Upmarket tour firm Grand UK Gold, a premium brand of The UK Holiday Group, has taken one of the first examples of Irizar’s premium i6S model, which debuted at Coach & Bus UK last autumn.
It will be operated on behalf of Grand UK Gold by Olympia Travel of Wigan, one of the north-west’s premier companies.
To maximise leg-room and passenger comfort, the 13.2 m three-axle coach has just 44 seats. They are Irizar’s own i6+ recliners, upholstered in full leather, with multi-positional footrests and slide-apart function. The seats have magazine holders, and there is an on-board magazine library. alt=”” src=”https://www.route-one.net/wp-content/uploads/Grand_UK.jpg” style=”float:right” />
The UK Holiday Group Coaching Controller Ian Clarke says: “We have been able to increase safety measures by taking advantage of latest technologies, and this coach has four more seats and is over 1.5 metres bigger than any of our previous Gold coaches. It’s a really exciting investment.
“Safety and comfort are paramount to us and this investment ticks both those boxes more than once. Our new luxury Gold coach not only offers our holidaymakers what they have come to expect whilst on a Grand UK Gold coach but much, much more.”
Grand UK Holidays operates from The UK Holiday Group head office in the historic city of Norwich, offering escorted coach tours in both the UK and Europe, river cruises, train holidays, holidays by air and ocean cruises.
A full spectrum of safety devices is installed, including AEBS and LDWS. In addition, the coach has air-horns, and is fitted with extra diesel tankage for extended tours.
The ultra-modern appearance of the i6S is further enhanced by dark-tinted windows and Alcoa Durabrite Black Tag wheels.
To help keep the coach in first-class condition while on tour it is fitted with its own vacuum-cleaning and vehicle washing systems, with the latter having its own fresh water tank.
Other passenger amenities include a drinks machine and a rear-mounted floor-level toilet, USB charging points for each seat, and on-board Wi-Fi.
The driveline comprises DAF’s MX-13 340 462hp engine and an automated ZF AS-Tronic 12-speed gearbox. The coach was supplied by Irizar (UK).