Rejuvenated Wessex on way
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• Wadham Stringer's rejuvenied Wessex midibus is on line to be available to operators at the end of this year, and it should cost less than its six-year-old predecessor, says the Waterlooville-based bodybuilder (CM 22-26 Feb).
The steel-frame bodied Wessex II was due to be launched this summer, but the manufac turer has been busy with other projects, says managing director Geoffrey Bailey. "We put the Wessex II on the stocks, but it will soon be available and we hope it will be at a more competitive price than the original model," says Bailey.
"We are using the opportunity to try to make the product less costly to put together. The cost savings won't be so much in the materials but more to do with the design and sequencing of production," he adds.
Changes to the design include a one-piece panelled roof replacing the existing four panels and the destination dome being fully incorporated into the front of the vehicle.
The Wessex II will also be 100mm wider than the existing model, meeting operators' demands for a wider gangway. And a more rounded front and rear will give the bus a smoother bodyline.
Initially it will be available on the Mercedes-Benz 709 and the Iveco Ford 59.12 chassis but other options will follow.
Wadham Stringer will target stage carriage and community bus work with Wessex II.
"The original Wessex is around six years old and it's starting to show its age, so we decided to modernise it." says Bailey.