GERMANY
The next generation of coaches by premium brand Setra is taking shape, says parent company Daimler Buses. A striking external feature is the new series’ front end, which conceals a host of technology. Daimler Buses Head of Design Stefan Handt explained: “Setra’s ComfortClass and TopClass have been given a much more classy appearance. Setra’s premium-class claim is emphasised even more clearly.
“The brand’s badge is now clearly visible in the front section, he added, whilst other highlights include a new full LED lighting element in the front and fibre optics for indicators, daytime running lights and marker lamps. “Even from a distance, a Setra will now be recognizable as a Setra,” Stefan said. The sides of the coaches also feature a new three-dimensional character element.
The passenger compartment has been upgraded too, with new partitions and service sets as well as a new multimedia system.
New assistance systems based on a new electrical/electronic structure are being introduced for the first time in a European coach, Daimler said, designed to make Setra coaches even safer, more comfortable, more user-friendly and more economical and environmentally friendly. Setra ComfortClass and TopClass are said to be the first coaches in Europe to be equipped with the new Active Drive Assist 2 (ADA 2), a combination of several assistance systems that actively assist the driver in keeping their distance and staying in lane, and the emergency braking assistance system Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA 5) – a system that can also brake in response to moving and stationary pedestrians.
The next generation Setras will have their premiere during the IAA Transportation press days in Hanover on 18-20 September before being showcased to customers at an event in Neu-Ulm from 23-25 September, followed by numerous European trade fairs in Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic and France.
