Fully automatic Mercedes-Benz front-engined bus with Allison transmission featured at Transpublico 2018
BRAZIL Mercedes-Benz Brazil’s new OF1721L front-engine bus, equipped with an Allison fully automatic transmission, was shown at Lat.Bus & Transpublico 2018, the Latin American Transport Fair held at the Transamérica Expo Center, in Sāo Paulo.
Designed to accommodate bodies of up to 13.2m, the air-suspended chassis is powered by an OM924LA 208hp engine driving through an Allison T 3270 xFE, six-speed fully automatic gearbox.
The partnership between Allison Transmission and Mercedes-Benz is said to have created a new category of bus for public transportation in the country. The bus was on display on Allison’s stand.
The OF1721 front engine configuration with air suspension and automatic transmission has wider applications including as a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system feeder, for employee transport contracts and for occasional tourist charters and short-distance transportation.
“The automatic transmission brings great advantages for transportation companies, optimisation of maintenance and greater durability of the powertrain,” said Walter Barbosa, director of bus sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz Brazil.
“The driver gains in greater driving comfort in addition to more attention in the traffic conditions, and the passengers enjoy more well-being on board due to the smoother shifting.
“The availability of the Allison automatic transmission for the OF1721L chassis allows Mercedes-Benz to offer customers more options to equip their buses according to their demands and operation features.”
T3270 transmission is equipped with Allison’s xFE technology that can improve fuel economy by up to 7%. Allison’s xFE models have been designed to deliver significantly more torque converter lock up operation and spend more time in higher ranges at lower engine speeds producing exceptional fuel savings.
They’re also compatible with engines powered by alternative fuels, and incorporate features provided by the FuelSense 2.0 software package with DynActive Shifting. FuelSense 2.0 uses a real-time learning algorithm to continuously find the ideal balance of fuel economy and performance.
Sales of the Mercedes-Benz Brazil OF1721 bus with an Allison fully automatic transmission are set to begin in 2019.
There will be pre-series production of up to 20 units this year.
