Plaxton prepares for 'Project X'
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• Plaxton is expected to launch a new coach this year — probably at the NEC Coach and Bus show in October.
The Scarborough-based bodybuilder will not reveal any details of the development it has dubbed Project X', but the new body will probably be available on Volvo, Scania, Daf and Dennis chassis.
It is believed to have a more rounded front than Plaxton's existing Paramount coach range, with a choice of upright or sweptback profiles. It could replace the steel Paramount, which has sold over 10,000 since its launch in 1983 and revamp in 1988.
Last year nearly 58% of all Paramounts were built on Volvo BlOM chassis; it is also available on Scania K113 and K93, Daf 3000 and 2305, and Dennis Javelin chassis, Operators who have seen the Project X coach are already ex
pressing interest in it. They have told CM that Plaxton has built prototypes to the new rollover regulations on Volvo and Scania chassis which are understood to have undergone extensive trials at MIRA.
Shearings, one of Plaxton's biggest customers, says its delivery of vehicles next year "could quite possibly" include the new coach. Earlier this year it placed an order for 40 Plaxtonbodied coaches for 1992. About half of its 600-strong fleet are Plaxtons; its other main bodybuilder is Van Hool of Belgium.
Wallace Arnold, whose 175strong fleet is predominated by Paramounts, is also interested in the new model. Since 1938 it has taken over 1,000 Plaxtonbodied vehicles, and Plaxton will be the first place it will look for its 1992 vehicle replacement programme, which could reach 60 units.