Plaxton’s enhanced elite

Gareth Evans test drives a corporate specification 14m Plaxton Elite-bodied Volvo B11R for Northampton-based Country Lion – Alexander Dennis’ premium coach, which has recently benefitted from a minor re-style

Eight years after it was first launched, Plaxton’s flagship Elite coach has received a makeover which gently updates the stunning lines which give the design its ‘wow factor’ kerb appeal. New headlight clusters, surrounded by chrome, provide a reassuring family look, while the Plaxton logo in the front panel integrates vital driving safety technology provided by the Volvo B11R chassis.

Although visually subtle, according to Plaxton the changes, which further improve the Elite’s aerodynamics have a substantial effect in bringing down operating cost. Using computational fluid dynamics techniques validated in real-world tests, adjustments to the underside of the vehicle streamline air flows, while new deflectors on the rear pillars reduce the wake of the vehicle. Speed dependent chassis lowering provides further aerodynamic benefits. This gives the Elite a [wlm_nonmember][…]

[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]class-leading drag coefficient of 0.33 and improves fuel efficiency by 4% compared with the existing model.

A talking point at Euro Bus Expo in November was the tri-axle Elite for Northampton-based Country Lion. No stranger to Plaxton and Volvo-based products, the operator notably acquired the first production Elite, so it was most apt that it also took delivery of the inaugural enhanced Elite. As befitting its role as the coach of choice for two local sports teams and corporate charters, the 14m tri-axle has been finished to a high specification that nevertheless utilises a maximum of standard components, allowing it to be upseated later in life.
CBW was privileged to take this coach, which is due to be delivered to Country Lion this month, out for a test drive ahead of the vehicle’s despatch from Plaxton’s Scarborough premises. Mark Ballam, Commercial Manager – Coach accompanied CBW on the drive.

Specification

The tri-axle coach, which has an overall length of 14m, stands 3.720m tall and measures 2.55m wide.
Power comes from a 10.8-litre Volvo D11K460 engine, generating 460bhp. This is generally the standard unit specified by Plaxton. While a choice of 380 or 430bhp is available, the 430bhp chassis is usually specified on two axle chassis.

The standard transmission is an I-Shift, but a ZF Ecolife is available as an option with the 380bhp engine output.
The 480-litre fuel tank usefully can be filled on both sides. The AdBlue tank can accommodate 60 litres.

Entry to the engine bay at the rear is via a flap that is pulled up. It’s pleasing to note that the coolant and oil can be topped up with ease – the latter on the left, and the former on the right. Their positioning means the task does not become a fiddly exercise in holding a watering can at a plethora of awkward angles.

Alcoa alloy wheel rims set the wheels off nicely – and look the part against the Michelin Multiway 3d 315/80R22.5 tyres.

The luggage locker doors are pneumatically controlled – although they can be opened manually using the dump valve. The fresh water filler point for WC and servery is retained in the nearside locker on the wall in front of the middle axle.

A valuable aid when manoeuvring in the dark are the scene lights, which illuminate the sides of the coach when the locker doors are open, when reverse is selected or via a dash switch if the vehicle is travelling at less that 5km/h (3mph). Puddle lights illuminate the ground at the entrance and continental doors.

Onboard, there is a choice of five different finishes for the dashboard – walnut graphite, brushed aluminium, carbon fibre, piano black and Titan. This vehicle was fitted with the Titan finish.

There is a single motorised front blind, with motorised signalling window blind – and a péage window in the front passenger door is fitted as standard. The sliding signalling window is heated, surrounded by double-glazed glass.
A useful touch for the driver and passengers alike is that both the upper and lower windscreens are heated – especially because the upper, dome-style panel significantly enhances views for passengers. The upper screen has a thermal integrated interlayer and grey tint VG40-specification glass, while the side glass is to VG10 specification.

Another aid to the driver is that the rear view mirrors are not only electric, but also heated.

 

Interior

The entrance to the coach is spacious, inviting, contemporary and tastefully stylish. The step treads, which are picked out in silver grey and contrast with the dark grey of the stepwell, are adorned with LED lights – which not only assist passengers with impaired vision, but also look smart and modern.

Grabrails are located in just the right locations – and meet my ‘granny friendly’ criteria, which drawing on my own past experience, I picture mobility impaired passengers climbing the steps to board. There are four nicely spaced steps up to platform level of the driver/ courier area, followed by another step up into the main saloon.

Helped by the expanse of large windows and thin pillars, which allows in a wealth of natural light, the bright, airy saloon is most welcoming. Headroom is certainly not in short supply, further aiding comfort.

Having been ordered to a corporate charter specification, this coach is equipped with 36 seats, although 48 seats are supplied with the vehicle to allow for future reconfiguration.

The Fainsa Gala 1018 VIP luxury reclining seats are covered in real leather, with arm rests in the middle, as well as towards the aisle. There are five full-size tables. Legroom all round is generous. There are 24 230 volt power sockets of the three-pin integrated with contemporary USB ports variety, located along the body, allowing for future re-configuration of the seating layout.

A pair of 10.2-inch monitors are located around the continental door, and there is a 15-inch monitors on the toilet and a 19-inch drop down screen at the front.

While this coach was fitted with stylish, hard wearing carpet on the day of CBW’s test drive, the contemporary laminate-style wood effect flooring, which lies beneath it, could be seen around the steering column. Supplied by Altro, it is available in a range of colours.

The floor of the main saloon is flat, with theatre style at the front for about a third of the way, meaning there is no step to climb into the seating bays. LED lights decorate the floor, marking the gangway in a practical but stylish way. There are also lights mounted on the sidewalls between the radiators and floor. Not too bright so as to be intrusive, they leave nightime travellers in no doubt as to the the location of the radiator, aiding safety. While the night lights are blue, mood lighting is optional, including the colour red.

Full draw curtains tuck neatly into the window pillars, which are also the home of the emergency hammers. Contemporary-style metal coat hooks can be found on both B pillars for crew use. On that note, the courier seat reclines – and a panel by the courier seat is equipped with a USB port, light switch and microphone switch. Entertainment is provided by a Bosch Professional Line system, with Bluetooth functionality and gooseneck mic. A gooseneck microphone is also provided for the courier.

Heating and air-conditioning on the Elite was highly responsive. The coach is equipped with both convector saloon heaters and a Webasto pre-heater. The Thermo King X900/1004 air-conditioning has a heat coil in the roof, so warms up very quickly. The return panel for the air-conditioning in the centre of the roof. There is a separate air-conditioning function for the driver.

The aircraft-style overhead lockers look the part. Their design was changed three years ago, which saw the profile reduced by a couple of inches to enhance the passenger experience without loss of capacity.

A neat kitchen/ servery occupies the rear offside corner. Surprisingly spacious and practical given its compact size, it includes a microwave, a fridge, sink, variable speed extractor fan, hot water boiler, two shallow cup holders, litter bin and storage.

I liked the window being located on the offside as it allows a wealth of natural light in. There is a lot of headroom too – despite the floor at the rear being raised above the level of the main saloon.

A floor-mounted WC occupies the rear nearside, with fresh water flush from a 110-litre tank. Supplied by specialist coach toilet manufacturer Shades, the toilet system has been developed specifically for the Elite as a module. It can be illuminated with natural light thanks to the opaque glass window on what is the rear nearside of the coach. The WC itself includes a contemporary-looking carbon fibre-style lid and seat. A far cry from so many other ‘broom cupboard’ coach loos, the spacious area includes a mirror and hand dryer, together with an integrated sink and bin unit. There’s an emergency alarm too – a red button located on the sink/ bin unit.

Helpfully, the Elite offers a warning for the driver when the tank is nearly full, allowing the driver or crew member to take action or lock it out of use before it is full. This of course is not only useful, but may prevent the vehicle from being given a PG9 prohibition from DVSA as a full WC would mean it would be ‘defective.’ A smoke alarm for the toilet is also linked to the dashboard – and there’s a hard wired air freshener too.

Out on the road

Entry to the driving seat is straightforward – and it can be adjusted with ease. The comfortable Isri 6860NTS seat is fitted as standard on the Elite. It has heated functionality and also lane departure warning system, with the result that it vibrates and a red light shines on the windscreen to alert the driver if the coach veers over the white lines on the road without indicating. The controls can be found in intuitive, easy to reach locations – such as the retarder and cruise control on the steering column stalks, and headlights on the right-hand side of the dash.

The driver’s right hand side console includes three small wells, two of which are large enough to comfortably store a water bottle and coffee cup. Next to them is the diagnostics sockets.

The lockable drivers storage box behind the driving seat contains a rechargeable torch, and a fire extinguisher can be found beneath it on the floor. There is space between the box and the seat to comfortably stow a driver’s bag.

Jumping in the driving seat while the coach was still inside the showroom at Scarborough, I instantly felt at home. I knew this was a vehicle I would enjoy being at the controls of. It certainly didn’t feel like 14m long – or approximately 45 feet if you prefer.

Engaging gear using the lever on the driver’s right hand side console, and after releasing the handbrake alongside it, the coach crept slowly out of a tight spot in the corner of the showroom.

Assisted by the unobtrusive A-pillars, I found the excellent gullwing mirrors came into their own when manoeuvring out of the showroom, from where the Elite was parked next to two double-decker buses. The extra offside mirror proved to be an invaluable aid too. I then had to swing the coach to turn right, but it was accomplished with ease.

After turning the coach round, which was no effort thanks again to its manoeuvrability and excellent visibility, we left Plaxton’s factory site.

We headed south along the A64 to Malton. The main road includes some wide, straight stretches, meaning a coach can safely travel at 50mph.

I found I used the side mirror routinely, such as when an HGV or tractor passed, just as I was taught to do at Tanat Valley Coaches.

With a clear road, I overtook a slow-moving tractor along a straight with the utmost ease. The coach is highly responsive – I felt I had a bank of power behind me, and the gearbox was ultra smooth. Changes were literally seamless.

Thanks to the mirrors, I was able to confidently re-join the correct side of the road without hesitation.
Easing off the accelerator, the coach slowed down smoothly for the speed restrictions through the villages. The retarder came into its own on the slip road off the A64 dual-carriageway. The excellent visibility out the cab window – helped by the mass of glazing and thin A-pillars – made life easy when joining the roundabout to take up the A169 towards Pickering.

I stopped the coach smoothly at the roadworks taking place in connection with the shale gas project just north of the island. I felt comfortable and confident in negotiating the extra narrow lanes, lined with traffic cones and other obstacles. The coach rode well over the undulating surface – to the extent even I felt coffee would not be spilt. On the open road, I opened the coach out – it was comfortably quick.

I slowed down for a particular large layby, which was ideal to take photos – there being a wide grass area to provide foreground and background, and no interruption from passing traffic – but the entrance was blocked. I decided to reverse in from the other end instead. Again, the Elite was easy to manoeuvre. Steering was just nice – it was not too light or heavy.

In addition to the in-dash door switches, there is a discrete door control located by the courier seat for the driver to shut the door as s/he disembarks.

After our camera shutters had clocked up a bank of overtime, we re-joined the A169 towards Pickering. Visibility was helped by the mirrors and large windows to the side and rear of the driver on the offside.

We turned right at the roundabout in the centre of Pickering to take up the A170 back to Scarborough. Members of the public were noticeably admiring the coach – the tri-axle Elite is a real head turner. Such was its manoeuvrability that the coach belied its length.

Out in the Vale of Pickering’s pleasant open countryside, the coach reached a good turn of speed, but with a smooth ride. Some minor noise was noticeable in the saloon, but nothing too obtrusive. Climbing the gradients, the coach was responsive – and it handled well, being virtually glued to the road, making the driving experience all the more pleasant.

As we headed back into Scarborough towards the Plaxton factory in Eastfield, I was pleased that I had enjoyed my first experience of the not only the Elite, but also the Euro 6 B11R.

CBW verdict

I was impressed overall with the Elite. As a driver, it was most enjoyable – it was far from tiring. Visibility was excellent, and such was its manoeuvrability that it didn’t feel like a 14m coach. I also liked the inclusion of features many of us take for granted in our private cars, such as heated windows.

The Elite is primarily targeted at the premium touring market – it’s intended to serve as a flagship vehicle. I feel it has kerbside appeal – the front glazed dome is attractive both inside and out. I also like the chrome detail around headlights – a neat touch, which is classy rather than ‘blingy.’ I also liked the interior finishing – particularly the WC and servery.

verall, the Elite is an impressive coach, offering a wealth of features, and is built on a proven Volvo chassis, with all the benefits that brings.[/wlm_ismember]