What Volvo started with the B7R changed the way we Indians looked at bus travel. Today we have players like Mercedes Benz, Cerita Motors, Swaraj Mazda Isuzu, Corona etc in the luxury bus segment. And now Turkish commercial vehicle maker, Temsa Global is looking to enter the Indian bus market too. The firm has undertaken a feasibility study on the commercial potential to set-up an integrated bus making facility in India. It has been eyeing India as the manufacturing base for Asian markets besides developing a sourcing base for automotive components for its global manufacturing operations.
Temsa is looking to introduce its long-distance inter-city coaches under the Safari brand for the urban markets. Such coaches dominate the 50,000 units-a-year Indian bus market. Currently Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland are the top players in the product segment.
The Turkish firm is looking at high local content in its buses and its officials have met more than 30 Indian component suppliers to develop a vendor base in the country. It is scouting local vendors for major components like gears, engines, seats, glass, axles and metal parts.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Temsa Global to enter the India bus segment
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Volvo B9R wins the NDTV Car India award
Volvo 9400 6x2 multi-axle inter-city bus also known as the B9R was announced as the Automotive Technology of the Year at the NDTV profit Car & Bike awards 2009.
Volvo Buses has been bestowed upon this award based on the critical assessment by a panel of judges, comprising of leading experts in the Auto field. The award winning Volvo 9400 6x2, the market’s first coach with a multi-axle configuration was launched in India in October 2008. Since its inception, the Volvo multi-axle bus has succeeded in taking the inter-city luxury AC coach segment to its next level.
With a 9-liter rear engine and a 6x2 configuration, the Volvo 9400 6x2 helps achieve enhanced transport economy through higher occupancy levels and better fuel consumption per passenger km. The 8 additional seats in the standard layout offer greater revenue opportunities and the two axles in the rear provide a much higher ride comfort than before. Additionally, this new model brings in a host of new safety and technological features. This new model will cater to the long-distance, high occupancy routes and is already in service with many customers in the country.
Features present on the new model, like electronic braking and electronic suspension are a first in the country. With this model, the Indian Bus industry has now graduated to a new level and the company has already got excellent feedback from our customers on all aspects of the bus.
WORDS: WHEELSUNPLUGGED.COM
PIC : TEAM-BHP.COM
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Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Corona Ambari A/C bus
Some months back, the Pune based manufacturer rolled out its Corona sleeper buses. With a 160bhp rear engine, the bus has 32 comfortable sleeper berths. The company also rolled out its A/C seater for long distance routes now being used by various operators including KSRTC
Body and frame:
Corona bus is an all steel integral monocoque construction and has two important structural members:
a) Spines to carry load carrying member and
Exterior cage which is integrated with spine to have a unique single piece monocoque structure.
The entire structure is made up of rectangular steel tubes. The structure has comparatively high impact strength.
Engine:
The bus is fitted with 160 Horse power Cummins engine at the rear end so as to reduce noise pollution inside the bus saloon. The rear engine ensures reduced transmission loss. Larger flaps are fitted at rear end and at sides for better accessibility and maintenance of the engine.The bus can easily maintain speeds of 95-100km/h on the highways and returns around 4km to a litre of diesel.
Air suspension:
Fully independent front Air suspension are provided which carries double link wish bone at both left and right independently supported to the structure by silent bearings. The rear end is provided with an independent single wish bone structure which is pivoted to the body structural spines with rubber mountings for comfortable travel. The Air suspension provides bump free travel to the passenger
Passenger saloon:
The passenger saloon is provided with ultra modern interiors, ‘Happich’ imported hatracks to carry light luggage, comfortable reclining hi-tech passenger seats, imported floor carpeting, high mounted TV to have better viewing pleasure for passengers.
Air conditioner:
This bus is provided with good branded “carrier” make air-conditioner with excellent cooling effect to make the journey comfortable & cool.
Front show and wind shield:
The bus is provided with improved front show and wind shield to have better aero dynamics and fuel efficiency. Better visibility and safety. Single piece front cowl gives better insulation and avoids dust entry into the cabin and also help in reduction in noise pollution.
Luggage space:
The bus is provided with excellent under slung luggage space (approximately 11 cubic mtrs) to carry more luggages of passengers and also better road holding with lowered centre of gravity. Loading and unloading of luggage is very easy as the luggage space is much nearer to the ground.
Brakes:
The Braking system provides safe and reliable braking with dual circuit full air brakes. Condenser cum water separator is provided in addition to the air dryer to enhance life and performance of brake system. Automatic slack adjuster are provided to enhance the braking efficiency.
Seats Configuration:
Fitted with 44 passenger seats with 2x2 seating configuration. The seats are comfortable with reclining mechanism.
Exteriors:
The bus is provided with all aluminum doors and stretched galvanized panels. The panels are painted with polyurethane based premier high solid 2k paints with colorful graphics.
Cost:
The end rate for the Corona Ambari A/C bus is Rs. 36,81,563.00.12.
Brand Name:
The Bus is named as “AMBAARI” – means comfortable & luxurious journey on the top of an Elephant.
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