Each 12-metre Scania Touring coach is equipped with Scania’s 400 hp Euro 5 engine, 12-speed gearbox with Opticruise, rearview camera, xenon headlamps and capacity for 51 passengers. Air conditioning, kitchen units and audio-video equipment add to passengers’ comfort.

On 8 June, Scania Poland handed over six Scania Touring coaches in support of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 July and extends for six months.

The coaches will serve as logistic support for meetings during the six-month Polish presidency of the Council of the EU.

The coaches were presented in Warsaw in the presence of Minister Mikołaj Dowgielewicz, the Government Plenipotentiary for the Polish Presidency in the EU, and Managing Director of Scania Poland SA Alexander Vlaskamp.

“We are proud that the Polish government chose Scania Touring to support the EU presidency,” Vlaskamp said during the handover ceremony. “These modern, comfortable and environmentally optimised vehicles will properly serve visitors in Poland and will contribute to the success of the Polish presidency.”

The coaches will receive full service support via the Scania network in Poland.

1911. The newly merged Scania-Vabis delivers the first Swedish-built engine-powered omnibus, the “Nordmark bus.” Its chain-driven chassis is built by Scania in Malmö, in southern Sweden, and is equipped with an engine and body from Vabis in Södertälje.

1932. Sales of buses surpass sales of trucks. There is a growing need for larger and larger buses. Scania-Vabis launches the “Bulldog” bus, a pioneer because of its simple, space-saving design.

1948. Scania-Vabis exports buses to Brazil for the first time, followed by trucks in 1951, under an import agreement with the Brazilian automotive company Vemag.

1953. The Scania-Vabis Metropol suburban bus, developed in collaboration with US-based Mack Manufacturing Corporation, is launched in the Swedish market. The inline 8-cylinder engine is mounted transversely at the rear of the bus. The Metropol is the first bus fully built in Sweden with a monocoque body.

1957. Firmly established in Brazil, Scania-Vabis starts manufacturing engines. In 1959 the B75 is the first bus model built for the Brazilian market. This front engined bus is used both as a tourist coach and a city bus. It features a robust engine in a strong chassis and is prepared for easy bodybuilding.

1971. In 1966, Scania-Vabis launched a more comfortable, passenger-friendly city bus, the CR76. Low weight and a low floor were priorities, and the engine was tuned to emit the lowest possible amount of smoke. The CR76 serves as the basis for the CR111 “silent” bus, with a noise level of only 77 dBA when it launches in 1971.

1986. Environmental issues become increasingly important. Working with the regional public transport company in Stockholm, Scania begins testing ethanol buses in normal city operation. The 11-litre engine is adapted to operate on ethanol according to the Diesel combustion cycle.

1996. Scania launches the new aluminium-bodied city bus,the Scania OmniCity. The low-floor bus with full lateral kneeling is especially suited for urban traffic. The platform is also used for the Scania OmniLink low-entry models and the Scania OmniCity double-decker.

2004. With its front-mounted, new 5-cylinder engine and robust chassis, the F-series is ideal for tough conditions, where it provides both comfort and high passenger capacity.

2007. Having developed its first hybrid bus concept in 1995, Scania launches an innovative hybrid bus concept designed for maximum passenger convenience, with wheels at each corner and all-wheel steering.

2009. Six three-axle Scania OmniLink ethanol-powered hybrid buses begin full-scale operational trials in collaboration with the regional public transport company in Stockholm.

2009. The first Scania Touring coach is delivered. Produced in cooperation with Chinese bus builder Higer, it aims to satisfy demand in both new and existing markets.

Scania is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a bus builder. Now, says Melker Jernberg, Head of Buses and Coaches within Scania, the challenge is to speed up the transition to more sustainable passenger transport.

Investment in public transport is on the rise as cities around the world seek sustainable solutions to often urgent traffic problems.

To date, Scania has delivered about 2,000 vehicles to bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in Australia, Mexico, South America, South Africa and elsewhere. Such systems will also be launched in Europe, says Melker Jernberg.

“This is bound to happen. But we need to influence urban planners and other decision makers so they understand the importance of sustainable transport systems.”

Among Scania’s products are buses and coaches powered by biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas. So far, demand for alternative fuel vehicles has been weak outside Sweden, but in November 2010 a breakthrough occurred when Scania received an order from Brazil for 50 ethanol buses.

Jernberg predicts that buses and coaches will be better equipped to meet the comfort needs of customers. This includes long-distance coaches where passengers have access to fully reclining seats, catered food, broadband and big-screen film showings.

“Quality time instead of idle time make coaches more attractive, and thus a more competitive alternative,” he says.

The all-Scania powertrain comprises Euro 4 and Euro 5 engines from 380 up to 440 hp, a 12-speed gearbox, as well as a choice of fully automated or electronically controlled gearchanging

October 2009 saw the launch of the new Scania Touring coach – designed to meet the needs of Scania customers for a complete coach with one single point of contact for all issues related to servicing and maintaining the chassis, bodywork and all other components.

“The coach is assembled on a dedicated Scania production line in China, enabling us to exert full control of all manufacturing and quality aspects,” says Melker Jernberg, Senior Vice President Buses and Coaches. “In addition, we can offer it to our customers at an attractive price.”

Strengthening the market position

In 2008, Scania was the second largest bus and coach make among European and Japanese manufacturers, behind Mercedes-Benz but ahead of both Volvo and MAN, including Neoplan. The new Scania Touring is the next step in the long-term strategy of Scania Buses and Coaches aiming to further strengthen the company’s market position.

“The foundation of the strategy of Scania Buses and Coaches is a global product family that is supported by all part of the Scania organisation, from factory to dealer,” says Melker Jernberg, Senior Vice President Scania Buses and Coaches. “For a customer who has chosen a vehicle from this global bus and coach family, there should never be any doubt that he has a Scania vehicle.

“This global bus and coach family represents everything that Scania stands for in terms of quality and design,” he adds.

A broad product range

In addition to the new Scania Touring coach, there are today also the Scania OmniCity and OmniLink city and suburban buses and the Scania OmniExpress coaches.

In some markets, this global bus and coach family is not enough, however. It must be supplemented with local solutions. This is why Scania works in cooperation with some 20 regional bus and coach bodybuilders.

The new Scania Touring has been extensively field tested in Dubai, Hong Kong and elsewhere. It has also been put through winter tests and exhaustive endurance testing on Scania’s proving grounds.

Initially Scania Touring will be sold in central and eastern Europe, where the interest in this type of coach has been the greatest. Additional European markets will follow, as well as markets in the East, Africa and Asia.

Fuel efficiency and comfort

The new coach combines high fuel efficiency with low operating costs. It is equipped with the new fully-automated Scania Opticruise gearchanging system, which was first unveiled during the launch of Scania’s new R-series trucks in September 2009.

Since Scania Touring is part of the company’s global bus and coach family, Scania assumes full responsibility for the coach from factory to dealer, as well as for such services as financing, parts supply and access to its service network.

More information about Scania Touring:
Visit the new Scania Touring website

Text: Conny Hetting
Photos/Illustration: Carl Berge, Carl-Erik Andersson, Dan Boman, Stefan Almers
Illustration: Johan Nohr

Melker Jernberg, Senior Vice President Scania Buses and Coaches:

“Scania has found a perfect partner for its global expansion strategy. The partnership with Higer provides Scania with a platform to satisfy the needs of new and existing markets. This also means that Scania Touring will be followed by other models in due course.

“Build quality, fit and finish, as well as reliability and durability in severe endurance tests have surpassed our expectations. Jointly with Higer, Scania’s team of stylists have created a coach with a distinct Scania character.

“The new coach combines fuel efficiency with low life cycle cost. Scania Touring customers will enjoy support from a single point of contact, with parts, maintenance and repairs available via Scania’s regular sales and service network.

“We are now concluding preparations for the market introduction in early 2010. Scania Touring sales will start in the central parts of Europe and gradually expand towards the west, south and north. There are also plans for an expansion into the Middle East and Africa, as well as some Asian markets.

“The introduction of the Scania Touring coincides with the launch of the next generation of Scania Opticruise, our fully automated gearchanging system that is designed to provide a comfortable ride and a pleasant and relaxing drive,” concludes Mr Jernberg.

The Higer operations in Suzhou, Shanghai were established in 1998. With 4,000 employees, overall production capacity is 18,000 buses and coaches per year. Scania’s cooperation with Higer started five years ago, and in 2006 a new production line in a separate Scania workshop was built for the assembly of Scania Touring and other forthcoming Scania models. The ultimate annual capacity is 3,000 Scania buses and coaches.

Scania design

The Scania Touring HD 12-metre high-decker coach has been styled by Scania’s styling department and developed together with Higer. The styling conveys typical Scania traits like the rounded wedge-shape at the front and the rounded corners that reduce drag.

The detailing at the front and front light assemblies promote the Scania identity and harmonise with the lateral design. The wraparound windscreen and hidden A-pillars promote the distinctive lines flowing smoothly from the front into the window line along the sides. The sculpted wheel arches accentuate an eagerness to move ahead. The tail wraps up all styling elements into a statement of quality and solidity.

High standard, many options

The interior features 49 reclining passenger seats. A guide seat is mounted at the front. The luggage hatches open up pneumatically (option) to 9 cu m of luggage space, slightly less with the optional co-driver’s bunk.

The coach is available in two trim levels, Comfort and Premium, both including mid-mounted toilet cabinet and an optional kitchenette. A selection of co-ordinated colour schemes for panels and upholstery can be combined to provide a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Exclusive stitched leather upholstery with contrasting seams is optional.

Roof-mounted air conditioning and convector heating are standard, auxiliary heating an option. Side and rear windows are double-glazed and tinted. The AV equipment includes 17-inch LCD monitors at the front and in the centre.

The driver station with its sweeping dashboard line has driver-friendly ergonomics: ample seat and steering wheel adjustments will suit the frame of any driver. All seats in the coach have integrated seatbelts. Aft of the centre door is an optional co-driver’s bunk with an intercom facility to communicate with the driver.

Fully-automated gearchanging

The all-Scania powertrain comprises Euro 4 and Euro 5 engines from 380 up to 440 hp, a 12-speed gearbox, as well as a choice of fully automated or electronically controlled gearchanging. An overdrive version of the gearbox can be specified for relaxed and fuel-efficient high-speed cruising.

The coach has full air suspension, with optional independent suspension for the front wheels. Electronically controlled disc brakes with ABS are standard. The all-steel monocoque body complies with the strict European R66-01 regulation for rollover strength.

For more information and images:
Go to www.scania.com/media/B2009/ for the media site.

Contact:
Anders Dewoon, Sales Director Intercity and Coach,
tel. +46 70 538 21 03, email anders.dewoon@scania.com.

Per-Erik Nordström, Product Affairs, tel. +46 8 553 855 77,
email per-erik.nordstrom@scania.com.

Melker Jernberg, Head of Scania Buses and Coaches,
tel. +46 70 289 22 30, email melker.jernberg@scania.com.