Paramount successor revealed
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• Plaxton has unveiled an artist's impression of the coach which Commercial Motor exclusively revealed will replace the eight-year-old Paramount (CM 20-26 June).
The steel-structured coach, which still has to be named, will make its debut at Coach & Bus '91 in Birmingham this October. It will be exhibited on the Volvo BlOM, Scania K92 and K112 and the 12m Dennis Javelin chassis and will be available with the full range of height options.
The Scarborough-based bodybuilder says it has orders for the vehicle, which it claims has the lowest drag coefficient of any coach produced in Britain. It is building left-hand-drive models for markets in mainland Europe.
The vehicle, which meets the ECE R66 roll-over requirements, has undergone a £3.5m development programme including extensive tests at the MIRA test ground. The coach, which has a more rounded front than the Paramount, has a maximum capacity for 53 recliners—the same as its predecessor.
It is expected to be available with an upright or swept back option.
"The interior and exterior styling of these vehicles will set new standards for European coaches," says Neil Beresford, managing director of Plaxton's manufacturing division.
Last year nearly 58% of all Pararnounts were built on Volvo BlOM chassis; it is also available on Scania K113 and K93, DAY 3000 and 2305, and Dennis Javelin chassis.