Cover Girl

This artist’s impression of the as yet unnamed new top flight Plaxton Tear Drop coach body appeared in Thursday’s routeONE. For those who wish to see it her the flesh, there’ll be an opportunity at November’s Euro Bus Expo 2008, on at least one 14m Volvo B12B.


In the meantime, all we can do is admire a design that Plaxton plans to use to put it back on the map, so far as high-end body styles are concerned. The premium market’s dominated by imports, whereas Plaxton’s distinctive Tear Drop might, just might, lead to a stronger European presence, something that’s managed to elude Plaxton over years.

By cleverly incorporating an otherwise ugly air-con bolt-on, the roofline mimics Optare’s Versa. The Tear Drop merges black polycarbonate with swept-up glazing to give the appearance of a blended single-piece front, from the light clusters right into the roof. The glazing’s designed to maximise natural light at the entrance. The side window line’s queue comes from the raked front and the gently undulating air-con-holding roof line towards a more traditional aft.

What really sets Tear Drop apart from its Plaxton contemporaries is that the current range though sound is lighter on the design flair once a Plaxton feature. The current Panther (to remain) is more businesslike than strikingly beautiful.

Artist impressions of the Tear Drop are one thing, of course. In the flesh, body and window panelling can disrupt the eye. As might an inappropriate livery that jars against the vehicle’s obvious symmetry. Some may see the front end as being too ‘heavy’ or bulbous-looking, an effect accentuated by heavy raking and the amount of apparent black. The front almost has a Sunsundegui Sideral feel, for example. The Tear Drop nevertheless promises to be Plaxton’s most significant presence on the road, ever. And Plaxton’s had a few of those in the past.