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NEOPLAN Cityliner in Euro 6 breaks 20-litre barrier
on long-distance trip

MAN Lion's Coach also ideally suited for long-haul operation

In many countries, long-distance coaches are already established and a permanent element of the transport scene. In places where this is not yet the case, they are gaining ground as economical, comfortable and not least, environmentally friendly means of transport. This also applies, for example, in Germany, where the market for long-distance coaches was opened at the beginning of 2013. Long-distance coach routes are a real alternative when it comes to mobility, creating new connections between cities - fast, safely and economically. On coaches from MAN and NEOPLAN, passengers enjoy the highest levels of comfort. Operators benefit from efficient, fuel-saving vehicles that can be fitted with all the amenities that turn a long trip into an experience.

German TCB certifies particularly low fuel consumption

With a NEOPLAN Cityliner, MAN has proven just how economical coaches can be. MAN is presenting the test vehicle with its six-cylinder 440-hp MAN D26 engine in Euro 6 at Busworld 2013.

In cooperation with the Technical Board of Control (TÜV Sued), Germany's leading testing institute, a round course of 1,320 kilometres that can be seen as representative of a coach route was defined. The sections of the route are divided into motorway, secondary road and urban traffic. Based on the number of seats, the vehicle was then loaded up to the limit of its permitted gross weight. A professional driver carried out the test run, which took place under realistic conditions over two weekdays. Nothing occurred to interrupt the measuring runs. Subsequent to evaluation of the data recorded during the trips, the NEOPLAN Cityliner was certified as exhibiting the extremely economical fuel consumption of around 19.8 litres per hundred kilometres. With this record, the NEOPLAN Cityliner sets the standards in its field.

Low fuel consumption is also synonymous with low CO2 emission. At 60 percent utilisation, the NEOPLAN Cityliner emits a mere 18 grams of CO2 per passenger-kilometre, which makes it highly eco-friendly to operate. By comparison with aeroplanes (230.7 g C02/pkm), cars (142.3 g CO2/pkm) and trains (45.2 g CO2/pkm), this is an outstanding value, a fact confirmed by the figures released by the German Federal Environment Agency. When the vehicle is fully utilised, CO2 emission drops to only 11 g/pkm. This shows yet again that as a mode of transport, the coach is far and away the most environmentally friendly.

Its excellent fuel consumption is a result of the interplay between various factors. The modern sharp-cut design distinguishing all NEOPLAN buses is not only aesthetically pleasing but also serves to optimise consumption, having as it does a decisive influence on the aerodynamics of the vehicle. The NEOPLAN Cityliner impresses with its especially low drag coefficient (cW) of approximately 0.35 - that puts it at the level of a passenger car. Consistently lightweight construction means that less mass has to be moved. In combination with efficient MAN Euro 6 engines, MAN TipMatic automated transmissions and an economical style of driving, bus operators make great savings at the filling station.

NEOPLAN Cityliner – the stylish long-distance coach

Thanks to its special equipment for long-distance routes, the NEOPLAN Cityliner carries its passengers in luxury until they arrive relaxed at their destinations. For hunger pangs between meals, the vehicle can be fitted with a vending machine, available in three variants. The physical well-being of the passengers during the trip is optimally catered for in the form of snacks and cold beverages. If the optional hot-beverage vending machine with coin changer and touch panel is also selected, the bus becomes a café on wheels. Passengers pay for food and drink either in cash or in a straightforward manner using a smartphone.

To forestall boredom during the trip, the vehicle offers a comprehensive range of infotainment. There are various digital media offerings on board, accessible by means of tablets, which are handed out on loan. Passengers can, for example, choose any of a variety of digital magazines or travel guides, enabling them to plan what to do in the city while they're still on the bus. The reading offers can easily be stored on a server and be downloaded very quickly by passengers onto their own devices by WiFi. Thanks to free access, passengers can send and receive e-mails and surf the Internet while on the go – a unique selling point for coaches by comparison with air or rail travel. USB charging points at the seats supply the necessary power for personal electronic equipment. In addition to all these amenities, the long-distance coach is also fitted with a generously dimensioned WC offering 1.90-metre headroom.

Keeping things moving briskly is a powerful MAN D2676 six-cylinder engine outputting either 440 or 480 hp and complying with the Euro 6 standard. The optionally available "Long Distance Pack" is especially designed for the long haul and enhances both driving safety and comfort while reducing operating costs. The package contains the twelve-speed MAN TipMatic automated transmission with EasyStart function, which makes it much easier to pull away on gradients and thus takes the strain off the driver. The wider gear ratio Eco-Hypoid drive axle enables lower engine-speed levels at cruising speed.

Moreover, wear and tear on clutch and transmission are reduced, which in turn reduces service costs. Light, robust aluminium rims contribute to fuel-saving operation. Rounding off the package are intelligent driver assistance systems: besides CDS (comfort drive suspension) to decrease the rolling movement of the vehicle, the package also contains the lane guard system (LGS) and emergency brake assist (EBA). With the help of TPM (tyre-pressure monitoring), the pressure on all the vehicle's tyres can be continually monitored, thus reducing tyre wear. Customers who select the "Long Distance Pack" not only benefit from sensible additional equipment but also receive an attractive discount relative to the cost of purchasing the individual components singly.

MAN Lion's Coach – mobility for everyone

The MAN Lion's Coach is similarly a specialist for long-distance routes. Economical six-cylinder engines outputting 440 and 480 hp carry passengers efficiently to their destinations, also in compliance with Euro 6. Interaction with the twelve-speed MAN TipMatic automated transmission with EasyStart guarantees their low fuel consumption and outstanding handling characteristics. A trip in a coach fitted with long-distance equipment passes as though one had flown: vending machines for snacks and beverages plus first-class infotainment turn a trip into an experience. Ample leg-room, plenty of stowage space for luggage and high-grade interior offer the first-class comfort that MAN customers have come to expect. The electronic assistance systems support the driver in his or her high-responsibility driving tasks for a marked reduction in accident risks.

With the new wheelchair lift, the MAN Lion's Coach C and MAN Lion's Coach L offer superb travelling comfort to mobility-challenged passengers. The location of the rear axle means that the entire volume of the luggage compartment is available for use. The design of the rear interior is variable and can provide space for up to six wheelchairs. In this way, the MAN Lion's Coach enables mobility free of obstacles in conjunction with the highest level of passenger and luggage capacity.

For operation with particularly low fuel consumption, MAN now also offers the preconfigured Lion's Coach EfficientLine as a Euro 6 model. Since presentation, every third Lion's Coach customer has chosen this vehicle configuration, which was designed through and through to optimise consumption.

The MAN Group is one of Europe's leading industrial players in transport-related engineering, with annual revenues of some €15.8 billion in 2012. MAN is a supplier of trucks, buses, diesel engines, turbo machinery and special transmissions and has around 54,300 employees worldwide. MAN's business areas are all leaders in their markets.

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