Rear-engined Iveco by 1994
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• Iveco Ford is planning to import a new rear-engined coach to Britain by 1994.
The latest model; likely to be seen at the Turin Show next September, will have a higher specification than the popular 370 range, including an independent front suspension system.
But the 370 will stay in production at least until 1995. More than 12,000 have been built since its launch more than 10 years ago; they are in service throughout Italy, France, Portugal and Greece.
Ezio Schierano, who is responsible for Iveco's European sales outside Italy, expects more than 1,000 examples of the new 12m coach to be built in its first year with continental operators. It will be available as an integral or as a rolling chassis with engines rated at 216kW (290hp) and 261kW (350hp).
CI Until last month Iveco Ford's biggest PCV on the UK market
was a 31-seater. At Coach & Bus '91 however, it unveiled a 10.6/11.9m chassis which was shown with a Walter Alexander double-deck body but is also available for single-deckers.
It is a "strong possibility" that the Falkirk-based bodybuilder will also build upon the singledecker, says Iveco Ford, but such an announcement is not expected until December. Another Iveco Ford product at the show, the 59.12 DailyBus was given PCV Certification last week.
The first prototype had a Carlyle Vehicles' body, but the West Midlands-based builder went into voluntary liquidation last month (CM 17-23 Oct). The liquidator Ernst & Young is expected to make an announcement next week.