Ilesbus UK has expanded its low-floor range with the introduction of the I-City Max. It is built on a front-engined Iveco Daily underframe and can carry a maximum of 32 seated passengers with provision for up to two wheelchair users.
The coachbuilt new product builds upon the existing low-floor I-City, which uses the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as a base vehicle. In the I-City Max, Ilesbus’s factory in Turkey fits a longer and wider low-floor ‘box’ within the chassis area to deliver step-free access. The positioning of that module has allowed a Telma retarder to be fitted despite the need to route the prop shaft beneath it.
Four completed I-City Max vehicles are in transit currently, with the first to be delivered in the UK set to go to Runcorn operator Anthony’s Travel. Others have been sold, including a large batch for Ilesbus UK’s partner in Ireland JJ Kavanagh and Sons. One of the four is a demonstrator that the supplier expects to have available for trial in February.
“The I-City Max is a larger version of the I-City. The two models share a lot of design commonalities as we wanted to retain as much of the I-City’s styling as possible in the larger vehicle,” says Ilesbus UK Sales Director Gary Johns. He adds that the new model is available at two lengths. In addition to the longer variant offering up to 32 seats, a shorter version gives a maximum of 25.
Ilesbus uses a Daily 70C21 chassis that is uprated to 8,000kg GVW for the I-City Max. It comes with a 210bhp engine and the Hi-Matic automatic gearbox as standard. Saloon air-conditioning and an auxiliary coolant heater are also part of the package, along with USB charging points at every seat. Ilesbus UK will supply the I-City Max with a Certificate of Conformity and it complies with PSVAR.
The new model also has rear air suspension and its seating choice extends as far as the range offered on Ilesbus’s mini and midicoach line-up. A boot as part of a coach-style rear is also fitted. The Iveco warranty is unaffected by the work to install a low-floor section.
“Customer demand has led us to develop the I-City Max,” adds Mr Johns. “The I-City was also based on demand, but some operators have told us that they wanted something to the same format but a little bigger.”
Video of the I-City Max available here.
