By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 30,000th Mercedes-Benz Tourismo
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Features > 30,000th Mercedes-Benz Tourismo
FeaturesNews

30,000th Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: September 25, 2019
Share
SHARE

The Mercedes-Benz Tourismo is a common sight across the country. The manufacturer claims it is the most successful touring coach of all time in Europe, with 30,000 delivered

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating a double milestone for its evergreen Tourismo range: 25 years in production and 30,000 examples sold. That makes it Europe’s most popular touring coach of all time, says the manufacturer.

Contents
The Mercedes-Benz Tourismo is a common sight across the country. The manufacturer claims it is the most successful touring coach of all time in Europe, with 30,000 deliveredThe lucky buyerA long lineageEver-growing range

The Tourismo broke cover in 1994. As a range it has grown hugely since then. It was the first Mercedes-Benz coach to be given a name and not the more usual model number, although in its earliest iteration it took on a hybrid of the two as the O 350 Tourismo.

Now, the Tourismo is in its third generation. It is also in its most versatile state yet for right-hand drive markets, and that has been reflected in record sales.

Buyers in the UK and Ireland have taken advantage of the introduction of models new to those markets from the second generation onwards. That versatility was amplified with the Tourismo’s latest iteration, launched in Brussels in 2017.

They include the two-axle Tourismo M/2 and the tri-axle Tourismo M. The latter debuted here when the second generation Tourismo moved to Euro 6 and the Setra range was discontinued in right-hand drive. Pulhams Coaches was the first UK operator to place a Tourismo M into service.

The 14m Tourismo L followed in right-hand drive when the current model debuted. It was joined by the 13m, two-axle M/2, which quickly became successful. A mid-sized Tourismo K has been promised – which will potentially be a pseudo-replacement for the long-departed Tourino.

The lucky buyer

Buyer of the 30,000th Tourismo is Polish operator RAF Trans, which is based in Warsaw. The three-pointed star forms the backbone of RAF Trans’ 220-strong fleet.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

The milestone coach is a 12m two-axle model with safety systems that include Active Brake Assist 4 (ABA4). It has Attention Assist for the driver, along with Travel Star Eco seats finished in Luxline upholstery.

Mercedes-Benz has long majored on the Tourismo’s safety credentials. ABA4 is unique in the coach market, it says.

The system brakes automatically when a collision with another vehicle, an obstacle or a pedestrian is imminent. Additionally, Sideguard Assist warns the driver of cyclists, pedestrians and stationary objects.

A long lineage

Today’s Tourismo is built in Hoşdere, outside Istanbul. The O 350 Tourismo sold 10,000 units in its first 10 years, for which a special Edition 10,000 was released. Two years later it passed the 12,000 mark. By 2013, the total stood at 20,000 and at the time that the latest model was launched, it was 26,000.

RAF Trans uses its Tourismos on a variety of work, including private hire, VIP shuttles and long-distance scheduled services.

“The Tourismo is a true all-rounder,” says Managing Director Rafał Jańczuk. He describes it further as “an economic miracle,” saying that the model’s running costs are attractive. Low fuel consumption of the latest model is attributable to a drag coefficient of Cd=0.33 and an efficient drivetrain, explains the builder.

Although the 30,000th coach has the 10.7-litre OM 470 engine, Mercedes-Benz also offers the 7.7-litre OM 936 in two-axle models.

Additionally, equipment such as predictive powertrain control – where the coach uses connectivity to know the coming terrain and proceeds accordingly to deliver maximum economy – and the Eco Driver Feedback system further help to reduce fuel consumption.

Ever-growing range

The breadth of the Tourismo range has grown over its quarter of a century. To suit the legal maximum of the time, the O 350 variant was constructed at a single length of 12m.

It came with disc brakes and was solidly built; the original model can still be seen in service in various countries, where many will undoubtedly have been around the clock more than once.

Across all three generations of the Tourismo, Mercedes-Benz says it has “continued to further develop and refine the concept.” With the promised Tourismo K, that looks set to continue.

“And that is why it remains the undisputed stat among touring coaches,” the manufacturer concludes.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Coach brokers: Relationships work both ways
Next Article Tap on and off contactless for Metrobus
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd