Show Stoppers—08 Style (4)

Show Stoppers (1) ~ (2) ~ (3) ~ (4) ~ (5)

Tomorrow, we feature some of the heritage vehicles present at Euro Bus Expo 2008. Meanwhile…

The centrepiece of Alexander Dennis’ display was of course the Plaxton Elite. But there was a little more. ADL offered an unusual and attractive ‘streetscape’ stand as a raised pavement area, complete with buses docked at bus stops with shelters. This avoided the ramps associated with other manufacturers’ low floor buses.

Wrightbus wasn’t the only operator to show off an updated double deck. ADL featured what it called a ‘new generation’ Enviro 400 double deck, to include a revised underframe. One was a dual door parallel new hybrid for London and the other a single door using new Euro V technology. The Euro V bus was in so-called ‘Provincial’ trim, more comfortable though probably less durable than TfL’s.

By its side was a further new hybrid, an Enviro200 Dart, using the same BAE pack. Both 200 and 400 now feature the same cab instrument layout.

The Allied Vehicles’ Lobus saw its first *major* show outing at Expo. It was an Italian manufactured and Glasgow, Scotland finished accessible 16-seater, with dual doors. Strathclyde PTE has ordered 20. Note the unusual cut to the driver’s cab window and although it’s difficult to see from the shot, the runners for the sliding opening window disrupt the driver’s mirror view of the rear axle.

The 29-seater Mercedes Benz Vario 816 based Unvi Riada GT saw its launch earlier in the year and was represented by at least two examples at Expo. The styling was particularly pleasing at the rear.

Scania didn’t disappoint. Present were new to the UK Finnish OmniExpresses, in both 13m (above) and higher body tri-axle 14m format (below, LHD). Also present was the inevitable hybrid single deck service bus currently for Stockholm, this time with a Voith driveline. With wheels at the very front and therefore no overhang, the driver was positioned in the very centre of the cab. If you could manage to operate the driver's compartment electromagnetic lock-controlled door, the driving position was actually very commanding, helped by the front pillar alignment of the bodywork. Taking one of these out for the first time might cause an issue in squeezing through a gap, though.