Volvo unveils B6R midi
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• Volvo has released details of its B6R midi chassis which has inherited most of its components from the manufacturer's FL6 truck and BlOM coach range (CM 3-9 Oct).
More than 200 orders have already been placed for the multi-purpose chassis which is available as a 9.1m coach or as a bus at 8.5m, 9m or 9.9m, although prospective operators will have to wait until early next year to take delivery.
Bodies will be available from Walter Alexander of Falkirk, Reeve Burgess or Wadham Stringer.
Stagecoach has placed an order for 200 Walter Alexander bus-bodied B6Rs for 1992/3, with an option for 100 more; and South Yorkshire Transport has ordered one with an option for a further 19.
Volvo is also having talks with a third operator who is interested in the B6R coach chassis.
The rear-engined B6R is currently being built in Austria at the former Steyr bus plant. However, production could move to Workington where the FL6 is built.
The B6R uses a number of FL6 components including the six-litre vertical TD 63E chargecooled 134kW (180hp) diesel engine; two gearbox options: the Allison AT545B four-speed automatic and ZF S6 36 manual; the front and rear axle; rear sus pension; braking and steering system. Features from the BlOM include the instrument panel, 24-volt electrical system, ZF 4HP500 automatic gearbox and fuel tank.
Volvo is targeting the midi at UK, the Netherlands and Belgium followed by France, Austria and Switzerland. For the Continent the B6R can be built with an entrance height of 350mm extending rearwards for 60% of the chassis. This compares with a height of 555mm in the UK.