Mellor has revealed details of its next-generation Strata low-entry coachbuilt minibus, which is mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.
What the manufacturer says are significant improvements have been made to the saloon and it has removed up to 150kg of unladen weight. The new Strata will continue to come in standard, Plus and Ultra variants, with up to 29 seated passengers and one standee possible in the latter.
Key among the changes is a low-floor area that has been extended by 266mm. That permits four additional seats there. Twin wheelchair user bays are available and up to 12 seats in the Strata are accessed without encountering an internal step.
An overhaul of the Strata comes nine years after the model was first launched. Mellor Sales Director Richard Matthews notes how some early examples have completed 500,000km “and continue to perform very well.”
In the latest format, the standard Strata carries a maximum of 22 passengers, while the Strata Plus can convey 26. 2+2 seating is retained across the board and Low Emission Bus certification from Zemo Partnership continues. Fuel economy of up to 22mpg is claimed by Mellor.
Where the floor rises at the rear, that is now achieved with one step, down from two in first-generation models. Headroom in the raised area is improved by 100mm, and the emergency door is brought forward to permit a five-abreast layout in the back row in Plus and Ultra variants.
PSVAR compliance comes as standard on Class 1 variants of the Strata, while the model also has the necessary equipment to comply with the PSV Accessible Information Regulations including twin monitors, one of which is forward-facing at the rear.
Mellor notes that the new Strata maintains the previous model’s suitability for both rural and urban lower-demand services via its 2.3m width. The first example to be completed is an Ultra model (pictured), which the manufacturer will show at the forthcoming ALBUM conference in Nottingham on 12-14 May. Production is expected to start in the summer.
“Since its launch in 2016, Strata has delivered exactly as we envisioned,” says Mr Matthews. “It is a robust, nimble and exceptionally economical bus, designed with long-term value in mind.
“Some Strata customers have reported that their vehicles have clocked over 500,000km in operation and continue to perform very well – proof of the outstanding build quality and low total cost of ownership that our customers can rely on.”
The new Strata will continue to be built by Mellor in Rochdale. John Randerson, CEO of parent Woodall Nicholson Group, notes that the business is “dedicated to enhancing our operations in the UK” and that the vehicle “is designed with sustainable manufacturing in mind, protecting UK jobs and adhering to ethical procurement practices.”
A test drive article on the latest-generation Mellor Strata Ultra will be part of the April 2025 routeone, published on Wednesday 9 April.
