MAN threat to UK vehicle builders
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
OT ON THE heels of Scania. hich announced the reormisation of its bus mariting effort in the UK last eek, MAN-VW Truck and is has confirmed its intenm to market the MAN SR RE of coaches in Britain. The SR range includes 10. 11 id 12-metre coaches which e available with MAN's own zdyvvork or bodywork built sewhere. The coaches will be railable with an option of two kgine, the MAN D2566 MUH hich is a naturally aspirated 7kW (240bhp) at 2,200 rpm igine, or the still more zwerful D2566 MIUN turb:harged engine rated at 206 kV (280bhp) at 2,200 rpm. oth engines will be rearounted horizontal underor units with direct fuel inction and easily replaceable et cylinder liners.
Transmission is through the AN planetary drive rear axle [rough a single-plate dry utch and a six-speed ZF mchromesh gearbox. zecification will also include 11 air suspension, indepenknt at the front, and power eezing.
MAN's own bodywork is of mocoque construction with ! sub-structure and dywork forming an integral kit. The body panels are of eet steel with a two-layer galvanised finish. Optional interior finishes are offered, including full air conditioning and executive coach equipment.
MAN has approached the two major British coach body builders and hopes to develop a suitable body with Plax tons to fit the SR range.
MAN-VW is initially to sell the psv range itself but discussions are taking place with specialist coach dealers. The MAN-bodied SR240 is expected to be about 25 per cent more expensive that a comparative British-bodied version.
MAN plans to make the vehicles available on the British market within the next few weeks when the SR280 right-hand-drive demonstrator is to be certified.
MAN's entry to the British heavyweight coach market, forecast in CM early last year, must further threaten Leyland's share of the home heavyweight coach .market, already under a strong attqck from Volvo and most recently DAF. With Scania's BR 116 waiting in the wings, the much rumoured announcement of a Leyland Leopard replacement now must be urgent.
MAN bus-building interests include single-deck city buses, articulated buses and double-deck buses. The organisation is actively looking at its sections of the UK psv market. MAN engineers have already developed a right-hand-drive version of the Berlin-type 11-metre doubledecker and are now looking at shortening its wheelbase to make it suitable for the British market.
Though it seems unlikely that this bus will find much of a UK market as competiton for orders is already intense, these buses are an increasing threat to traditional overseas British bus markets. Melbourne in Australia has, for example, recently placed a large order for MAN-VV-type single-deck city buses.
• Noel Milner