USA
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new Tourrider, designed specially for the US market. Featuring a ‘TopSky’ panorama glass roof, and available with a choice of two cockpits with a number of driver assistance and safety systems, Mercedes-Benz says the new Tourrider represents a milestone moment for motorcoaches in North America.
Tailored to the North American market, the new coach is a tri-axle high-deck vehicle with a length of 45’ (13.72m) and offered in two model variants, the Tourrider Business and Tourrider Premium. The Tourrider Business is designed to meet ‘sophisticated expectations’ while the Premium is a luxury coach that the manufacturer says ‘fulfills all the expectations of First Class.’
The coach has been designed to be recognisable as a member of the Mercedes-Benz brand with its chrome-framed grille with centrally-placed star. While the Tourrider Business uses individual dome headlamps, the Tourrider Premium, on the other hand, makes use of exclusively developed LED integral headlamps, though the two have the same outward appearance. The rear of the Tourrider Premium features a trapezoidal rear window with integrated star typical of the brand while the Business sports a V-shaped black cover panel with louvres that the firm says pay homage to the shape of early American muscle cars.
Inside, the Tourrider Premium’s passenger cabin is raised by six centimetres compared to the Business. Both versions can be supplied with up to two wheelchair spaces and automatic lift above the drive axle. The Tourrider Premium offers the option of a Top Sky panorama glass roof.
At the heart of the drive system, and used exclusively in coaches for North America is the in-line six-cylinder 12.8-litre Mercedes-Benz OM471 engine, which delivers 450hp (336kW) and attains a maximum torque level of 2300Nm. Exhaust gas recirculation and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology is fitted as standard, and transmission is handled by the Allison WTB 500R torque converter automatic transmission.
