The journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg under the sign of Leo

New tourist liner MAN Lion's Coach showed himself a press tour Under the sign of Leo"

Alexander Klimov, photos of the author and "MAN Truck end Bass RUS"

The official world premiere of the new tourism coach MAN Lion's Coach passed in 2017 at a bus exhibition Busworld. Where the bus won in the contest Busworld Awards Competition, winning the Grand prize Coach Award, and also received additional awards in the categories of Comfort and Design. This year the bus was launched before the journalists of leading specialized publications in the first field test, held in Mallorca. In the beginning of 2018 MAN Lion's Coach is the winner of the iF Design Award, one of the most prestigious awards the international forum design iF International Forum Design in the category "Automobiles / vehicles / Motorcycles".

Then, in late may, the jury of the competition "Best commercial car of year in Russia" participated in the official test drive tourist liner Lion's Coach R08. In the press tour "Journey under the sign of Leo" on the route "Moscow – St.-Petersburg" the chief editors of the leading transportation publications in Russia have the opportunity to test the bus MAN Lion's Coach and as passengers, and the driver's seat.

Modern tourism coach MAN Lion's Coach expresses another stage in the development of original design of MAN. Fresh exterior front and expressive design of the rear body (however, be reprimanded for the brand and impractical Central black box), as well as the side parts adds signature appearance to the buses of the MAN Lion's Coach. The current generation of designers have made a greater emphasis on a clear separation of functional zones: the driver's workplace and the passenger compartment, Luggage compartment and engine compartment. Eyes pause on the new full-led headlamp with signature strip daytime running lights, which in combination is and turn indicators.

Inside MAN Lion ' s also applied modern electrics: solid led strip warm white color in the ceiling area ensure a comfortable lighting. According to the new concept of Colour&Trim is a preference for brighter shades, creating a sophisticated and pleasant atmosphere.

Due to the lengthening of the bins towards the windscreen, as well as to increase the height of the passenger compartment in the dome of the front end passengers and the driver a feeling of more space.

Thanks to the numerous assistance systems tourist bus MAN provides the highest level of safety and comfort for both the driver and passengers. So in the power structure of his body made very important changes – integrated elements of high-strength steel. For the manufacture of arc security to the rear and in the area of b-pillar using our patented technology "pipe in pipe". Compared with previous generations, the body of the new MAN Lion's Coach can absorb 50% more impact energy than before and with a stock corresponds to the entered 9 November last year in Europe due to the UNECE Regulations No. 66.02 (for countries of the customs Union regulations came into force on January 1, 2015), according to which all new buses have in case of an emergency tipping to save much more living space for passengers than ever before.

The design of the driver's seat is improved. So for the harsh climate meant a heated windshield in order carry out from shatterproof laminated glass. The diameter of the heating elements is only 0.02 mm, that is, they do not affect visibility.

The press-tour "Journey under the sign of Leo" the jury was presented two versions of the bus MAN Lion's Coach – two-axle MAN Lion's Coach R07 101 with a length of 12 mm (elongation compared to the previous generation by 100 mm) and MAN Lion's Coach R08 length of 13 mm. 901 Both versions feature the same engine MAN D 2676 LOH 26 (EEV – for Russia certified disabled AdBlue system) with a capacity of 440 HP and a 12 speed TipMatic automated RCP with the aid the beginning of the movement MAN EasyStart and Intarder ZF. The Seating capacity of the basic two-axle version is 49+1+1 (the volume of Luggage compartments of 11.7 m3), and an elongated triaxial– 57+1+1 (13.2 m³).

Underlined by the representatives of the company aspect is the fact that today all MAN bus Lion's Coach are available in Russian with an already installed and configured at the factory navigation system ERA GLONASS.

Test drive:

All participated in the press tour, journalists were given a great opportunity to try out the new buses on the race track outside St. Petersburg.

And I must say, all colleagues coped with the test runs. Impression of how a multi-ton car accelerates smartly, and even more on how the retarder works wonderfully actually replacing brakes – recent work below speed of 15 km/h and are actually required only at a complete stop or when driving in mountainous conditions. To dose the force of deceleration can be like a button at the end of the turn signal / multifunction lever and it clicks, changing the degree of deceleration. Handling no complaints as to the biaxial 12,1-metre Lion's Coach and three-axis a 13.9-metre Lion's Coach L (19.5 tons mass) of the car.

Management according to the apt expression of one of colleagues: "it is like a big car". The three-axis maneuverability of the machine is not worse than biaxial (passport turning radius of treneski only slightly higher than that of the basic two-axle model).

Even steep turns are passed with confidence and without large banks at the expense of stabilizing the system (however, ACC, LGS and Attention Guard we didn't need). Even robotic 12-stupenchataya transmission TipMatic® solves the driver and all the challenging task of managing the transmission, not to mention a 6-speed "automatic". The ergonomics of the driver's seat as always, the MAN is exemplary. As a passenger the comfort is such that only annoying traffic jams.

background:

OOO "MAN Truck end Bass RUS" – 100% subsidiary of MAN Truck & Bus AG, General importer of MAN products in Russia.

Sales growth of MAN Buses in the Russian market is certain, though small quantitatively

MAN together with sister brand Neoplan is confidently leading in the Russian market of the European competition

The company has two own branches in Podolsk and near St. Petersburg (which had just been visited by the jury members).