MAN Lion's Coach Aerodynamic Rear Wheel

[gibsonlp]

Hello.

I am new to this forum and I have noticed that some commercial vehicle manufacturers are really pushing for consumption and efficiency in their vehicle catalog. Such as MAN Truck & Bus with the MAN Lions Coach which is has aerodynamic mudguards for fuel saving . It's the only Coach on the European market I have seen with this feature















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[freebeard]

Welcome.

The larger square panel constitutes a 'bubble skirt' and reconciles the face of the wheel to the vehicles side. The smaller partial skirt is flat, which I usually see as a problem, but it works on the side of a bus. Do you think the larger panel is detachable? Am I right in thinking the front is the same as the rear minus the partial skirt?

Overall, I find the rear-view mirrors most interesting.

[rumdog]

Welcome gibsonlp. Nice lookin skirts on a pretty dang smooth bus. It needs a tail/bike rack to finish off the aero!

[gibsonlp]

The rear panel can be removed as shown in the photo below. The front is exactly the same as the rear but just has the mudguard. Rumdog: I think the skirts look great on the bus. Especially when has polished rims. It makes it stand out amongst the others. When you see the bus in person its special. If you look closely you will see the spoiler on the rear. There was a more pronounced one at one stage. I think you can get a bike rack or ski rack optional. Stunning bus though!

[freebeard]

Here's the bus local to me:


http://zeteo.com/mar/index.php/local-tra/

Twice skirts.

...some articulated buses made by NABI (North American Bus Industries). NABI is an outgrowth of Ikarus USA which was in turn a subsidiary of Ikarus in Hungary. To make a long story short, NABI now have a bus manufacturing operation in Anniston, Alabama, where they produce a range of transit buses including the subject of this review, a hybrid articulated bus which operates on selected routes between Eugene and nearby Springfield, a distance of four miles.

[gibsonlp]

That has a similar skirt to the MAN. Are they removable too just like on the MAN? a nice bus as well are they new in the USA? Your buses always look so tough and well made. What is the American equivalent of Euro 6?

[freebeard]

https://www.ltd.org/west-eugene-emx/

Yes, removable. This pic shows the mirrors better. Watch your head if you're standing at the curb! I call the stuff all over the roof Duck Poop™.

They've been in service for a number of years. But I remember when LTD ran Forest Green Chevy school buses.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Euro+6? I don't know, ask VW or Chrysler.

[gibsonlp]

I've noticed the Mirrors on the bus are completely different. The MAN has larger Mirrors and an air conditioning unit on top which blends in to the body. Would you say the articulated bus fairs better here compared to the MAN when aerodynamics are considered?

[freebeard]

The two pictures I've shown are the two ends of a 4 mile route. The one 'high speed' section past Judkin's Point is maybe a quarter mile long. More conventional buses serve the rest of the area, and often at highway speeds.

I think the mirror's are similar. The local fire departments also use them, hung from the ends of stalks that move the mirror out of the area around the A-pillar. So while I think it's for visibility, there is some aerodynamic advantage there.

Above that panel break that runs above the side doors is all air conditioning and IIRC hybrid batteries.