Germans start race for Australian coach sales
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KASSBOHRER has started shipping its first 21 Australian specification 1 2 in Setra S2261)T Imperial double-deck coaches with delivery expected next month.
They are being imported from West Germany by Austral, a coachbuilder which hopes eventually to start building Setras at its Queensland production plant.
Despite a price of around 1200,000 per vehicle, all 21 have been sold, and long-haul interstate express operator Deluxe Coachlines is adding 15 to its expanding fleet, which currently consists of around 60 Austral 12m threeaxle single-deckers.
The Deluxe Imperials are being fitted with 56 Lazarini reclining seats and have full air conditioning. They will he used on a variety of services including sonic 60 hour long distance hauls. They will cover around 4(X),000kni per year and will be kept for four years.
Modifications to meet Australian axle weight requirements involve moving the front axle forward 500mm, moving the drive axle to the rearmost of the three axles and fitting double rear wheels on both rear axles.
The Deluxe vehicles have also been fitted with double glazing to cope with extreme desert temperature changes, and aluminium cast wheels us comply with axle weights and cope with rough roads.
They are powered by Mercedes-Benz 0M422A turbocharged V8 engines driving through the ZF seven speed synchromesh gearboxes.
Other Australian customers for Setras include Deluxe rival Ansett Pioneer, which is taking two vehicles.
The introduction of long distance double-deckers is expected to take Australia by storm and could create a market for around 50 Europeanstyle three axle vehicles every year.
Kassbiihrer is the first European maker to supply vehicles for Australian operators and its success fol lows the enthusiastic response created by a British specification Imperial demonstrated last year.
The coachbuilding subsidiary of the Ansett Group, Ansair, is actively promoting the MCW Metroliner doubledecker in Australia, although as yet no Metroliners moditied to meet Australian specifications have been built.
Several Van Hool double deckers will be supplied to an Australian operator and used tbr transporting visitors drain g the period of the Americas Cup yacht races.
Other European deckers such as Plaxton's Paramount 400(1 and Jonckheere's P99 could be interesting for Australian operators.