57 seats, 420bhp D26 engine and ZF EcoLife gearbox for P10 variant; first stock tri-axles already here
MAN has placed the first UK order for the P10 variant of the Neoplan Tourliner.
10 of the 13.1m, two-axle, 57-seat coaches will arrive in January, and in a new departure, all will have the fully-automatic ZF EcoLife gearbox.
When taken as a part of a package, Senior Retail Coach Sales Executive Matthew Jacob says the Tourliner is now on a par with other integral models that tick the 13m, two-axle box, although the P10’s unladen weight and retail price are yet to be revealed.
‘Raised eyebrows’
“We saw some raised eyebrows when we announced the P10, but there has already been a lot of interest,” adds Mr Jacob.
He says that the EcoLife gearbox opens up a number of potential customers who have not previously taken the Neoplan. The P10 is powered by the 12.4-litre D26 engine rated at 420bhp.
MAN has also confirmed that the other models in the Tourliner range – the 12.1m, two-axle P21 and the 13.4m and 13.9m tri-axle P20 and P22 respectively – will be offered with the EcoLife in 2018, including those with the D26 at 460bhp, although the AS-Tronic will remain available across the board.
“At the moment we are finalising how 2018’s first order for the P20, P21 and P22 is split gearbox-wise. We expect AS-Tronic to be the most popular on tri-axles, but the EcoLife gives additional flexibility,” adds Mr Jacob.
Stock P20 and P22 here now
Meanwhile, the first stock examples of the new Tourliner have arrived. 13, a mixture of P20 and P22 models, are currently available; the first P21s arrive in October, including one with an EcoLife gearbox.
Various interior colour schemes are available and the coaches are to a specification that is improved over the outgoing model’s. All of the latter have now been sold. Coaches built to order are also available and the first is currently undergoing preparation prior to delivery.
“The new Tourliner gives more flexibility, which has come from listening to buyers,” says Mr Jacob. He adds that the demonstrator has generated good reviews from operators that have tried it.
