Iveco continues to make headway in the UK’s minicoach and minibus market. That is furthered by its new arrangement with PHVC, which is to supply the versatile Daily Line with up to 22 passenger seats
What if you could have a reasonably well-specified minicoach that has a good tolerance for luggage when needed or a 22-seat passenger capacity when not, coupled to the vertical integration of a factory conversion, a three-year warranty and a highly-refined driveline?
Specialist minicoach and minibus supplier PHVC is working with Iveco to deliver exactly that through the Daily Line conversion.
PHVC has 20 Daily Lines on order at 6,500kg GVW to complement a demonstrator. A further attraction is their competitive pricing. They start at £60,500 plus VAT, and various contract hire and leasing options are available, as are extra-cost options.
“We have been in business for 28 years and we have a strong reputation among educational establishments that operate minibuses of between eight and 22 seats, but the Daily Line in partnership with Iveco is a new venture for us,” says PHVC MD Paul Huxford.
The Daily Line is suited for use by PHVC’s core clients, but the supplier hopes to expand into other markets with it, including the commercial sector.
Although the vehicle is fitted out by Iveco in Brescia, PHVC has an arrangement with a converter local to its Fareham base to make alterations after arrival.
One of the important elements of the Daily Line is that it is built as a minibus from the factory stage. It is not a converted van. Additionally, parts can be obtained from Iveco’s 88 service points around the UK.
PHVC’s batch of 20 production Daily Lines will arrive between now and January. Some are already spoken for, but there is potential for others to be made available quickly if the customer requires.
Versatile challenger
The extended Daily Line – which accounts for all of those ordered by PHVC so far – is based on a 7.52m van. A shorter model comes at 7.12m and with a maximum of 19 seats. Both have a plug door, and to suit the right-hand drive application Iveco relocates the 90-litre fuel tank to the offside.
The AdBlue tank goes to the rear; it holds 30-litres, but with the Daily’s usage standing at around 3% of diesel consumption, it will seldom require filling.
Power is from the three-litre F1C engine rated at 180bhp. All of the 20 stock examples for PHVC will arrive with the acclaimed Hi-Matic eight-speed automatic gearbox, although a six-speed manual is optional.
Within the saloon are 22 Iveco-branded Intap seats with three-point belts. Seven of them – the rear two rows – are on tracking, and they can be removed quickly.
One benefit of that tracking relates to luggage capacity. Regardless of whether a factory-fitted Dhollandia lift is present or not – and two wheelchair users can be carried if it is – it permits the rapid creation of significant luggage space.
PHVC is able to provide a large removable cage-type luggage enclosure that mounts within the tracking for use when required. It can also add more permanent shelving in the same position prior to delivery. Both options come with the potential for bespoke-sized pens or shelving.
Optional extras
A further optional luggage area is at the front on the offside. If two seat pairs are removed, a good-sized pen can be accommodated there, but why such interest in luggage space?
“We have high hopes for the Daily Line in the school market, but thanks to its weight tolerance it will also work well as an airport transfer vehicle,” says Paul.
He adds that the demountable pen at the rear gives the Daily Line a dual purpose when used by a commercial operator; it can carry out luggage-heavy work when desired, but then convey 22 passengers when the seats are refitted. Airport car park shuttles are another niche that it suits. “Additionally, the school market doesn’t always need 22 seats, but it does require luggage space when travelling to sports fixtures.”
With the Daily Line’s luggage capacity in mind, PHVC does not expect to see any requirement for a tow bar, and it has received no enquiries that involve one.
Various options are available on models built to order. A number of seat moquette colours (in both fabric and a more hard-wearing material) are offered, while USB charging points can be added.
Additionally, double-glazing can be specified. Where saloon air-conditioning is deleted, sliding openers may be included.
As standard, the Daily Line comes with a nearside convector radiator. One on the offside is optional, but no auxiliary coolant heater is available. Tests have shown that it’s not necessary, and that sufficient waste engine heat is generated.
The demonstrator has internal luggage racks complete with lighting in the edges. Finally, destination display equipment can be added if required.
On the road
miniplus has already tested the Euro 6 New Daily and the results were positive. That is backed up by operators’ experience. They report it to be popular among staff, reliable and fuel efficient.
The Iveconnect touch screen in the dash will be welcomed by most drivers. It is a self-intuitive unit that includes items such as the radio, reversing camera, sat-nav and phone controls, and it has a USB input. PHVC’s Daily Lines also include a CD player.
At Euro 6 the Daily has a slightly more car-like driving experience than its primary competitor, but there is little between them. The demonstrator was put through its paces on a route taking in the Hampshire countryside, and it performed well. As has already been noted, the Hi-Matic gearbox is superb. It keeps engine speeds down at times of low power demand, but when more get up and go is required – such as when passing a tractor – it reacts immediately.
Visibility is also good, and the Daily is easy to handle. That will be particularly useful in school and community transport applications, where drivers may have other primary occupations and spend little time behind the wheel of a minibus.
A particular strong point of the Iveco is its low engine noise. Although the Daily Line is not particularly aimed at long-distance applications where customers are on board for hours, driveline intrusion is relevant to drivers.
When all is taken into account, they will have little to complain about with the Daily.
One for the future?
PHVC would not have ordered 20 if it did not have confidence in the Daily Line. The fact that a number were sold prior to delivery is an indicator of how the demonstrator has been received. So far, it has visited community transport providers, commercial operators and schools, and it has also attended a roadshow.
The potential to customise the vehicle to maximise luggage space will appeal to PHVC’s core audience, and the three-year/160,000km warranty is a further attraction.
Iveco’s dealers will deliver overnight servicing, allowing maximum daytime utilisation, and the use of Unwin lockables and tracking at the rear is a further plus. The Dhollandia lift (where fitted) is perhaps not what customers may expect, but the Dutch supplier has an extensive UK service network to call upon.
Interestingly, PHVC expects to later see a spike in demand for compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered minibuses in the sectors that it is targeting with the Daily Line. Iveco’s involvement with CNG through its Blue Power range is well-known, and it is well-positioned to deliver as and when required.
The Italian manufacturer’s co-operation with PHVC forms a further part of its thus far successful bid to grow its presence in the UK’s passenger-carrying market. On this showing, it is becoming a stronger contender by the day.
