Scania Van Hool Cooperation for European Markets
2013-05-23
The co-operation between the Swedish vehicle manufacturer Scania and the Belgian bus and coach manufacturer Van Hool, which already existed for the North European countries, has now been extended to Germany and Austria, as a next step in Scania’s bus strategy 2013+. Added to the Scania program will be the Van Hool tandemaxle coaches, the doubledeckers and the ultrahighdeck coaches.
Already launched on the Scandinavian markets during the Gothenburg Public Transport Exhibition which was held in November 2012, was the Scania Van Hool TX16 Astronef, as a new 3-axle model in Scania’s range of complete coaches, which is now the widest ever.
It is offered in two lengths: 14 and 13.2 m, the bus shown in Gothenburg is a 3-axle with a total length of 13.2 m and a height of 3.7 m. The tag axle is hydraulically steered to promote manoeuvrability and cornering.
The coach features Scania’s 13-litre Euro 5 engine with an output of 440 hp and 2,300 Nm of torque. The engine is also available in other power ratings and as Euro 6. Scania engines deliver maximum torque already from 1,000 r/min. This provides good driveability, few gearchanges and optimum fuel economy.
Van Hool is an independent Belgian manufacturer of urban buses, coaches and trailers with an annual production of approximately 3,500 units. The cooperation with Scania mainly concerns products for the European market, where the coaches can be maintained via Scania’s extensive network of around one thousand service points.
