VW moves to full size by Bill Godwin • Volkswagen
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has launched its first full-size bus chassis, built in Brazil by its Autolatina joint venture with Ford. The "Volksbus" 16.180 CO chassis is available with a 5.17m or 5.94m wheelbase and has a design GVW of 16 tonnes. A choice of single, two or thee-door bodywork is fitted by local bodybuilders.
The front-engined Ford B 1618 chassis is powered by a Brazilian-built IVIWM 6.5-litre six-cylinder diesel producing 135kW (181hp) at 2,500rpm. The rear wheels are driven through an Eaton FS5106-A six-speed gearbox driving a Rockwell Braxeiros RS 23 10.4-tonne rear axle.
Conventional steel suspension is used front and rear with six leaf springs at the front and nineleaf springs at the back. The new model complies with the "Conmetro" standards for the Brazilian bus industry agreed in 1988. The code provides for floor heights of 920mm and 1,050mm. The new VW chassis meets the 920mm standard on 7.50 x 20in crossply tyres.
VW is known only for its light CV models in Europe, so the Volksbus is significant for the company. The launch is part of a new marketing offensive by Autolatina. The aim is to break into a market where MercedesBenz takes an 80% share.
Bus and coach registrations in Brazil reached 16,600 in 1991 and Mercedes accounted for 81.3% with Scania second at 12.1%. In the urban bus sector, Mercedes has been even more successful with an 86% share. The Volksbus development is aimed at city bus operations. Backed by Ford's experience—it first supplied buses to Brazil in 1924—the new design will help meet the expansion of the country's public transport operation.