Volvo Buses
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
The Volvo 9700 is one of Volvo Bus’s most successful models, featuring a wide area of applications, from inter-city traffic to the most luxurious of tourist excursions. The new Volvo 9700 ticks all the boxes for an even more satisfied customer.
With today’s high fuel prices, owners are finding it harder to achieve favorable profitability in their operations. Volvo Bus’s objective with the new Volvo 9700 has been to create a vehicle, and a support package offer, which contributes to improving customers’ profitability.
In an increasingly intense competitive arena, it is vital to have buses that attract passengers, and that provide them enjoyment during the trip. The Volvo 9700 features a modern, distinctive exterior design with a clear Volvo imprint.
The interior has elegant, soft outlines. Baggage racks, grab rails, consoles and roof lining are designed to enhance the spacious overall effect. The interior is presented in a choice of complementary color themes - three bright, cool alternatives and three warmer, somewhat darker nuances.
Coach tourists today set exacting requirements for the vehicle on which they travel. It must be pleasing to the eye, comfortable, offer an excellent view, provide ample luggage space and have a top class audio-visual system. Volvo Buses had these passenger demands in mind when they created the new Volvo 9700.
The comfort level is very high in the Volvo 9700. It is equipped with electronically regulated air suspension, independent at the front and a stiff frame design, providing a comfortable feeling of handling. The inside noise level is low and the Volvo seats are offered in a choice of three comfort levels. All windows are large and tinted, providing an excellent view, and the ventilation system has high capacity, good air distribution, with individually adjustable air-circulation outlet vents for each seat.
With Volvo Sound & Vision, Volvo Bus has set a new standard for audio-visual systems within the bus industry. Hi-fi sound and high-resolution flat-screen monitors even make uneventful periods of travel enjoyable.
The engine in the new Volvo 9700 is the latest generation of Volvo’s fuel-efficient, six-cylinder diesel engine, DH12E. It is an electronically controlled 12-litre engine with four-valve technology, overhead camshaft and separate-unit injector for each cylinder. The engine is available in four output levels, 340 hp (1,700 Nm), 380 hp (1,850 Nm), 420 hp (2,000 Nm) and 460 hp (2,200 Nm). From the start the engine responds superbly, with maximum torque available within a broad area of revs.
Emissions from the new engines are very low, due to SCR technology. In addition to Euro 4, customers can now order engines (rated at 340 and 420 hp) that comply with Euro 5 (Incentive), legislation that will not take effect until 2009.
One of the main reasons why the Volvo Group opted for SCR technology is that it achieves lower fuel consumption than the previous engine generation. This is a key feature considering today’s high fuel prices. Another advantage with SCR technology is that it is simple, reliable and proven.
However, it is not more fuel-efficient engines that solely contribute to lower fuel efficiency. It is important to find the best combination of engine, transmission and rear-axle. The Volvo 9700 programme includes four transmission options, with Volvo I-shift expected to continue to be the most popular.
This intelligent shifting system combines the manual transmission’s robustness and operating reliability with the automatic transmission’s comfort and effortlessness. Due to precise shifting and very small inner losses, Volvo I-shift contributes to highly fuel-efficient operation. The latest I-shift generation is lighter, more compact and quieter than before.
The new Volvo 9700 provides a broad range of variants for tourist, charter, inter-city and express operations. The total programme includes 2 and 3 axle variants, with rear- or mid- engine formats, ranging from 10.4 to 15.0 metres in length and in three different heights, 3.4, 3.6 and 3.8 m.
Frame, body, exhaust system and catalytic converter are of stainless steel, providing excellent corrosion resistance and long service life. Volvo Bus has developed a new method of attaching the side panels to give a smooth and attractive look which is easy to clean.
The goal of Volvo Busses is to simplify matters for customers; from purchase to the time when the vehicle is sold secondhand. This is why the company offers Volvo 9700 in three different equipment packages: Comfort, Optimal and Prestige. Volvo 9700 Comfort is provided with basic equipment while Volvo 9700 Prestige is fitted out with the best Volvo Buses has to offer.
More than anything else, the Volvo brand stands for safety in the automotive industry. The new Volvo 9700 is the safest-ever vehicle from Volvo, and the list of safety equipment is long. Electronically controlled disc brakes (EBS), electronic stability program (ESP), powerful headlights with BiXenon lamps and large, prominently positioned brake lights, two and three-point safety belts for driver and passengers, booster cushions for children and much more.
Two years ago, Volvo Buses was the first in the industry to introduce Front Impact Protection (FIP), which is a reinforced front which protects the driver and guide in the event of a collision. This year, the Company was the first in the industry to unveil a front underrun protection, FUPS, which, in case of a frontal collision, prevents an automobile from becoming wedged under the bus.
The company is also introducing increased protection for the driver’s knees in an impact: the panels by the steering wheel absorb a portion of the impact forces, thereby reducing the risk of serious injury.
Volvo Buses has also devoted major effort on the Volvo 9700 in creating the best possible work environment for the driver. The driver’s area is new and offers both high comfort as well as excellent visibility. The instrument panel is easy to read, with a large, clear, centrally positioned display for driver information. All controls are logically grouped and readily accessible.
Large window areas and rear-vision mirrors, with integrated wide-angle mirrors provide excellent visibility throughout.
More and more customers in the coach industry are focusing their efforts on core operations while buying in access to service and tools that contribute to increased availability and productivity. Therefore, Volvo Buses is unveiling a new Care package which greatly simplifies matters for the owner. The package, sold together with Volvo 9700, is valid for three years.
The package is based on a maintenance contract whereby Volvo handles the ongoing chassis maintenance. Access to Volvo Action Service, for prompt 24-7 roadside assistance, is also included.
The Care package also contains a spare-parts guarantee for the Volvo 9700 standard model. Volvo ensures that required spare parts be on hand at a Volvo dealer within 24 hours of being ordered. Should Volvo fail to deliver, the customer gets the spare part free of charge.
The last element of the contract is that the Volvo 9700 is equipped with Dynafleet Perform, a variant of Volvo’s unique Fleet Management System for driver and vehicle management. Through Dynafleet, information is made available for control and planning of the drivers’ operating and rest times and also about the vehicle itself, which assists service scheduling, for example.
One of the more important functions is the opportunity to observe and analyze fuel consumption on a per vehicle and driver basis. Experience demonstrates that because of this feature, it becomes fully possible to reduce fuel consumption by a significant percentage. Additionally, map functions can be obtained, enabling simplified localization of the vehicle.
2006-09-06
For additional information, please contact Arne Sehlman, product manager, +46 31 322 52 58, or Per-Martin Johansson, press officer, +46 31 322 52 00.