International trade journalists from 22 countries have selected the special edition Neoplan Cityliner Platin as European Coach of the Year 2022
The Neoplan Cityliner N 116 came onto the market 50 years ago, the forerunner of today’s high-deck coach segment. To mark this anniversary, the manufacturer has launched a ‘Platin’ special edition, which has won the Coach of the Year 2022 award. The prize was presented to Andreas Tostmann, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, and Rudi Kuchta, Head of Business Unit Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, by jury president Tom Terjesen in Munich. The 22 European trade journalists were particularly impressed by the overall concept of the coach, which the manufacturer said boasts economical driver operation characteristics and a distinctive design as well as offering a high level of comfort for the driver and passengers and numerous safety systems.
“We are grateful and very proud that our Neoplan Cityliner was able to win over the jury of experts – especially seeing as it’s the coach’s anniversary year. This prestigious award is wonderful recognition for the entire MAN team, who are unrelentingly committed and deliver outstanding work,” said Andreas Tostmann, adding: “After securing the titles of ‘Coach of the Year 2020’ for the MAN Lion’s Coach and ‘Truck of the Year 2021’ for our new MAN Truck Generation, this new award for the Neoplan Cityliner is the third prize that vehicles from our company have won in three consecutive years. This is a testament to our fantastic and innovative product portfolio and clearly demonstrates that we are in a very good place as we embrace our NewMAN strategy.”
Four bus manufacturers from across Europe took part in the Coach Euro Test in Bled, Slovenia in September, featuring an intensive week of testing – including numerous test drives and lengthy technical discussions. The international jury of experts said it was particularly impressed by the well-balanced overall package of cost-efficiency, comfort, design and safety. “The ‘Platin’ edition of the Cityliner impressed us with its economical yet powerful and dynamic driver operation characteristics,” said jury president Tom Terjesen. The driveline with its six-cylinder Euro VI engine, mated with the new six-speed ZF Ecolife Coach 2 automatic transmission, got a special mention, having been designed for use in intercity buses and coaches and suitable for demanding routes with steep gradients and tight bends.
The journalists also praised the ‘top-quality’ driver’s workplace and the safety and assistance systems that the driver and passengers benefit from, including MAN’s active, electronically adjustable damping Comfort Drive Suspension (CDS) system, MAN OptiView mirror replacement system for coaches, and the turning assistant with active warning function and pedestrian detection to prevent accidents caused by blind spots.
An international jury of experts has been awarding the titles of Bus of the Year and Coach of the Year on an annual basis since 1989. The main focus is on the practicality and the conceptual design of the vehicles entered by the manufacturers for the comparative test. This new award for the Neoplan Cityliner means that MAN Truck & Bus has lifted the trophy for its bus brands MAN and Neoplan eleven times – six Coach of the Year titles in 2022, 2020, 2006, 2004, 2000, and 1994, and five times for the Bus of the Year in 2015, 2005, 1999, 1995, and 1990.
