large order. In Sweden, sales of new and used Setra vehicles as well as the Omniplus Service Centre come under the umbrella of EvoBus Sverige A.B., located in Vetlanda in southern Sweden.

Setra MultiClass 400 – flexible and economical

All nine models of the Setra MultiClass 400 range feature optimum levels of flexibility and economy. The 13-metre-long S 416 UL and the S 417 UL, measuring 14 metres in length, combine generously sized luggage compartments, comfortable seats and a wide variety of equipment options with attractive operating and maintenance costs and a high level of value retention.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

SWEG takes its first Euro VI buses into service

Modern, environment-friendly regular-service buses operate throughout the entire network of routes served by the SWEG passenger transport company. Also in town centres, the bus plays a special role. It stands for sustainable thinking, economy, safety and comfort. The Citaro with its Euro VI-compliant engine is the embodiment of a modern and, above all, environmentally aware bus service. This is a bus that is wholeheartedly accepted by the population while at the same time constituting the backbone of the local public passenger transport system. In the presence of Baden-Württemberg’s transport minister, Winfried Hermann, and the chief executive of Ortenau administrative district, Frank Scherer, Tammo Voigt, Head of Public Transport Fleet Sales at Mercedes-Benz Buses & Coaches, officially handed over four Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI buses on 12 June to Johannes Müller, spokesman for the board of SWEG. This procurement delivers yet further proof of the company’s commitment to sustainability. For it was only in September of last year that SWEG took two Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid buses into service, since when the vehicles have been in daily operation on bus routes in the town of Offenburg.

“Three Lions in Motion” design concept

One of the four Citaros is a design concept based on the visual appearance of some rail vehicles that will be in future service in Baden-Württemberg. True to the slogan “SWEG with Three Lions in Motion”, the striking design of the bus proudly sports the regional colours of Baden-Württemberg both inside and outside: signal yellow and white. Set off with halftone “Staufer lions” at the sides, the exterior of the Citaro design concept reflects the heraldic devices of the regional coat of arms. The interior, too, boasts the colours and devices of the state of Baden-Württemberg. The dark fabrics of the passenger seats are resplendent with the lion emblem, sometimes with a yellow outline, sometimes with a light-grey one. The signal-yellow grab rails form a contrast to the otherwise dark-toned interior.

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI

The two-door rigid bus with horizontal engine combines the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard with a multiplicity of unique features.

This Citaro is powered by the new OM 936h rear-mounted six-cylinder in-line engine with 7.7 litre displacement, a power rating of 220 kW (299 hp) and a maximum torque of 1200 Nm. The engine already complies with the Euro VI exhaust emissions standard. Power is transferred by the ZF Ecolife six-speed automatic transmission. The abundant torque from the engine is an ideal match for the standard rear axle ratio of i = 5.77, which is almost 10% longer-legged than in the Citaro with the previous Euro V engine. This reduces the engine speed and therefore also the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and driving noise.

Fuel economy

The new Citaro’s outstanding fuel economy is assured, among other things, by a recuperation module (24 volts), which allows the regular-service bus to save fuel in that the free electricity generated on overrun is stored and used to operate the vehicle’s electrical accessories. This reduces the load on the drivetrain and lowers fuel consumption.

The energy storage function is performed by “supercaps”, double-layer capacitors, with a power rating of 6 kW and a capacity of 1 Ah. This process alone reduces the Citaro’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than 2%.

In the Record Run Buses 2012, the Euro VI engine impressively demonstrated its clear superiority in terms of fuel economy over the already highly fuel-efficient Euro V engine. With a fuel saving of 8.5% in a head-to-head with the comparable predecessor model, the Citaro with Euro VI engine exceeded even the promises of the Mercedes-Benz engineers.

SWEG – at the service of the South West

Modern and regional – that, in a nutshell, is how SWEG sees itself. The passenger transport company’s bus and rail services extend from Weil am Rhein and Lörrach in the south of Baden-Württemberg to the area around Bad Mergentheim in the north-east of the state. The modern fleet comprises some 300 of the company’s own buses and 50 leased units. Every year, approximately 30 vehicles are replaced, involving a capital expenditure of around seven million euros. The majority of vehicles comply with the exacting EEV exhaust emissions standard (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle).

SWEG carried 61.3 million bus and rail passengers in 2012 together with its ten public transport companies and five subsidiaries. With a staff of 780, the company is an important employer in the region. Its traditionally good image helps SWEG to win broad acceptance among the population.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Setra ComfortClass 500 goes green

Reimund Dirr is master of the "green fleet". That's because when it comes to his two new vehicles, this colourful phrase is the perfect description on two counts: both the S 516 HD and S 517 HD from the new Setra ComfortClass 500 are now not only finished in the company's special colour of "leaf green", but with their new Euro VI "Blue Efficiency Power" engine generation they also represent a particularly environmentally-friendly form of travel.

When purchasing the two vehicles, the owner of the travel companies Mindel-Reisen and Stricker-Reisen was fully committed to the promise of the Ulm-based brand to bring economically attractive coaches onto the roads with the ComfortClass 500. "As far as I'm concerned, low operating costs and reduced fuel consumption are important factors when it comes to buying new vehicles. Setra has certainly kept its promise in full", said the operator when taking delivery of the coaches at the Setra Customer Center in Neu-Ulm.

Reimund Dirr was of course refering to the "Record Run Buses 2012" comparison test conducted by Daimler AG, in which vehicles from the Setra ComfortClass 500 achieved significantly lower fuel consumption - along with low emissions values - than their comparable predecessors.

4-star coaches fitted with state-of-the-art safety technology

In addition to sophisticated coach technology, high-quality comfort appointments and a comprehensive service package, when it came to signing the contract the long and friendly business relationship with the Setra sales team also made a significant contribution to the coach operator's decision. Classified with a four-star rating, the S 516 HD and S 517 HD long-distance touring coaches boast capacities of 50 and 52 passengers respectively. Passengers are comfortably accommodated on Setra Voyage-type travel seats with armrests and leather headrest sections, and besides an on-boad kitchenette with a 40-cup container, there is also an audio/video system with DVD player to help provide a relaxing and entertaining form of travel.

The new Setra coaches are fitted with the most state-of-the-art driver assistance systems currently available in the sector. These include Adaptive Cruise Control and Adaptive Brake Assist (ABA), as well as the exclusive Visibility package, which among other features comprises bi-xenon headlamps for dipped and main beams, a high-pressure headlamp cleaning system and ambient illumination for reversing manoeuvres.

Mindel-Reisen has been a partner of the Ulm-based brand since 1979

The Bavarian coach operator has been a partner of the Setra bus and coach brand since 1979, when Reimund Dirr took over the coach company Mindel-Reisen based in Jettingen-Scheppach. In 1988 the family-run operation expanded with the takeover of the Stricker coach company. Today the operator has a green fleet comprising a total of 26 Setra coaches, which take travellers to destinations all across Europe.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Regular-service operation with Mercedes-Benz fuel-cell buses

A secured hydrogen infrastructure is a prerequisite for the successful launch of environment- and resource-friendly fuel-cell technology in mobile use. The commissioning of the hydrogen filling station by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) on its Campus North site coincides with the start of operations for the shuttle service planned for students and employees, in the form of two Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid fuel-cell buses. Ulrich Piotrowski, Head of Sales Mercedes-Benz Buses Region West, was present at the inauguration of the filling station on 11 June and officially sent the shuttle vehicles into regular-service operation.

The KIT shuttle is a dedicated bus route for the students and employees at the KIT Campus South, the former University of Karlsruhe (TH) in the city of Karlsruhe, and the KIT Campus North, the former research centre in Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen. The shuttle service on the 15-kilometre route links the Campus North, Campus South and Campus East stops at 30-minute intervals without any intermediate stops – mobility and innovation.

The FuelCELL concept in the Citaro

Thanks to the improved fuel-cell components – the fuel-cell stacks are identical to those in the Mercedes-Benz B-Class FCELL with a fuel-cell drive system – and hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries (27 kW/h) the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid saves 50 percent more hydrogen than the predecessor generation, from which it benefits for the planned shuttle service. It has been possible to reduce the number of tanks compared to the earlier tried-and-tested fuel-cell buses from nine to seven reservoirs for a total of 35 kg of hydrogen. And where the FuelCELL Hybrid drive system is concerned, too, the engineers have focused on sustainability: As a power supplier the fuel cell is intelligently linked with several components. Both the battery and electric wheel hub drive and also the integral braking energy recuperation system are networked with one another. The fuel-cell bus has a range of over 300 kilometres and the filling time at the new filling station is a mere eight to ten minutes. This means that the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid can be used in just as uncomplicated a manner and as flexibly as contemporary diesel vehicles. In addition to this the drive system with the fuel cells is virtually maintenance-free and highly durable.

The award-winning Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid

With these wide-ranging technical advancements purely electric buses with fuel cells as their energy generators are coming a significant step closer to production maturity. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid facilitates permanent emission-free regular service between the campus sites and is thus an important element in future mobility. The use of synergies and the Daimler technology transfer from the passenger car to the bus render the fuel cell in the bus fit for the future.

It was this reasoning which last year won the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid the ecology prize for local public transport in the fuel-cell bus category, the EBUS Award. The Forum for Transport and Logistics e. V. awarded the prize under the patronage of Dr Peter Ramsauer, the Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Daimler Buses receives order from Austria

ÖBB Postbus GmbH is focusing on vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and Setra as it modernizes its bus fleet. After a Europe-wide advertising Daimler Buses and the ÖBB Postbus GmbH entered into a frame agreement which provides the delivery of vehicles between 2013 and 2017. The orders are open, the exact distribution on the individual models as well but it might be around a volume of about 400 Buses.

ÖBB Postbus operates local public transportation systems throughout Austria and also receives operating contracts from almost all of the transportation networks in the country. “Daimler Buses is a reliable partner of ÖBB Postbus. We’re delighted that the company places such trust in our safe, clean, and reliable high-quality vehicles,” says Till Oberwörder, Managing Director of Sales, Marketing & After-Sales Daimler Buses.
Models supplied are the Mercedes-Benz Intouro, Integro, and Citaro buses as well as the Setra Multi Class 400. All high floor vehicles have a wheelchair elevator in the double broad middle way to enter. All vehicles of Mercedes-Benz and Setra are also equipped with air conditioners for the passenger space and for the driver.

The Mercedes-Benz and Setra buses offer not only outstanding comfort and safety but also great efficiency and excellent sustainability. With a lower engine speed and optimized sound insulation, Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which was named `European Bus of the Year 2013`, won the title against strong hybrid competition. At the Record Run Buses 2012 Mercedes-Benz and Setra showed under a supervision of the examination organization DEKRA that their Euro VI-compliant vehicles consume around 8% less fuel than their Euro V-compliant predecessors.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Buses are gaining momentum: The Citaro Euro VI buses for the City of Trier

Trier’s public utility company has put three new Citaro Euro VI buses into service. The urban buses equipped with Euro VI exhaust treatment technology significantly improve urban environmental quality thanks to emissions that are 80 percent lower than those of their predecessors. At the same time, the fuel expenses of the transport operator are lower because the new buses use more than 8 percent less diesel fuel. This was substantiated in the "Record Run Buses" economy run conducted in autumn 2012 under the impartial supervision of Dekra.

Daimler Buses has delivered some 350 buses equipped with Euro VI exhaust treatment technology to date. By the end of 2013 more than 1700 Daimler Buses of the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands equipped with environmentally friendly Euro VI exhaust treatment technology are expected to be on the road.

Milestone in bus development, economic efficiency was top development priority

To comply with the Euro VI emission standards, the buses are equipped with complex exhaust treatment technology. They combine the customary Mercedes-Benz SCR technology of AdBlue injection and oxidation catalyst with exhaust gas recirculation and a closed particulate filter. The completely new engine generation and the complex exhaust treatment technology have reduced emissions to the very margin of detectability and thus represent another step in the advancement of diesel technology.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

First Citaros delivered in Budapest

The first 56 Citaros were delivered in Budapest on 30 April 2013, right on schedule. Till Oberwörder, Head of Marketing, Sales & Aftersales Daimler Buses, handed over the vehicles in the presence of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós, the General Director of the Budapest Transport Centre, Dávid Vitézy, and Messrs Mátyás Dósa and Péter Szepesi, operators of the private bus company VT Transman GmbH.

These Citaros are the first vehicles to be delivered from the major contract signed with the Budapest City Authorities last November for the acquisition of a total of 159 Mercedes-Benz Citaros. With the second-generation Citaro, the city has opted for one of the most advanced urban bus concepts available on the market today. In addition, the Citaro is the most successful urban bus of all time. The over 33,000 units sold in just 14 production years express customers’ trust most tellingly.

The complete order consists of over 80 articulated units and 79 solo vehicles of the new Citaro generation. Thanks to Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel technology, both the articulated and the solo units comply with the environmentally-friendly EEV exhaust gas standard. Thanks to the buses’ low-floor design, elderly and persons with restricted mobility can easily get in and out of the vehicles or use the wheelchair ramp. Camera monitoring of the passenger compartment and the vehicle surroundings provide that extra quantum of safety to prevent vandalism damage to the vehicle as well as violent assaults on driver or passengers.

As from July the entire Mercedes-Benz urban bus fleet will provide comfortable and environment-friendly public transport in the metropolis on the Danube. Daimler Buses was able to implement a relatively short time of production of the entire slot, by using two production locations – a success of the EvoBus integrated production network. The new Citaro was manufactured in both the Mannheim bus production facilities and the factory in Neu-Ulm.

Daimler Buses is the worldwide leading manufacturer of buses and chassis for vehicles with a permissible gross vehicle weight greater than 8 tons. In 2012 Daimler Buses sold approximately 32,000 buses and coaches as well as vehicle chassis. The product spectrum ranges from urban buses to inter-city buses and touring coaches and from minibuses to double-decker buses and coaches, with the most diverse engines and equipment/appointment variants. European bus and coach business is under the responsibility of EvoBus GmbH, a 100-percent subsidiary of Daimler AG.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Setra S 315 GT-HD coach at the Lufthansa Classic Days

Setra Buses & Coaches will present a touring coach from the 90s during this year's Lufthansa Classic Days (25 to 26 May 2013). As part of the special exhibition "Prototypes -- from a concept to series production", the brand belonging to Stuttgart-based Daimler AG is displaying an S 315 GT-HD in Hattersheim, Hessia. This coach from the 300 model series was used as a research vehicle by the developers, and is still equipped with various experimental features including the first variable roof glazing ever installed by Setra and a lane-keeping assistant which the brand tested in this prototype. The most striking feature of the S 315 GT-HD is the infrared laser night-view system, which enabled the driver to recognise pedestrians and cyclists at a considerable distance in the dark. With this system, two laser spotlights mounted at the front illuminated the road ahead with an infrared beam to a distance of up to 150 metres, without dazzling oncoming traffic. The developers used the S 315 GT-HD to test this invention, which won a research award at the time, under practical conditions.

S 315 GT-HD had its premiere in 1996

The S 315 GT-HD had its premiere at the International Motor Show in Hanover in September 1996. Even at the time, this high-decker coach from the 300 series built from 1991 to 2001 had numerous special equipment features on board. Bus operators were e.g. able to choose between different engine and transmission variants, retarders, air conditioning systems and door/seating configurations.

Lufthansa Classic Days held for 25 years

The Lufthansa Classic Days celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. They will be held in Hattersheim am Main from 25 to 26 May. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, and admission is free. With more than 2500 vehicles on display and over 50,000 visitors, last year's Classic Days were among the largest classic vehicle events in Germany.

Technical data of the S 315 GT-HD on display

Year of production: 1997
Length: 12,000 mm
Width: 2500 mm
Height: 3615 mm
Number of seats: 51
Engine: OM 457 LA, 310 kW (422 hp), Euro 2
Transmission: GO 190/678.2
Special features: Infrared laser night-view system, Lane Keeping Assist, glazed roof, disc brakes at the rear axle

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Premiere: customer takes delivery of first Mercedes-Benz Citaro Low Entry model

The delivery of the first two Mercedes-Benz Citaro Low Entry (LE) Euro VI models to the company infra fürth verkehr gmbh marks the expansion of the new Citaro family by a total of five Low Entry model variants. Klaus Dieregsweiler, representative for infra fürth verkehr gmbh, took delivery of the symbolic keys to the first Citaro LE from Rüdiger Kappel, brand spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches, Germany, at the Mercedes-Benz bus plant in Mannheim on 16 April. The new Citaro LE thus replaces its extremely successful predecessor, while at the same time heralding the introduction of further Citaro Euro VI models.

Growth in the Citaro family

In addition to the Euro VI variant of the Citaro LE, the short variants of the Citaro, namely the Citaro K, and also right-hand drive Citaro models in the guise of the Citaro Solo and Citaro K, are now also available with Euro VI engines. As a result the urban bus family is almost complete, comprising suitable vehicles to meet virtually every possible customer requirement.

Low Entry: passenger-friendly and economical

As the term "Low Entry" suggests, these buses feature a low-floor design from the front section up to and including the centre entrance, and a raised floor behind the centre entrance (door 2). As well as providing a high level of passenger comfort, even for passengers with restricted mobility, this "composite" design also allows the uncomplicated and maintenance-friendly installation of the major assemblies in the rear area.

Tried-and-tested components from low-floor and raised-floor buses

Like its predecessor, the Citaro LE with Euro VI engine combines the advantages of a low-floor bus with those of a raised-floor bus. Both regular-service buses – the Citaro LE and the Citaro – are practically identical up to the area behind the centre entrance door. The low-floor area of the Citaro LE is exactly the same as that of the Citaro rigid bus. At the same time, in the rear section of the passenger compartment, passengers benefit from enhanced ride comfort thanks to the drive axle and transmission being lifted from the rural-service bus and touring coach modular systems. The raised roof also allows standing room at the rear of the Citaro LE. However, the Citaro LE has only been raised where necessary: as the bus features the same front body section as the standard Citaro, the sense of spaciousness is as pleasant and harmonious at the front as it is at the rear. At the same time the Citaro manages to maintain completely its sleek, distinctive exterior lines.

The look of the Citaro LE

Unlike its predecessor, whose side line rose in the rear area, the new Citaro LE is barely distinguishable from the Citaro solo bus. When viewed from the side, the fact that the floor has been raised by 310 mm from the centre of the vehicle is only noticeable as a result of the slightly longer raised roof section extending towards the front. By adopting the front section of the Citaro and not increasing the height in this area, the bus achieves a well-proportioned overall look. The side line has been retained in full. The optionally available roof-mounted air-conditioning system can be fitted in its familiar place, as on the Citaro. Appearance-wise, passengers will scarcely notice any external difference between the Citaro and the Citaro LE. Even the rear is derived from the solo bus. Only the cooling ribs positioned on the right-hand side of the tailgate, and the raised roof transition, are indicative of the LE variant.

A true Citaro - on the inside too

Links with the Citaro family are clearly evident in the passenger area of the Citaro LE, which includes wall-mounted cantilever seats for the urban bus as well as twin seats with aisle-side supporting feet and the classic handrails which curve outwards at the top. The raised ceiling in the rear area exactly reflects the design of the front ceiling area. The cross duct in the transition from the low-floor front section to the raised rear section conveniently accommodates a destination display or a monitor for the rear rows of seats.

While the Citaro LE makes use of the tried-and-tested City Star Eco seating, the rural-service variant of the Citaro LE comes fitted with Inter Star Eco inter-city seats. In the rural-service version, spacious, trough-shaped luggage racks can be fitted from the front end through to the area above the rear axle. The luggage racks also feature grab rails for the benefit of standing passengers. As an option for rural-service applications, service units comprising ventilation nozzles, reading lights and buttons for the passenger stop request system can be integrated into the luggage racks.

As in the previous model, two shallow steps in front of the rear axle, each 195 mm high, lead up to the raised-floor area at the rear. Thanks to the roof being raised by 310 mm here, the feeling of spaciousness at the rear is as pleasant as at the front of the bus. The floor-to-ceiling height in front of the rear platform is a spacious 2.05 m. The raised floor part rises only gently from the second door, and does away completely with steps. This benefits passive safety and makes it easier to clean the vehicle. All the seats in the rear of the bus face forwards, while the rows rise steadily from front to rear like cinema seats. The rear seat bench has sufficient space to accommodate five passengers.

RO 440 rear axle for coach-like ride comfort

Due to the raised floor concept at the rear, the bus is fitted with the RO 440 hypoid axle, a tried-and-tested performer from the Mercedes-Benz touring coach range. The main advantage of the hypoid axle over the portal axle fitted on vehicles with a low floor throughout is the single-stage ratio of the centrally positioned differential, meaning low inner frictional resistance and, as a result, favourable fuel consumption figures and low noise levels. Since there is more installation space available for the rear axle below the raised floor area, an extremely effective suspension system offering coach-like ride comfort can be fitted. The maximum spring travel of the RO 440 axle has increased by 70 percent compared with a portal axle - that corresponds to an increase in travel of 50 mm, from 70 mm to 120 mm.

Powerful Euro VI engines with Power Boost option

The Citaro LE already makes use of the comprehensively revised and extremely economical Euro VI engine series from the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. Forming the basis of the engine line-up is the vertically installed OM 936 six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 7.7 litres. As standard the engine meets the Euro VI emissions standard, and in the recent Record Run Buses 2012 demonstrated the potential to achieve fuel savings of up to 8.5 percent compared with a Euro V engine. The basic engine has an output of 220 kW (295 hp). As an option, a 260 kW (354 hp) variant is also available. The OM 936 works with two asymmetrical exhaust gas turbochargers and two-stage charging, which helps to guarantee a response which is characterised by high levels of torque.

Even better response is promised by the new Power Boost System (PBS). In brief, this technical refinement will be available for the engine rated at 260 kW. The new system is designed to guarantee better "sprint performance" when moving off, particularly on topographically demanding routes. To achieve this, the Power Boost System pumps compressed air from the standard compressed-air system into the engine's intake tract, thereby increasing air throughput in the short term. This in turn results in increased short-term starting torque, which can prove invaluable at bus stops located on inclines.

Like its urban bus counterpart, gear changes are taken care of in the Citaro LE by an automatic transmission, optionally available from ZF or Voith.

The variants of the new Citaro LE

The Citaro LE range comprises two-axle urban and rural regular-service buses. The Citaro LE urban bus is 12 metres long and comes with a choice of two or three doors. The rural-service bus variant in the guise of the Citaro LE Ü (12 metres long) has two entrance doors, while the Citaro LE MÜ (13.1 metres long) is available both with two and three entrance doors. All variants of the Citaro LE are 2.55 metres wide and have a maximum height of 3.315 m at the rear. The Citaro LE urban regular-service bus can carry 101 passengers, while the rural-service bus has a capacity of 83 passengers (plus the driver's seat in each case).

The handover vehicle in detail

In addition to their economical Euro VI engines, the two Citaro LE buses handed over to infra fürth verkehr gmbh also boast a comprehensive package of equipment and appointments. The 50 City Star passenger seats are supplemented with a wheelchair space with grab handle, stop request buttons and a lean-on area with integrated folding seat (mother/child seat), as well as two additional folding seats in the standing platform area opposite door 2. The interior bus-stop name displays consist of two 48 cm (19-inch) TFT monitors in the front and rear of the vehicle. Linked to an integrated on-board information system (IBIS), they are able to display information on the vehicle's progress along the route as well as the next stop. In addition, news items, event notices and advertisements can also be displayed.

In addition to a video monitoring system for door 2, infra fürth has also ordered a reversing camera which can be used not only as a parking aid but also to monitor the area around the rear of the vehicle. The images are transferred to a video monitor in the driver's cockpit. Additional safety equipment includes a fire alarm and extinguishing system in the engine compartment.

About infra fürth verkehr gmbh

The company infra fürth verkehr gmbh is responsible for the entire public local transport system in the city of Fürth. With 8 routes covering a route length of around 1147 kilometres, the transport operator carried around 18 million passengers in 2012. The company's fleet currently comprises 54 vehicles, 48 of which are Citaro models. Among these 48 vehicles is also the milestone 25,000th Citaro, which was handed over to infra fürth verkehr gmbh in a special ceremony in Stuttgart in 2009. The two Citaro LE vehicles with Euro VI engines will be deployed in future on all routes in the Franconian city of Fürth.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Nine Citaro Euro VI solo buses delivered to BLT Baselland Transport AG in Switzerland

On 04 April, BLT Baselland Transport AG in Switzerland took delivery of nine Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses meeting the requirements of the future Euro VI emissions standard. These are the first standard-production regular-service solo buses featuring this clean technology to go into service with BLT in Switzerland.

Emission control system comprising SCR technology plus exhaust gas recirculation

The new Citaro meeting Euro VI is currently the cleanest diesel-driven regular-service bus on the market. An optimised combustion process and a sophisticated emission control system reduce particulate emissions to just three percent of the level specified by Euro I twenty years ago, while nitrogen oxide emissions have been cut to five percent.

In addition to new engines and an extensive emission control system, the Citaro also features a new outer shell. Thanks to a raft of design measures, the buses weigh no more than previously – despite the additional technology on board. They even offer lower fuel consumption – and therefore lower CO2 emissions – than originally expected. Mercedes-Benz has implemented a number of measures to compensate for the additional weight of the Euro VI components, including a lightweight fibreglass-reinforced-plastic (FRP) roof and a weight-optimised rear axle. The Citaro is therefore able to boast the same high payload and passenger-carrying capacity as before.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Setra touring coach heads to South America - via China

Across desolate steppe landscapes and through snow-capped mountains: this year for the first time global travellers will not only be able to discover the Silk Road, but also travel the length of the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego - all from the comfort of a luxuriously equipped touring coach in the guise of a Setra S 515 HD from the new ComfortClass 500 series. What is set to be the world's longest coach journey is to be undertaken by coach tour operator "Avanti Reisen", and will commence on 8 April 2013 in Freiburg and come to an end on 22 December in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. In short: a world record.

Successfully navigating this mammoth route, along what for the most part will be uncomfortable roads and through very diverse climatic conditions, calls for a technically mature touring coach boasting outstanding driving characteristics as well as optimum comfort-enhancing and safety features.

Trust in the Setra brand is the best guarantee

A strong believer of this very sentiment is Hans-Peter Christoph, Managing Director of Avanti, who has already successfully travelled from southern Germany to China in Setra TopClass 400 touring coaches on two previous occasions. As a result he is more than happy to opt for a vehicle from the traditional Ulm-based Setra brand for this ambitious project too. In his opinion, trusting the buses of Daimler AG is the best guarantee when it comes to taking on the risk of tackling a round-the-world trip in a coach: "As far as I'm concerned, there is no better travel companion than the Setra."

Setra touring coaches: the ultimate solution for long-distance travel

Thanks to the combination of a luxurious specification with the powerful, environmentally friendly Euro VI "BlueEfficiency Power" engines, Setra coaches are quite simply the ultimate solution for long-distance travel. Featuring adaptive cruise control, the Lane Assistant system, Continuous Braking Limiter, Electronic Stability Program and Front Collision Guard (FCG), the bright red-painted S 515 HD fulfils the highest safety standards currently applicable. The drive train of the touring coach comprises the 10.7-litre OM 470 in-line six-cylinder engine which produces 315 kW (428 hp) and delivers its maximum torque of 2100 Nm at 1100 rpm. The Euro VI engine is coupled with the GO 210 six-speed manual transmission, which features a high sixth gear for reduced engine speeds.

5-star touring coach with ample legroom

With a five-star classification and measuring 12.3 metres in length, the new two-axle ComfortClass 500 model, which celebrated its premiere at last year's IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hanover, provides ample legroom with 40 seats. In addition, the interior ambience is enhanced further by face-to-face seating with tables. On top of the technical refinements of the S 515 HD, the ambitious operator will also benefit from the added security afforded by the extensive service network of the EvoBus Omniplus service brand. An experienced mechanic will also be present on the trip.

A host of landmarks in 26 countries

Travellers can book the trip, which covers a total distance of 52,000 kilometres through 26 countries, either as a complete tour or in five individual stages. "The dream stage connects two of the world's most legendary routes and is peppered with a host of highlights. It makes its way to sacred Mount Ararat, through the Gobi desert, past volcanoes and Canadian lakes, and also through the green jungles of Central America as well as ultra-modern cities", explains Hans-Peter Christoph, stirring up interest in the epic coach trip, for which a few seats are still vacant.

ComfortClass 500: first touring coach design to feature Euro VI technology

In 2012, with the ComfortClass 500, Setra presented the world's first touring coach design developed entirely in line with Euro VI requirements, and set new benchmarks in terms of economic efficiency, value, comfort and safety with the dynamic sixth generation of the touring coach. The new premium touring coaches impress with a streamlined shape which was refined in the wind tunnel as part of a comprehensive development process.

Furthermore, a hybrid lightweight design concept that ensures even more strength at a significantly lower weight, as well as intelligent management of fuel consumption and electrical energy, make the new Setra touring coaches, built with precision manufacturing technology, appealing value-added vehicles that are among the safest coaches in their class. With the start of series production in the spring of 2013, the coaches are already implementing the Euro VI emissions standard which is due to come into effect in 2014 for new vehicles, as well as numerous other safety regulations and legal provisions planned for the coming years.

Avanti Reisen receives Sustainability Award 2013

Avanti Busreisen is a coach tour operator based in Freiburg, Breisgau, which has been run by Hans-Peter Christoph since 1991. As the owner of the company, he believes that the bus represents the most environmentally compatible, climate-friendly form of motorised travel. This year Christoph and his team have been awarded the International Sustainability Award by a German trade magazine dedicated to coaches. The focus of the company, which employs a staff of 22, includes long-distance inter-city and city tours as well as day trips. In addition, Avanti Reisen is also active in the rental and regular-service operations sectors.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Setra S 415 GT-HD, taxi to runway intersection

Taxiing to the popular runway intersection in a Setra bus - visitors to Zurich's airport can now enjoy the comfort of a luxury Setra ComfortClass 400 touring coach when they participate in a sightseeing tour of the airport premises. During the tour, the new S 415 GT-HD "Final Edition" which belongs to Flughafen Zürich AG takes guests to the maintenance hangars, the airport fire service and across the airfield to the runway intersection where they can experience planes at close range taking off to destinations all over the world. The S 415 GT-HD with its high-quality paintwork showing a panorama of the airport is also available for other assignments. If flights are cancelled the operator takes stranded passengers on behalf of the airlines to the planned destination airports which include Stuttgart, Munich or Nuremberg.

As required, the 49-seat bus can be converted with the help of quick mounts on airline rails to accommodate a total of 16 wheelchairs. These can be lifted in to the two-axle vehicle via a fully-automatic lift for the disabled with a divided lift flap and door located behind the right-hand front wheel.

First Swiss touring coach with a three-point seat belt system

The S 415 GT-HD, equipped with a panorama camera, flatscreen displays and LED reading lamps, is the first touring coach in Switzerland to be fitted with three-point seat belts. Modern assistance systems such as the Lane Assistant and adaptive cruise control with Active Brake Assist (ABA) provide for the highest degree of safety for passengers. An additional infrared reversing camera assists the driver when manoeuvring in front of narrow hotel entrances. At the handover of the bus, Andreas Bachmann who is responsible for the transportation of passengers on the airport premises emphasised why Flughafen Zürich AG again chose a coach from Daimler's Ulm-based brand after having bought an S 417 GT-HD in 2007: "For us, the consistent price-performance ratio is a decisive purchasing argument when deciding to invest long-term in a new Setra bus. In the coming years, this vehicle will guarantee us a high degree of availability and great value retention."

25 million passengers at the largest Swiss airport

Zurich airport is located 13 kilometres north of the finance metropolis' centre and is operated by the privatised Flughafen Zürich AG, which employs over 1700 employees on behalf of the state. In 2012 around 25 million passengers and over 270 000 take-offs and landings were recorded at Switzerland's largest airport. Zurich's airport serves as a hub for the German airlines Lufthansa and Air Berlin as well as being the base airport for Swiss, the federal national airline. The airport is also home to the headquarters of the Swiss air rescue service.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Even more economic and eco-friendly: Mercedes-Benz Integro touring coach with a new generation of Euro VI engines

The new generation of BlueEfficiency Power engines and the transition to the Euro VI emissions standard are the focus of the Mercedes‑Benz Integro in 2013. Considerably lower fuel consumption and further reduced exhaust emissions are the result.

BlueEfficiency Power: two engines, four output variants

The Euro-VI-compliant Blue Efficiency Power engines of the Integro are vertically installed in-line six-cylinder engines. The new, particularly compact Mercedes‑Benz OM 936 series with 7.7 l displacement is used in the two-axle vehicles. The output amounts to 220 kW (299 hp) or 260 kW (354 hp), both at 2200 rpm. Torque is 1200 or 1400 Nm respectively.

The equally new Mercedes‑Benz OM 470 with 10.7 l displacement is used in the three-axle vehicles. Its output is either 265 kW (360 hp) or 290 kW (394 hp) at 1800 rpm. Maximum torque is 1700 Nm or 1900 Nm.

Both engines boast common-rail injection. The injection pressure is generated via a high-pressure pump for the OM 936 or by the X-PULSE injection system for the OM 470 with a pressure booster in the injector.

Strong response, low weight, reduced fuel consumption

The new engines are characterised by high torque at extremely low engine speeds, a spontaneous response and a very smooth running performance. They also excel with a very favourable weight. Despite the additional assemblies required in order to comply with Euro VI, weight has been optimised and reduced with numerous individual measures and is even lower than that of the Euro V predecessor model.

The efficiency of the engines is outstanding: depending on the usage profile and the drive train combination, the fuel consumption of two-axle vehicles is 2-5 % lower than that of predecessors whilst it is up to 2 % lower for three-axle vehicles. The consumption of AdBlue and engine oil is also considerably lower. Not only the new engines, but also the optimised auxiliary equipment such as the regulated generators and the efficient air compressor have contributed to the low fuel consumption of the Integro.

Complex emission control system compliant with Euro VI

The strict regulations for the coming Euro VI emissions standard require a complex emission control system. For this reason Mercedes‑Benz has combined the well-established BlueTec engine technology with SCR technology and AdBlue injection with exhaust gas recirculation as well as a particle filter.

Fast, comfortable, easy-to-operate: the GO 250-8 PowerShift transmission

Mercedes‑Benz also offers the Integro with the eight-speed GO 250-8 PowerShift bus transmission as an alternative to the six-speed manual transmission and the ZF EcoLife automatic transmission with torque converter. Drivers profit from the progressive synchronisation of the transmission as well as from gearshifts which are as fast as they are comfortable. The operation of the transmission via the joystick gear lever is extremely simple. Almost wear and maintenance-free, the clutch is also new to this transmission. A centrically located, pneumatically operated clutch cylinder renders mechanical parts such as the clutch release fork, clutch release bearing and the servo assistance unnecessary.

A powerful yet lightweight retarder

The driver operates the new integrated retarder as usual via the steering column switch. It achieves a braking torque of up to 3500 Nm. The retarder is designed as a secondary retarder and uses the engine coolant as its brake fluid and coolant. This eliminates the previous oil/water heat exchanger and the associated oil changes for the retarder.

Striking design of rear-end for the Euro VI variants

The dynamic design of the rear-end of the Euro VI variant with its newly designed engine compartment flap is striking and distinctive. It is closely related to the Travego Edition 1, the touring coach flagship of Mercedes‑Benz. The symmetric form conceals the completely new design of the cooling and ventilation system for the engine. The position of the radiator behind a bulkhead on the right-hand side together with the ventilation is also an important element.

The specialist for inter-city journeys and excursions

The Integro's proven agenda remains unchanged: consistently tailored to inter-city travel, this two-door specialist with three variants on two axles (Integro, Integro M) or three axles (Integro L), measuring between 12.14 m and 14.92 m in length covers everything from short regular-service routes in suburban traffic to long-distance inter-city travel. Its comfortable design makes it perfect both for shuttle services and excursions. Thanks to this successful combination of comfort and efficiency and its flexibility with regard to use, the Integro is a double-earner and therefore particularly economic.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Fuel cell buses with hybrid technology provide shuttle service at Davos

Two Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid buses with fuel cell technology will be providing both shuttle and regular services from 23 to 27 January 2013 at the prestigious "World Economic Forum" in Davos.

At the 43rd annual meeting of the charitable foundation, leading international economic experts, politicians, intellectuals and journalists will be discussing the world's most urgent challenges with regard to health and the environment. With this in mind the Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid buses are an ideal means of transport. PostAuto Schweiz AG will be providing the vehicles for transporting participants.

PostAuto is the first bus company in Switzerland to use fuel cell technology in public transport. Since the end of 2011, five Mercedes‑Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid Postbuses have been employed on PostAuto regular service routes in and around Brugg (Aargau canton). PostAuto is carrying out a long-term test of fuel cell drive systems. The fuel cell Postbuses use only environmentally-friendly and sustainably produced hydrogen as a fuel. PostAuto estimates that 2000 tonnes of CO2 will be saved during the five-year test phase.

Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses is very enthusiastic about the promising future of eco-friendly fuel cell buses: "I had the opportunity to see operation on the ground. I am very impressed with how PostAuto Schweiz AG has implemented the concept."

Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid

When compared to the fuel cell buses which were tested from 2003 within the framework of the CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid boasts fundamental innovations: hybridisation with energy recovery and storage in lithium-ion batteries, high-performance electric motors with 120 kW continuous power in the wheel hubs, electrified PTO units and further developed fuel cells. These will achieve an increased durability of at least five years or 12,000 operating hours. The fuel cell stacks of the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid are identical to those of the Mercedes‑Benz B‑Class F‑CELL with a fuel cell drive system. Both stacks are located on the vehicle's roof as was the case with earlier fuel cell buses. The lithium-ion batteries which, for example, store recovered power during braking are a new addition to the roof. The power provided by the energy reservoir means that the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid can travel several kilometres using only battery-electric power. In principle, the concept of the new FuelCELL bus correlates with the Mercedes‑Benz BlueTec Hybrid buses. A diesel generator still provides these with the necessary electric energy. In contrast, on the new FuelCELL buses, it is the fuel cells which generate electrical current for the drive motors which boast zero-emissions.

Thanks to the improved fuel cell components and the hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries, the new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid saves 50 percent hydrogen in comparison to the previous generation. As a result the number of tanks has been reduced from the nine necessary for the previously tested fuel cell buses to seven and a total of 35 kg of hydrogen. The range of the fuel cell buses is greater than 300 kilometres. Thanks to these diverse technical improvements, purely electric omnibuses with fuel cells for energy generation are a definite step closer to being ready for series production.

CHIC project (Clean Hydrogen in European Cities)
The project, financed by the EU and other partners provides for the integration of 26 fuel cell buses into daily regular bus services in five European cities. The project is based on the step-by-step introduction of fuel cell buses with hydrogen drives and aims to set up bus fleets comprising fuel cell vehicles and the necessary infrastructure. In participating in the CHIC project, Daimler buses is drawing on their previous successful participation in the EU-funded CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects between 2003 and 2009. A total of 36 Mercedes‑Benz Citaros with second generation fuel cell drives more than proved their worth for twelve transport operators on three continents.

PostAuto Schweiz AG
PostAuto Schweiz AG employs over 3000 employees and operates around 2100 vehicles, of which one third are Mercedes‑Benz vehicles. The company transports 120 million passengers annually. The three-tone horn and the yellow Postbuses are part of Switzerland's cultural identity. The company was successful in its application to participate in the CHIC project.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2013, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Sieke KG renews their Setra fleet

Touring and transport company Sieke continues the modernisation of their fleet by purchasing five S 415 UL vehicles. After having received six ComfortClass 400 touring coaches in December last year and a double-decker S 431 DT from the TopClass 400 model series in March of this year, the end of 2012 was seen to be the right time for renewing the fleet of inter-city buses.

In its successive replacement of the entire touring coach and regular service bus fleet, the company from Hessen places enormous emphasis on vehicle quality – a criteria which they feel is fulfilled by the Setra vehicles purchased. Wilhelm Sieke particularly praises the versatility of the new inter-city buses which besides serving regular service bus routes will also be used for school excursions or occasional chartered journeys: "The Setra brand has been a reliable partner for our tasks for many years. Since 1978, we've been impressed by the high quality and the ever advanced technology which the brand from Ulm employs", explained the company's director at the handover of the five new buses in Neu‑Ulm. The S 415 UL vehicles from the MultiClass 400 model series will soon be used on new routes in the Waldeck-Frankenberg area.

Sieke KG has been relying on Setra buses for over 30 years

Initially founded in 1811 as a small artisanal enterprise, Sieke KG established its bus company in Diemelstadt, Hessen in 1965 and their expertise lies in renting out high-quality touring coaches. Currently employing 35 members of staff, they support tour operators in the organisation and realisation of made-to-measure short-range and long-distance tours around Europe. What's more, the touring and transport company, now being run in its third generation, also operates a driving school, as well as serving regional regular service bus routes.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

The first touring coaches for the Rhineland with environmentally friendly Euro VI engines

During the handover ceremony in Neu-Ulm, the family-run business Omnibus und Reiseverkehr Laschke GmbH received two Mercedes-Benz Travego Edition 1 buses and a Setra S 416 GT‑HD from the ComfortClass 400 model series in front of a crowd of more than 150 invited guests and customers. The company from Euskirchen is therefore the first business in the entire Rhineland area to use touring coaches fitted with environmentally friendly Euro VI engines.

With their purchase of the two Mercedes-Benz touring coaches, Omnibus und Reiseverkehr Laschke GmbH took on a pioneering role and set a good example in the region. Since their introduction, the Travego Edition 1 vehicles are the first touring coaches in the world to already fulfil the requirements of the future Euro VI emissions standard. They are powered by the new OM 471 BlueEfficiency Power engines whose 12.8 l of displacement supply 350 kW (476 hp) at 1800 rpm. The high maximum torque totals 2300 Nm at 1100 rpm. In addition to being equipped with the new GO 250-8 PowerShift automated eight-speed transmission for buses, the vehicles that were handed over also feature an ergonomically enhanced cockpit as well as a range of the latest safety systems. However, none of this comes at the expense of passenger comfort. Great importance was consistently given to the particularly large seat spacing of 90 centimetres in the new vehicles; this too is unrivalled in the region.

The management of this family business with great heritage see the acquisition of the new buses as a consistent step in the direction of the future: "As the environment is one of our most important goods, Omnibus und Reiseverkehr Laschke GmbH seeks to protect it and maintain it as a lifeline for us and our children. That's why we decided that we would have our new touring coaches equipped with Euro VI engines today already; in doing so, we are thus one big step ahead of the legal requirement for buses which are even more environmentally friendly."

Laschke GmbH has been relying on Mercedes‑Benz and Setra for three generations

In 2011, the company which was founded by Franz Laschke celebrated its 60th anniversary. The first multi-day tour headed off to South Tyrol in 1962. In 2010, Stefan and Joachim Laschke took over the family business from their father Reinhold Laschke, who had led the company through its second generation since 1976. Today, the bus company offers its customers a wide range of daytrips and multi-day tours throughout Europe – from the North Cape and Iceland via St. Petersburg right down as far as Spain and Portugal. The company, now with more than 35 employees, has been relying on both of Daimler's bus brands for many years. Joachim Laschke explained: "Traditionally, our fleet has been solely made up of touring coaches from both Mercedes-Benz and Setra as they offer high levels of efficiency, reliability and comfort. With this order, we are continuing down a path which we've been walking along for three generations already."

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More

Rosi Reisen updates its fleet with Mercedes-Benz touring coaches

For 40 years Rosi Reisen has placed its trust in products from EvoBus. To mark this year's anniversary, the company based in North-Rhine Westphalia has ordered a touring coach fleet of a special kind. The last touring coaches in an overall contingent of ten Tourismos and two Travegos were handed over to Johannes-Gerd Overhoff Junior, Company Director of Rosi Reisen, by Till Oberwörder, Head of Marketing, Sales & Aftersales for Daimler Buses on 14 December. All the vehicles are in the distinctive Rosi retro-design with which the company's vehicles started touring in the early '80s.

"The design of the new vehicle fleet harks back to our exterior paint finishes during the successful 1980s. For us it symbolises tradition and the start of our own success story," said Johannes-Gerd Overhoff during the ceremonious vehicle handover. Rosi Reisen brought 50 selected touring customers and 20 of its own staff and drivers to the Mannheim bus plant to witness the handover and reminisce. Here, where the success story of Mercedes-Benz buses also began, the anniversary delegation from Marl had the opportunity to tour one of the world's most modern bus plants and see the legendary quality confirmed.

The current fleet of Mercedes-Benz touring coaches

Whether as the Travego, Tourismo or Tourino, the Mercedes-Benz portfolio of touring coaches is above all characterised by safety and economy. Mercedes-Benz is matched by practically no other manufacturer in the responsibility it has assumed for the safety of buses. Many of the new features which are nowadays standard celebrated their debut around 40 years ago, in a vehicle bearing the Mercedes star. For example the anti-lock braking system ABS, or much more recently the Electronic Stability Program ESP. To realise the vision of accident-free driving, the integral safety concept was created as an overall approach. As a systematic implementation of the safety theme, this concept covers all the phases in automobile safety: from safety in road traffic to safety in critical situations, protection in the event of an accident and right down to mitigation of an accident's consequences.

The theme of economy and cost-effectiveness is similarly comprehensive at Mercedes-Benz. A good price/performance ratio, low lifecycle costs, economical and long-lived drive systems and long service intervals make Mercedes-Benz touring coaches a positive factor in the accounts of a business. "With touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz, customers benefit from the very first kilometre onward," says Till Oberwörder.

Rosi Reisen in Marl

Rosi Reisen was founded in Marl in 1972, taking its name from Roswitha Overhoff. In the early 1980s the family's business policy and customer proximity combined with up-to-date buses became a success formula for this tour operator. These are values the company has retained to this day. The new Rosi retro-design of the new touring fleet is intended to make this core expertise evident. With very few exceptions the fleet only has products from German brands. With the procurement of the 12 Mercedes-Benz touring coaches there is no longer a vehicle in the fleet older than one year. In addition to 25 touring coaches, Rosi Reisen operates 60 inter-urban and regular service buses and has 85 employees working in service sectors such as bus chartering, major event logistics, holiday tours, group tours, school transport and exhibition/shuttle services.

Credits: Daimler AG

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Read More