Volvo Buses
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
The new coaches take the number of Volvo vehicles in the operator’s fleet to ten – six with Sunsundegui and four with Jonckheere bodywork - and the total number of vehicles to 16.
Taking delivery of the first vehicle during the first week of April, the operator put it straight to work on their American tour contract on Sunday April 7th, with the second coach being delivered the following week.
Praising the new vehicles, Peter Oliver, W&H Commercials said: “The new Volvo B11R drives like a dream. But we knew it would – we’ve never had a problem with Volvo, which is why we keep going back. The standard of the new B11R coach is great and the value for money is outstanding. The service we receive from Jo Standbridge, our Volvo Regional Sales Manager, is also second to none; she’s an absolute diamond and always knows and understands exactly what we like and want.”
Commenting on the new Sunsundegui SC7 bodywork, he added: “We always run Sunsundegui and the improvements on the SC7 model are very good. The wider passenger entrance is good as is the split driver screen and the increase in space is extraordinary.
“With the coaches set for work on our 15-day American tour contracts, we wanted to be able to offer as much comfort and leg room as possible for our passengers, so we have taken the seating capacity down from 55 to 53 to allow them that little bit extra room.
“We are very pleased with the new vehicles and I am sure we will look to take further Volvo Sunsundeguis in the future. In fact, right now we wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
The new Volvo B11R 13 metre coaches run on the Euro 5 compliant Volvo D11C six cylinder engine, rated at 450 bhp. This coupled with the proven Volvo I-Shift 12-speed automated gearbox, make the vehicles both powerful, yet very fuel efficient.
The new Sunsundegui body features an improved aerodynamic design with fairing of the air conditioning to help reduce overall fuel consumption, whilst added protection is achieved by a reinforced front structure for the drivers’ area and reinforced passenger area with crumple panels.
Stylish new mirrors are designed to minimise damage in low speed impacts and a state-of-the-art door design with a simpler control adds to the increase in interior space.
Fitted with the full specification of available interior features, passengers will benefit from a twin screen TV, sound system and DVD player, along with a coffee machine and toilet. The exterior of the vehicles are white, featuring the uniform W&H Commercials blue livery.
Jo Standbridge commented: “W&H Commercials are a long-standing and very good customer. They usually take a Volvo B12B with Sunsundegui body, so the B11R with the brand new and spacious Sunsundegui SC7 body – an equally powerful and very fuel efficient vehicle - will be perfect for their overseas tour needs.”
ENDS
25 April 2013
Caption for image:
The UK’s first Volvo B11R coaches with the new Sunsundegui SC7 bodywork have made their debut with West Sussex based operator W&H Commercials.