Volvo Buses
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
Longstanding Volvo customers, Excelsior’s reason for opting for the 9700 this time was simple: “They are superb vehicles delivering top of the range in terms of style and comfort” said Managing Director, Kathy Tilbury. “We feel they really meet the needs of our business by delivering exactly what clients expect from Excelsior.”
The 13m Volvo 9700 Prestige Plus is specified with the popular and fuel efficient 12 litre DH12E engine – rated at 460bhp - coupled to the I-Shift gearbox. Enhanced safety features fitted as standard include Front Underrun Protection System (FUPS), Front Impact Protection System (FIPS), Knee Impact Protection System (KIPS), the new generation of Electronic Braking System, Volvo’s Electronic Stability Program and 11 camera CCTV system as well as Pin Pointers Telematics, providing vehicle tracking and driver performance data.
The UK’s 9700 “Prestige Plus” model boasts an all-inclusive, high specification. The stylish interior, with theatre-style flooring ensures that all 53 passengers have excellent viewing, while the comfortable seats, climate control, servery, toilet and Volvo Sound & Vision entertainment system – comprising CD, DVD player and TFT monitors - mean that every luxury is guaranteed.
Equal priority is given to driver comfort with an ergonomic driver’s area which provides excellent overview and enhanced control. The instruments are easy to monitor, controls are all logically positioned whilst large window areas and rear-vision mirrors, with integrated wide-angle mirrors, provide excellent visibility throughout.
The new vehicles will be used for high end contract work and business to business private hire. Their addition to the fleet brings the total number of full size coaches to 27, of which 25 are Volvo. Excelsior has seen its fleet grown by 50 percent over the past two years!
“We always opt for the Volvo B12B chassis and have a mix of body types including Plaxton Paragon, Sunsundegui Siderals, Jonckheere and now of course the 9700” said Kathy. “We come back to Volvo time and again because they are reliable, deliver good fuel efficiency, our drivers are well trained in driving Volvo coaches and from a stock and maintenance point of view it makes perfect sense to standardise. These latest coaches look superb and I’m certain they will live up to the high standards we’ve come to expect.”
Established 85 years ago, Excelsior prides itself on operating the most modern fleet of luxury coaches in the industry. They have 27 full size executive coaches and four eight-seater minibus vehicles in the fleet, with the various seating configuration across the full size fleet from 26 to 53 seats. All vehicles are less than six years old with more than half being 2008 registration or newer and Euro 5 Incentive compliant.
Excelsior Coaches is one of only 37 UK companies to be awarded the prestigious Coach Marque by the Confederation of Passenger Transport. The company operates a number of rolling contracts with both private and public sector organisations with coaches in either client branding or Excelsior livery. In addition an extensive tour programme offers over 100 UK and European tours.
ENDS
14th July 2009
Caption for photograph:
Image 1: Excelsior Coaches’ four new Volvo 9700s on display at Merley House, Dorset.