Uprated axles, higher GVW and lengthened wheelbase will deliver a major increase in capacity in low-entry City 75; work will be exclusive to EvoBus, and a zero-emission alternative will follow long term
Daimler Buses has unveiled what could be a game-changer for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based minibuses in the 38-passenger low-entry City 75. It will be sold in the UK and the first deliveries here are expected in mid-2019.
The coachbuilt City 75 will complement the established City 45 on the new Sprinter platform. It is uprated to a GVW of 6,800kg thanks largely to a rear axle tolerance of 5,000kg, and in UK format it will seat around 24 passengers.
Further work may yet gain an additional 200kg on the front axle, taking GVW to 7,000kg and overall capacity to 40.
Creation of the City 75 is a partnership between Daimler’s van and bus divisions. The work is exclusive to supplier EvoBus and it will not be available to third parties.
Besides the increased axle weights, changes also involve lengthening the standard Sprinter chassis cowl by around 1m.
Most of that is within the 5.1m wheelbase, greatly increasing the low-floor area compared with the City 45’s. Because of the additional length, UK-specification City 75s are likely to require an emergency door.
The low-floor section slopes slightly towards the nearside, which means that no kneeling facility is required to deliver a step height of 270mm. A manual ramp is within the doorway, and up to two wheelchair users can be carried.
Power in the City 75 will come from the 2.1-litre OM 651 engine rated at 163bhp driving through a seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Despite the additional weight, the three-litre OM 642 will not be offered.
Daimler Buses has confirmed that a zero emission City 75 will follow, but not in the short term. It is reliant on the development of batteries suitable for heavier Sprinters; currently, 3,500kg is the highest GVW that suits electric propulsion. Also set to utilise the 6,800kg GVW is a Travel 75 minicoach. It will have a high floor throughout, but its exact layout has not yet been decided upon.
“We are working on the final specifications for UK models, which when complete will allow us to give pricing information,” says EvoBus (UK) Director Mercedes-Benz Sales Marcus Watts. UK buyers can see the City 75 in left-hand drive form for the first time at Euro Bus Expo, to be held at the NEC Birmingham on 30 October-2 November.
“We believe that it is important to show the concept in the UK as soon as possible. Lots of work has been done to keep costs down. This is a development that is captive to EvoBus and which has been developed for use exclusively in the passenger-carrying sector.”
