MANmagazine Bus edition 1/2015

1/2015 

International 

On the road with green public transport 

Clean commute 

in Stockholm

MAN MAGAZINE 


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04 Ecological envoys 

In Spain, Alberto Gómez and José Luis Soria 

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The best of MAN’s world 

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS of MAN’s century-old 

experience in commercial vehicle 

design and manufacturing? Why is Stockholm 

a pioneer in green public transport? And why 

was the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG named “Bus 

of the Year 2015”? This third issue of MANmagazine 

offers answers to these and other interesting 

questions. It reflects the world of MAN: 

a world shaped by technology, with fascinating 

topics drawn from the realm of trucks and 

buses all the way to the turbines and engines 

that are deployed in ships or power plants. 

We hope you enjoy this edition of MANmagazine. 

You can also download the digital 

tablet version for free, which is available on 

iOS and Android. 

MASTHEAD 

MAN MAGAZINE is published twice a year 

in 16 languages. 

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director, Berlin) and Mr. Rainer Burkhardt (managing 

director, Berlin) with 50% each. 

EDITORS & AUTHORS Klaus-Peter Hilger (resp.), 

Yasmine Sailer (dep.). Freelance authors: Tobias Birzer, 

Alexandra Grossmann, Dr. Wolfgang Hörner, 

Martin Kaluza, Sarah Paulus, Marcus Schick, 

André Schmidt-Carré, Miryam Torrecilla 

INTERNATIONAL EDITORS Patricia Preston 

(resp., freelance editor), Asa. C. Tomash 

MANAGING EDITOR Sara Austen 

CONCEPT Stefan Lemle, A New Kind 

(freelance contributor) 

GRAPHICS Micheline Pollach, Andrea Hüls, Christian 

Kühn, Anna-Sophie Werner (freelance contributor) 

GRAPHICS EDITOR Elke Latinovic, 

André Kirsch (freelance contributor) 

COVER IMAGE Daniel Blom 

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Photos: APPLE INC. Pr 

22 

34 

COVER STORY 

Stockholm is a trendsetter in terms of clean public transport, 

with MAN supplying the innovative bus technologies. 

40 

06 Prize-winning design 

The NEOPLAN Jetliner coach won the 

German Design Award 2015. 

08 Rocking the desert 

MAN racing vehicles and service trucks 

successfully mastered the Dakar Rally. 

10 Current cruising 

Engines by MAN Diesel & Turbo drive the 

luxury vessels of Norwegian Cruise Lines. 

12 Ready for the future 

The key milestones of MAN’s century-old 

tradition in commercial vehicle production 

18 News 

Current news in MAN’s world 

22 Välkommen ombord! 

Stockholm revs up 

Hybrid and biogas buses serve the capital of 

Sweden. 

28 In a league of its own 

The team coach for the FC Bayern Munich 

soccer team is built in Turkey’s Ankara. 

32 Addition to the coach family 

Augmenting MAN’s portfolio is the standard 

regional coach Lion’s Intercity. 

34 Closer to the clouds 

Comfort, efficiency, design and safety: the 

NEOPLAN Skyliner’s valued features 

38 The sandman 

Peter Meyer shuttles tourists around 

Fraser Island in a converted MAN truck. 

40 Clean winner 

The MAN Lion’s City GL CNG was named 

“Bus of the Year 2015”. 

44 Under ground 

Reporting for mine duty, an MAN truck 

travels underground in pieces. 

48 Systematic safety 

A wide range of MAN assistance systems 

improves the safety of bus traffic. 

02 03

man magazine 


Quiet and comfortable: driver José 

Luis Soria appreciates the comfort 

and low noise level of the hybrid bus. 

What routes do the buses cover? José 

Luis Soria: The buses operate in the city centres 

of Valdemoro and Aranjuez, not far from 

Madrid. It’s a low average speed, with a lot of 

stops and large numbers of passengers. On 

routes like this, the hybrid technology is particularly 

beneficial. 

How do passengers react to the buses? 

José Luis Soria: They’re very happy, especially 

the pensioners, because of the easy access. 

The bus can be quickly lowered quite a way at 

stops, to make it easier for people to board. 

Also, the broad seats with arm rests have been 

very well received. 

Is special training needed to be operating 

the MAN Lion’s City Hybrid? Alberto 

Gómez: We did have special training. First we 

took a course on hybrid technology and safety 

precautions. After that we received a few 

driving lessons. 

How much fuel does the bus save in 

comparison with a standard diesel bus? 

José Luis Soria: On average it comes to 25% 

fuel savings, which also means lower CO 2 

emissions. It is our goal to get the maximum 

savings out of the hybrid technology. We 

manage this by operating the vehicles for 

long shifts. 

What does the environment mean to 

you personally? Alberto Gómez : For me personally, 

the environment is a very important 

issue and I am happy to be making a contribution 

to climate protection by driving an environmentally 

friendly vehicle. 

25 % 

fuel savings 

With their hybrid technology, Aisa’s MAN 

Lion’s City buses cut diesel consumption 

by as much as 25%. 

my man 

Ecological 

The Spanish transport company Aisa uses 

two environmentally friendly Lion’s City Hybrid 

buses for municipal transport in Valdemoro 

and Aranjuez. The drivers José Luis Soria and 

Alberto Gómez talk about their daily working 

life with the new buses. 

envoys 

What do you think of the new hybrid 

buses? Alberto Gómez: The bus is great to 

drive. The driver’s cabin is extremely comfortable, 

especially the seat. This makes my 

work even more enjoyable. 

So what makes these vehicles special? 

José Luis Soria: I think it remarkable how very 

quiet the bus is, while handling so smoothly. 

Photos: Juan Caraballo 

For the benefit of the environment: 

Alberto Gómez is proud to be driving 

a clean bus and thereby contributing to 

environmental conservation. 

04 

05

man magazine 


Prize-winning 

Design 

Characteristic for NEOPLAN: The 

Jetliner is dynamic, well proportioned 

and powerful, as well as elegant. 

Illustrations: MAN 

Powerful, dynamic, elegant. Descriptions 

often used to define sports cars actually 

also apply to the NEOPLAN Jetliner. This 

coach, part of the mid-decker segment, is 

groundbreaking in terms of both technology 

and design. That judgement was shared by 

the jury of the German Design Award 2015, 

which gave an award to the NEOPLAN Jetliner 

for its exceptional design quality in the 

“Excellent Product Design – Transportation 

and Public Design” category. Based i n Frankfurt 

am Main, the German Design Council has 

honoured outstanding design achievements 

with the annual German Design Award for the 

past 60 years. 

Among the distinguishing features of 

MAN’s Jetliner are powerful proportions with 

forward-thrusting dynamics. “Because of its 

dynamic design and especially the streamlined 

sides, the coach has a really fluid and 

forward-moving appearance. It looks as 

though it’s already in motion while it’s still 

stationary,” says Stephan Schönherr, Vice 

President Design Bus at MAN. The smooth 

surface, drag coefficient-optimised silhouette 

and clearly defined lines are all typical of the 

NEOPLAN image. The premium design standards 

are also reflected by the vehicle’s interior, 

offering both driver and passengers a pleasant 

atmosphere with maximum functionality. 

According to Stephan Schönherr and his 

successful design team, the coach is shaped 

by a comprehensive approach that incorporates 

holistic elements and the harmony 

between interior and exterior characteristics. 

“The NEOPLAN Jetliner definitely deserved 

this award. We reinterpreted an already established 

concept, thus significantly modernising 

the vehicle as the youngest representative 

of the NEOPLAN brand.” 

Since 2002, MAN and NEOPLAN brand 

coaches have received a total of 12 accolades 

for design, including the prestigious Red Dot 

Design Award and the iF DESIGN AWARD. 

An image gallery of design prizes and an 

interview with Stephan Schönherr are available 

at > www.man.eu/discovermanbusdesign 

06 

07

man magazine 


Rocking 

the 

desert 

Three countries, 9,000 kilometres, 

43° Celsius maximum temperature, 4,500 metres 

altitude: In this year’s Dakar Rally through 

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, the trucks were 

once again pushed to the limits of endurance. 

The 15 participating MAN vehicles withstood 

the extreme conditions especially well: In the 

overall rankings, two MAN prototypes crewed 

by the VEKA racing team made it into the top 

10, coming in fourth and eighth. In the category 

of vehicles close to production, MAN even 

finished in first and second place, and also 

managed a decisive lead in the three-axle 

class. This result not only made MAN the second-best 

manufacturer in the top 10 after 

Kamaz, but also delivered yet another success 

story: Out of MAN’s 15 racing trucks, only one 

vehicle malfunctioned due to a technical defect. 

This serves to prove the outstanding robustness 

of MAN racers, as well as the sterling 

work of the MAN service team. With thousands 

of replacement parts and in-depth competence 

in case of complicated repairs, the official 

MAN service truck lent much support, 

while 50 additional MAN brand trucks carried 

parts and equipment needed en route by the 

participating teams. 

The MAN works team led by Hans Echter, 

Hans-Werner Nell and Josef Kreppold also celebrated 

a special anniversary at this year’s 

Dakar Rally. The three mechanics have been 

starting in the now South American desert 

event for a full decade. “It is quite normal that 

teams will stay together for three or four 

years,” says Josef Kreppold. “Yet to find the 

same team starting with the same vehicle for 

10 years in a row is absolutely exceptional and 

totally unique as a combination.” 

Photo: Leon Jansen/ Dakarpress.com 

One of the front runners: Carrying 

the number 503, the MAN prototype 

starting for the VEKA racing team 

took fourth place in the overall ranking. 

08 

09

man magazine 


Current 

cruising 

Modern machinery: Four-stroke MAN engines with 

common rail injection power the Breakaway class. 

Home port New York: Norwegian 

Cruise Line operates vessels for 

luxury cruises in the Caribbean. 

Photos: gettyimages, Ingrid Fieback 

certainly not a common sight, the anchored 

vessel rising up against the skyline of 

Manhattan. It is decidedly not one of the 

small ferries shuttling to and from the Statue 

of Liberty and Staten Island, but rather one of 

the world’s largest and most modern cruise 

ships. The US-based shipping company Norwegian 

Cruise Line (NCL) sails the eastern waters 

of the Caribbean with its ships Norwegian 

Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. Both vessels 

are part of NCL’s Breakaway class, each 

with room for 4,028 guests and a crew of 1,640, 

and designed to fundamentally improve the 

cruising experience. 

With the new ships built by the Meyer 

Werft in Papenburg, Germany, the shipyard 

relied on the know-how and experience of 

MAN Diesel & Turbo to supply state-of-the-art 

engines for the luxury vessels. Thus, MAN 

equipped both the Norwegian Breakaway and 

Norwegian Getaway with two 12V and two 14V 

48/60CR four-stroke medium-speed diesel 

engines, each with with common rail injection. 

Together, the four engines per ship 

deliver a performance of 84,840 hp. “Our 

common rail injection system offers a much 

better performance than conventional engines,” 

explains Benjamin Andres, Head of 

Order Management Cruise & Ferry at MAN 

Diesel & Turbo. “We are rather proud to contribute 

to the NCL fleet, thus helping to shape 

the future of modern cruising.” 

Among the unusual characteristics of 

ships in the Breakaway class is the Freestyle 

Cruising concept, with no set meal times or 

formal dress code, but rather a brand-new 

deck design with easier passenger access to 

shops, restaurants and bars. Another four 

ships will be added by 2019 as part of the new 

Breakaway Plus line: The maiden voyage for 

the Norwegian Escape is scheduled for fall of 

2015, with the Norwegian Bliss set to follow in 

2016. Another two vessels are planned for 

2018 and 2019. 

10 

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man magazine 


Ready for 

the future 

1915 

Looking back on a history 

of more than 250 years, 

the MAN Group celebrates 

yet another significant 

anniversary in 2015: The 

history of commercial 

vehicle construction at 

MAN began a century ago. 

An overview of the most 

important milestones. 

E 

ntered into the trade register of 

the City of Nuremberg on 21 June 

1915 was a new company, namely 

“Lastwagenwerke M.A.N.-Saurer”. The company 

had been established as a joint venture 

between Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg 

AG and Saurer, a Swiss producer of commercial 

vehicles. Soon thereafter, the first MAN- 

Saurer three-tonne truck left the joint factory 

in Lindau, Germany, on Lake Constance, followed 

by the first buses used as long-distance 

coaches by the Imperial Post Office, and transporting 

passengers as well as letters and 

parcels. This was the beginning of commercial 

vehicle construction at MAN, a success story 

that has not only decisively shaped the history 

of the company itself. With its advanced and 

often revolutionary innovations, MAN has significantly 

influenced the development of 

trucks and buses for the last 100 years – an endeavour 

that continues to this very day. 

Production shifted to the MAN plant in 

Nuremberg in 1916 and the company traded 

as “M.A.N. Lastwagenwerke” following the departure 

of Sauer two years later. In 1924, MAN 

presented the first truck with a direct dieselinjection 

engine – which formed the basis for 

the triumphant deployment of diesel engines 

in truck construction. It saved up to 75% of 

operating costs compared with the gasoline 

engines common at the time. Back then, 

economy and efficiency were already two 

1924 

In cooperation with the Saurer company, MAN 

builds the first trucks and buses in Lindau in 

southern Germany. One year later, production 

moves to MAN’s plant in Nuremberg. MAN develops the first vehicle 

engine with direct diesel 

injection. This launches the 

triumphant success story of 

diesel engines in trucks – 

which continues until today. 

1951 

The first German truck 

engine with exhaust turbocharging 

achieves a 35% 

performance improvement 

over conventional truck 

engines: the six-cylinder 

engine MAN 1546 GT with 

175 hp instead of 130 hp. 

1961 

With the 750 HO, MAN introduces the first bus with 

a modular chassis for city and regional buses as 

well as travel coaches to the market. 

1897 

Together with MAN 

engineers, Rudolf 

Diesel develops the 

first diesel engine. 

1932 

With 140 hp, the MAN 

S1H6 is the world’s most 

powerful diesel truck. 

A year later, MAN even 

markets a truck model 

with 150 hp. 

Photos: Historical Archive MAN Truck & Bus 

1951 

The MAN truck F8 with its V8 

180-hp engine becomes a flagship 

of Germany’s emerging “economic 

miracle” period. 

1955 

The production of trucks, buses and 

tractors moves from Nuremberg to 

the new plant in Munich. The first 

truck coming off the production line 

is an MAN 515 L1. Engine production 

remains in Nuremberg. 

12 

13

man magazine 


essential development targets of MAN, objectives 

that still apply today. That same year, 

MAN produced the first low-floor bus with a 

specially designed low-frame chassis. Until 

then, buses previously built by MAN had been 

based on a truck chassis. 

In 1928, MAN presented its first threeaxle 

truck, which became the precursor of all 

subsequent heavy-duty trucks made by MAN. 

In 1932, the S1H6 truck was equipped with a 

D4086 diesel engine that delivered 140 hp – 

then considered the most powerful diesel 

truck in the world. The next technical milestone 

was reached in 1937 with the development 

of an extremely fuel-efficient directinjection 

diesel engine and the introduction 

of the all-wheel drive. 

Trucks were much in demand during reconstruction 

work after World War II. In the 

1950s, the MAN F8 with its 180-hp V8 motor 

advanced to the flagship of the economic 

miracle period experienced by a still-young 

Federal Republic of Germany. As early as 1951, 

MAN was already demonstrating its level 

of innovation when it introduced the first 

German truck engine with exhaust gas turbocharging. 

The six-cylinder engine achieved 

175 hp with an 8.72-litre displacement, a 

remarkable performance increase of 35%. In 

1955, MAN moved truck and bus production 

to its new site in Munich. The Nuremberg 

plant evolved into the centre of competence 

for engine production. 

MAN also repeatedly proved its innovative 

powers in bus construction. In 1961, 

the company introduced the market to the 

750 HO, the first bus in modular design. 

Different structure variants were mounted 

on a standardised chassis for regular line 

service and regional buses, as well as longdistance 

travel coaches. 

140 

horsepower 

In 1932, MAN’s S1H6 with its 140-hp 

engine was the world’s strongest diesel 

truck. Issued one year later was an even 

more powerful version with 150 hp. 


When acquiring Büssing Automobilwerke 

and the company’s plant in Salzgitter in 1971, 

MAN adopted Büssing’s specialised underfloor 

engine technology as well as the specific 

Büssing logo for its own corporate identity. 

The stylised Brunswick Lion has since decorated 

the radiator grille of all commercial 

vehicles made by MAN. In the late 1970s, MAN 

began a collaboration with VW in the lighttruck 

segment, with the G-series’ six- and 

eight-tonne trucks jointly produced until 

1993. Today, MAN is part of the VW Group. 

the show horses of MAN have always 

remained the short-hooded trucks for 

construction work and heavy-duty forwardcontrolled 

trucks for long-distance transport 

– including the 19.280 type that was the first 

MAN truck to receive the “Truck of the Year” 

award in 1978. Numerous awards followed, 

such as for the MAN F90 introduced in 1986 

and recognised as “Truck of the Year” the following 

year. Especially the generous driver’s 

cab of the F90 left a lasting impression. Then 

as today, driver ergonomics and comfort have 

always been of major concern for MAN designers. 

The most successful truck model of 

the 1990s was the F2000. The heavy-duty series 

already featured standard engines with 

electronic injection control back in 1994. 

MAN buses also had their milestones. In 

1992, MAN presented the Lion’s Star, a travel 

coach that would shape the names of all MAN 

bus generations to come. With drag coefficient 

value of 0.41, the long-distance highdecker 

was especially aerodynamic and therefore 

fuel-efficient. 

New innovations marked the entry into a 

new millennium. In 2000, the “Trucknology 

Generation Type A”, or TGA series, set new 

standards in terms of comfort and ergonomics, 

as well as new technologies such as the 

“The past and 

present success of 

MAN is defined by 

industry expertise, 

customer focus and 

innovative drive.” 

Henning Stibbe, Head of the Historical Archive, 

MAN Truck & Bus 

1977 

Start of a collaboration with Volkswagen 

Nutzfahrzeuge to develop a light vehicle 

range from 6 to 10 tonnes gross weight. 

Production of the so-called VW-MAN joint 

series begins in 1979. 

1986 

MAN introduces the F90 series, with a 

completely new driver’s cab, to the market. 

1992 

The travel coach MAN Lion’s Star 

enters the market and is named 

“Coach of the Year”. 

2000 

The presentation of the Trucknology Generation TGA 

is the starting point of a major product campaign. 

1971 

MAN acquires the ÖAF and 

Büssing Automobilwerke. 

The Büssing lion is adopted 

in MAN’s logo. 

1978 

MAN receives the “Truck of the 

Year” award for the first time, 

with the 19.280 model. 

2001 

MAN acquires the brands 

NEOPLAN, ERF and Star. 

14 

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man magazine 


MAN TipMatic or MAN Comfort-Shift for optimised 

gear changing. Acquiring the NEOPLAN 

brand in 2001 strengthened MAN’s position in 

the premium travel-coach segment. 

Introducing the D20 engines with common 

rail injection in 2004 was a real milestone 

in engine technology. MAN was the 

first commercial vehicle manufacturer to 

convert all its engines to this economical and 

environmentally friendly, electronically controlled 

injection method. MAN also modernised 

the light and medium series by introducing 

the TGL and the TGM in 2005. Meeting 

Euro 4, the exhaust gas standard at the time, 

could be achieved through a combination of 

exhaust gas recycling and particle filters 

without any additives such as AdBlue. Two 

years later, two models were to succeed the 

TGA in the heavy-duty series: While the TGX 

is designed for long-distance transport, the 

TGS operates in the areas of traction and 

heavy-duty distribution. Both MAN models 

received the “Truck of the Year” award for the 

seventh time – an industry record. 

In 2010, MAN began serial production of a 

city bus with a hybrid drive, the Lion’s City 

Hybrid. Due to its innovative hybrid drive, 

this vehicle saves up to 30% in fuel. The model 

quickly became a huge success and received 

the ÖkoGlobe Award in 2011 and the Green Bus 

Award in 2012 for its sustainable concept. 

The development of resource-saving and 

environmentally friendly vehicles has 

always been one of the main objectives of 

MAN Truck & Bus. Meeting the latest exhaust 

gas standard Euro 6 was a challenge met by 

MAN in 2012 with its latest generation of TG 

vehicles. These fulfil the strictest requirements 

with maximum fuel efficiency. In the 

autumn of 2014, MAN introduced the latest 

engine generation D38, representing the 

“This century-old 

success story 

wrote the basis 

for a future filled 

with ideas and an 

innovative spirit.” 

Dr. Georg Pachta-Reyhofen, 

Chief Executive Officer, MAN SE 

current culmination of 100 years of engine 

development for commercial vehicles. Utilising 

a two-stage turbocharger, the frugal Euro 

6 diesel engines reach up to 640 hp. 

driving factors in today’s product development 

include sustainability and corporate 

climate goals, as well as policy frameworks 

and the limited availability of fossil fuels. 

MAN is therefore investigating the advanced 

development of various alternative drive concepts. 

In future, hybrid drives in commercial 

vehicles will be part of the drive concept in all 

application areas. Urban buses already use a 

serial diesel/electric hybrid drive. As for the 

commercial vehicles sector, MAN introduced 

the TGX Hybrid at the 2014 IAA exhibit as a 

concept vehicle for a TCO-optimised truck hybrid 

drive in long-distance transport. An allelectrically-operated 

heavy truck with Range 

Extender for operating in urban environs, the 

Metropolis research vehicle conceptualised 

by MAN is currently in its test phase. 

Compressed natural gas (CNG) and biogas 

are already available as alternatives. Engines 

suitable for CNG can also run on biogas in an 

almost CO 2 -neutral manner, as exemplified 

by the new Lion’s City GL CNG natural gas articulated 

vehicle that won the “Bus of the Year 

2015” award. The established range of natural 

gas city buses will be supplemented by trucks 

with a CNG drive in 2016. 

Future-forecast analysts investigate global 

megatrends and define the direction for developing 

future vehicle generations. In its predevelopment, 

MAN is working on vehicles that 

no longer require a driver for certain activities, 

such as safety vehicles securing motorway 

construction sites. These and other entirely 

new ideas will serve MAN Truck & Bus in 

continuously driving the advancement of 

state-of-the-art commercial vehicles in future. 

250 years of 

MAN history 

While MAN has built commercial vehicles for 

a century, the historical roots of today’s MAN 

Group can be traced back to three starting 

points: the founding of the St. Antony ironworks 

in Oberhausen in 1758 as well as the 

Sandersche Maschinenfabrik in 1840 and 

the establishment of the Eisengießerei und 

Maschinenfabrik Klett & Comp in Nuremberg 

in 1841. In 1878, the St. Antony ironworks 

merged with two other ironworks in the Ruhr 

area to form the “Gutehoffnungshütte” (GHH), 

while the two southern German predecessor 

companies merged to form Maschinenfabrik 

Augsburg-Nürnberg AG in 1898 – abbreviated 

to the name MAN. From 1893 to 1897, Rudolf 

Diesel developed the first diesel engine in this 

Augsburg factory, which provided the basis 

for later engine generations in MAN’s 

commercial vehicle construction. In 1921, 

MAN and GHH merged to form the company 

still existing today, which has been part of 

the VW Group since 2011. 

2005 

2010 

The market launch of the TGL 

and TGM models in the light- and 

medium-weight class from 

7.5 to 26 tonnes completes the 

MAN Trucknology Generation. 

The MAN Hybrid 

city bus enters 

series production. 

2014 

The new D38 Euro 6 engines are 

offered for the MAN TGX series with 

520 hp to 640 hp. 

2004 

Introduction of the D20 Common Rail 

engine series offers an entirely new, 

electronically controlled injection 

technology. 

2007 

In the heavy-duty truck series, the TGA 

develops into the MAN TGS and TGX models. 

Both are awarded the “Truck of the Year 

2008” title by trade journalists. 


2011 

Return of a 

legend: The 

double-decker 

NEOPLAN 

Skyliner re-enters 

the market. 

2012 

Premiere: Euro-6 compliant MAN TG vehicles 

in the TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX series 

2015 

The articulated natural gas Lion’s City 

GL CNG is named “Bus of the Year”. 

16 

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man magazine 


For a green future: MAN intends 

to cut CO 2 emission levels 

of 2008 by 25% until 2020. 

Imperial Cargo keeps 

counting on MAN 

Climate goal in sight 

The photovoltaic system renders the MAN plant in 

Pinetown, South Africa, a climate-neutral site. 

In 2014, the MAN Group saved more than 

105,000 tonnes of CO 2 as compared with the 

reference year 2008, which amounts to more 

than 19% less harmful climate gas. Accordingly, 

the company succeeded in reducing its CO 2 

emissions by another 5% compared with the 

previous year. As MAN takes its corporate responsibility 

for climate protection seriously, 

the company developed a climate strategy in 

2011. The target: a reduction of annual CO 2 

emissions at all production sites by 25% until 

2020 in comparison with the base year 2008. 

That amounts to 135,000 tonnes less CO 2 each 

year, roughly the equivalent of emissions 

produced by a small German town of 15,000 

residents. With the results for 2014, MAN has 

taken another step towards reaching this 

target. The successful outcome has resulted 

from a multitude of measures to effectively 

reduce CO 2 emissions. These include not only 

more efficient technologies in the production 

process, but also optimised heating and 

ventilation systems or the use of renewable 

energy sources. 

One outstanding measure contributing to 

climate targets at MAN Truck & Bus was the 

installation of a photovoltaic system at its 

Pinetown site in South Africa. Since December 

2014, the system has supplied the truck and 

bus chassis production plant with clean energy. 

This makes Pinetown a climate-neutral site 

as of 2015, while the solar system also renders 

it independent of energy price fluctuations. 

Thus, the investment will be amortised in just 

a few years. Another example of environmental 

protection initiatives is MAN Diesel & 

Turbo’s site in Frederikshavn, Denmark, where 

a system recovering the exhaust heat from 

an engine testing centre supplies about 250 

households with district heating. 

Photos: Shutterstock, MAN 

Futuristic design: Presented at the 2014 IAA trade show, 

the MAN TGX Hybrid demonstrates the advantages of a 

hybrid drive with lower CO 2 emissions and fuel usage. 

Hybrid truck concept 

Hybrid drives are likely to play an important 

role in powering the commercial vehicles 

of the future. With its TGX Hybrid, MAN has 

for the first time introduced a hybrid vehicle 

concept for long-distance transport. The 

truck is powered by a parallel hybrid system, 

combining a 440-hp diesel engine and an 

electric engine with an output of 130 kilowatts. 

While the diesel engine serves as the 

main drive, the electrical motor operates in 

overrun mode and as a generator when braking. 

Thereby regained energy is stored in a 

battery and utilised in uphill road conditions 

to support the diesel engine torque. With its 

fuel savings, the TGX Hybrid reduces its CO 2 

emissions by approximately 8%. 

300 

TGS for Egypt 

Petroleum Arrows, Egypt’s national 

company for fuel logistics, is modernising 

its fleet with the addition of 300 MAN 

tractor-trailer units. The company has 

maintained MAN trucks in its fleet for 

decades. The associated tanker 

semitrailers will be delivered by Egyptian 

MAN importer Gorica. 

based in South Africa and Namibia, 

the logistics expert Imperial Cargo has 

just expanded its fleet by adding 60 MAN 

TGS trucks for long-haul transport. The 

60 new vehicles will cover on average 

16,000 kilometres per month, or practically 

200,000 kilometres in a year. They 

supplement the 44 TGS vehicles already 

owned by the company. 

Christo Theron, Managing Director of 

the Imperial Cargo Group, trusts his positive 

experience with MAN’s TGS model in 

the past: “We subject every new truck that 

we add to our fleet to strenuous tests, 

especially with regard to fuel consumption. 

The MAN TGS vehicles in our longhaul 

fleet score impressively with a 10% 

lower consumption rate compared with 

other brands.” The trucks are typically 

operated with two trailers attached, explains 

Theron. “Each truck transports a 

payload of around 36 tonnes. The TGS 

offers the perfect balance between 

performance, payload and efficient fuel 

consumption, so the overall operating 

costs achieved will set new standards. 

Our drivers are delighted with the MAN 

vehicles, as they are very comfortable and 

easy to handle. Another important factor 

for us is the customer service we receive 

from MAN’s branch in Cape Town. Response 

times are short, and we are in regular 

contact with them for planning our 

scheduled servicing.” Imperial Cargo 

serves long-distance routes in South Africa 

and Namibia, as well as in the neighbouring 

countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, 

Angola, Botswana and Mozambique. 

MAN TGS power for Africa: The trucks of the South African logistics company Imperial Cargo 

operate in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Botswana and Mozambique. 

18 

19

man magazine 


815 

buses for german rail 

DB Regio Bus, Germany’s largest bus 

travel provider, placed an order with 

MAN Truck & Bus for up to 435 

municipal and regional buses for 2015 

and 2016, amounting to a value of 

around €100 million. The subsidiary of 

Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) retains the 

option of ordering an additional 380 

municipal and regional buses for the 

years 2017 and 2018. The framework 

agreement with MAN specifies modern 

municipal and regional buses of models 

MAN Lion’s City, MAN Lion’s City Ü and 

MAN Lion’s City G/GÜ. 

Controlling costs with MAN’s TCO tool 

When purchasing a new truck, overall 

cost calculation ought to place a strong emphasis 

on the total cost of ownership (TCO) – 

namely the total operating costs for the vehicle 

from procurement through retirement. To 

enable customers to work out the TCO of their 

future MAN truck or bus in a fast and reliable 

fashion, MAN Truck & Bus now offers a TCO 

Optimizer tool. Available on the MAN website, 

this online calculator allows for listing all the 

important factors, such as fuel consumption 

and the cost of repairs and servicing. In addition, 

it shows how intelligent MAN solutions 

provide the basis for cutting costs and proficiently 

maximise potential. The TCO calculator 

can be found at > www.man.eu/tco-optimizer 

Market leader for the 12th time 

The world’s 

largest engine 

Alongside the MAN B&W 12S90ME-C Mark 9.2, 

an adult human being looks positively tiny. It is, after 

all, the largest engine ever built. Measuring 

more than 15 metres in height, the two-stroke diesel 

engine provides the drive power for yet another 

record-breaking ship: The CSCL Globe, which is currently 

the largest seafaring vessel in the world. 

Owned by China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd. 

(CSCL), the container ship is just under 400 metres 

long and 58.60 metres wide, and can hold 19,000 

standard containers. It set off on its maiden voyage 

in early 2015. 

The MAN B&W diesel engine has a maximum 

performance of 69,709 kilowatts, with 84 revolutions 

per minute. For its deployment on the CSCL 

Globe, however, it had been scaled down to 56,900 

kilowatts. The engine was built at HHI-EMD, a subsidiary 

of the South Korean company Hyundai 

Heavy Industries Ltd. 

Based in Shanghai, China Shipping Container 

Lines Co. Ltd. is one of the largest container shipping 

companies in the world. CSCL belongs to the 

China Shipping Group, which has ordered engines 

for other container ships from MAN Diesel & Turbo 

in the past. 

David and Goliath: The MAN B&W 

12S90ME-C Mark 9.2 is about 

eight times as tall as a grown man. 

anfavea, brazil’s Association of Automotive Manufacturers, 

has confirmed MAN Latin America’s market leadership position for 

trucks in Brazil for the twelfth year in succession. The company 

finished the year 2014 with 36,157 licensed vehicles on the roads. 

On the list of the top ten truck sellers in Brazil, MAN Latin 

America is also represented by three truck models. With 7,673 

registered units, the “VW Constellation 24.280 6x2” model maintained 

its first place. The truck comes equipped with an efficient 

275-hp engine as well as cost-cutting EGR emission technology, 

and is suitable for short-, medium- or long-haul transport operations. 

The light VW Delivery 8.160 truck came in second place with 

5,742 units, while the VW Delivery 10.160 finished in ninth place. 

The company also scored rather well in the category of buses, 

taking second position with 6,480 licenced vehicles. 

MAN Latin America is the largest truck manufacturer in South 

America and operates one of the world’s most advanced production 

sites for trucks and buses with its plant in Resende. 

Ahead of the pack again: With its top model VW Constellation 24.280, 

MAN Latin America is market leader for trucks in Brazil for the 12th time. 

Photos: Deutsche Bahn AG, shotshop, MAN 

In MAN we trust: 700 MAN TGX trucks in the company’s typical red and white colours 

were ordered by the major Belgian freight forwarding company H.Essers. 

Big order from Belgium 

The major transport company H.Essers, based in Genk, 

Belgium, has asked MAN to supply 700 TGX vehicles. The logistics 

specialist known for its characteristic red and white truck designs 

thereby continues its long standing partnership with MAN. In 

making its purchasing decision, H.Essers company relied on a 

comparison of all shortlisted vehicles based on straightforward 

TCO (total cost of ownership) criteria. The TGX with Euro 6 compliance 

emerged as the clear winner. The H.Essers fleet consists of 

1,250 trucks, with 95% supplied by MAN. Other than the quality of 

the vehicles, H.Essers also values MAN’s comprehensive customer 

service. H.Essers has some 3,900 employees working at 37 offices 

in 11 European countries. 

20 

21

man magazine 


Pioneer: Stockholm’s municipal 

transport relies on renewable fuels, 

with numerous urban coaches 

powered by gas and hybrid drives. 

Välkommen 

ombord! 

Stockholm 

revs up 

Stockholm is a metropolis that unites environmental 

conservation, economic growth and quality of life. 

Sweden’s capital is especially progressive with regard to 

clean local transport, with MAN supplying the needed 

innovative bus technology. 

Photo: ALIMDI.NET / Erich Fend 

22 

23

man magazine 


All aboard, please! Eva Svensson 

drives her MAN gas bus on Line 2, 

transporting passengers through the 

centre of Stockholm. 

“I like MAN buses. 

They are good for 

the environment 

and good for us 

drivers.” 

Eva Svensson, Stockholm bus driver 

Stockholm 

94% 

of MAN buses 

Nearly all the buses operated by Keolis 

in Stockholm are supplied by MAN – in 

the hybrid and gas category, that ratio 

reaches 98%. 

S 

tockholm may be built close to 

and around the water, yet the 

Swedish capital is by no means a 

diluted kind of town. Not even in the dark season 

of the year, when the sun performs merely 

part time. Winter hibernation in the “Venice of 

the North”? Not likely. Stockholm is multifaceted 

whatever the season – at once modern, 

historic, cool and laid-back. This metropolis 

succeeds in merging environmental conservation, 

economic growth and quality of life. In 

2010, the European Commission named it the 

environmental capital of Europe, the first city 

to receive this accolade – and for good reason. 

In the utilisation of renewable fuels, 

Stockholm’s local transport authorities have 

long been a pioneer. The first ethanol vehicles 

were in service as early as the 1990s, with 

biogas and biodiesel fuel platforms following 

in 2004 and 2010, respectively. Finally, the 

first hybrid-drive vehicles were introduced in 

2014. Visitors and locals can rely on a network 

of numerous bus lines to negotiate the 14 urban 

districts, in addition to underground and 

metropolitan railway lines. Buses in red or 

blue, identified by two- or three-digit numbers, 

serve the municipal area and surrounding 

region. The central “Blåbusslinjer” are 

numbered 1 to 4, using articulated vehicles 

that are 18 metres long and painted blue. Carrying 

about 65,000 passengers per workday, 

Line 4 is the most heavily used in the city. The 

interesting aspect about Stockholm’s approach: 

The entire gas bus fleet is powered exclusively 

by biogas made from municipal 

wastewater. It sounds like a fairy tale from the 

German storytellers Brothers Grimm – as if 

gold could be spun from more than just straw 

up here in Europe’s north. 

“Stockholm operates the largest fleet of 

biogas and hybrid buses in the world,” says 

Magnus Åkerhielm, Chairman of the Executive 

Board of Keolis Sverige. The company is 

Sweden’s second-largest as well as Stockholm’s 

largest bus line operator for regional 

public transport. “By late 2015, our entire bus 

fleet will operate without any fossil fuels entirely,” 

adds his executive board colleague 

Karl Orton, who oversees technical operations. 

Already the market leader in Sweden’s 

municipal bus sector with a share of 44%, 

MAN supplied the lion’s share of this fleet. 

“An impressive 94% of all buses operated by 

Keolis in the city of Stockholm come from 

MAN,” explains Orton. When considering gas 

and hybrid buses, that ratio actually climbs 

to 98%. This means that MAN’s lion is more 

of a presence in Stockholm public transport 

than practically any other brand. This close 

partnership, says Åkerhielm, is rooted in the 

fact that since 2004, MAN has not only supplied 

reliable vehicles that are much appreciated 

by drivers, but has also delivered a comprehensive 

package of attractive terms and 

services. 

MAN received its latest order from 

Keolis in December 2013, for 52 hybrids, 72 

biodiesel and 71 gas buses of the Lion’s City 

class. And these buses are equipped to the 

hilt: “The hybrid variant comes with a serial 

system that is ideal for heavy-duty urban buses,” 

reports Robert Staimer, an MAN expert in 

alternative drives. It includes a high-performance 

capacitor – called “Ultracap” – for energy 

storage and a six-cylinder 250-hp diesel 

engine as a generator drive. While MAN’s 

Lion’s City Hybrid bus received its market 

introduction in 2010, MAN can look back on 

decades worth of tradition in the gas bus sector. 

The first MAN bus running on municipal 

gas made its appearance as early as 1943, followed 

in 1992 by the SL 202, which uses compressed 

natural gas (CNG). The current CNG 

engine is based on a high-end natural gas injector 

that sets new standards in terms of dosing 

precision and gas density. Both drive variants 

are compliant with Euro 6 standards. 

On the trail of an MAN Lion’s City on its 

daily tour of the Swedish metropolis: It sets 

Photos: Daniel Blom 

off from a bus depot in the Södermalm district 

– one of three bus depots run by Keolis in 

Stockholm’s centre. This is where a partial 

fleet of the gas-driven MAN vehicles is 

parked, fuelled, washed and serviced. At the 

same time, this facility is a central point of 

call for drivers who operate the buses stationed 

here. Keolis employs more than 1,250 

drivers in urban Stockholm, with about 13% 

of the workforce being women. One female 

driver, who is absolutely familiar with 

manoeuvring 18-metre juggernauts, is Eva 

Svensson. “My father was a bus driver. And I 

always liked driving cars – and especially the 

big ones,” says the dark-blonde native of 

Stockholm, when recalling her career choice 

29 years ago. While a young girl, she had 

wished to change the world and make it a better 

place. And until this very day, she still 

views herself not just as a bus driver, but rather 

a kind of “environmental worker”, she says. 

Blue giant – the buses numbered 1 to 4 operate in 

Stockholm’s urban centre. 

Keolis not only entrusted Svensson with the 

job of test-driving the MAN hybrid variant, 

she was also selected to leave the Södermalm 

depot with the first of the new MAN gas buses 

for regular line service. She talks enthusiastically 

about the new technology, including the 

totally smooth gear changes and the smart 

braking process. “And the quiet, those soundless 

doors. Just like heaven.” 

It’s 2.46 pm at the Spårvägsmuseet stop, 

not far from the depot. Svensson pulls up 

punctually with her blue, gas-powered bus, 

serving Line 2 that connects Barnängen and 

Norrtull – one of her favourite routes. “There 

are plenty of passengers – but not quite the 

same squeeze as on line 4.” This afternoon, 

among those boarding is Matilda Johansson, 

from Karlskrona and studying in Stockholm. 

She takes the bus every day “because it’s 

better for the environment when we all 

24 

25

man magazine 

Clean fleet: The gas buses (left) 

and hybrid buses supplied by 

MAN support Stockholm in its 

environmental conservation efforts. 

“By the end of 2015, 

our bus fleet will 

operate without any 

fossil fuels.” 

Karl Orton, Technology Manager of Keolis Sverige AG 

CO 2 -neutral: The Stockholm buses use processed 

biogas for the drive. 

share transport, rather than travelling separately”. 

The journey progresses through the 

historic Gamla Stan district, then continues 

to Östermalm, Norralm and finally Vasastan. 

The bus has filled up – almost all the seats are 

taken. Most passengers use the bus for rather 

short trips of five stops at most. For commuting 

to and from work, like Daniel Öström. Or 

– like Emily Andy, from China, who moved to 

Stockholm for love – to pick up the children. 

Both appreciate being able to travel in an environmentally 

friendly, modern vehicle. “Although 

it’s even more important,” they both 

add, “that the buses arrive on time.” Fredrik 

Åkesson, who is taking the bus today because 

his car broke down, considers it important 

that buses should be able to run on biogas or 

with hybrid drives. Even though he regards 

the cost of tickets as far too high. 

Regardless, is it still sensible to invest 

in environmentally friendly buses? After all, 

the acquisition of gas and hybrid vehicles 

runs between 15% to 30% higher than purchasing 

standard diesel buses. Whether the 

investment pays off in the long term depends 

not least on maintenance, local taxes on fuels 

and the costs of toxic emissions and noise 

pollution. Gaining an overview is quite a 

challenge. Once again, Robert Staimer shares 

his experience: “With hybrid buses, the reduction 

in diesel consumption and CO 2 emissions 

amounts to about 25% on annual average.” 

Maintenance requirements are only 

moderately higher than those for standard 

diesel buses – especially considering that the 

Ultracaps’ service life is designed to coincide 

with the service life of the vehicle itself, thus 

not necessitating replacement, as do competitors’ 

models. In the case of gas buses, calculations 

are a little more complicated, as vehicle 

profitability is tied to the type and cost of 

utilised gas. Just in terms of CO 2 emissions 

there are vast differences: Fuels derived from 

fossil natural gas already save 20% over fossil 

diesel, yet with biogas, savings amount to 

more than 95%– a value reached only by 

purely electric vehicles charged with power 

from renewable sources. The Keolis executives 

Åkerhielm and Orton put it in a nutshell: 

“Both the idea of recycling and energy 

production without any fossil fuels represent 

an actual mantra in Sweden.” Thus, their 

decision to invest in the MAN Lion’s bus is a 

long-term one, based on a durable and sustainable 

partnership. 

Photos: Daniel Blom 

You‘re responsible for your passengers. 

We help keep them safe. 

If you‘re in the business of transporting 

the most valuable cargo of all, then 

your top priorities are safety and comfort. 

Just as they are for the people portfolio from 

Continental, our latest Generation 3 tires, 

which have been specifically designed for coaches. 

Our innovative tire technologies mean 

better performance for you, your passengers 

and your business. 

For more information visit 

www.continental-truck-tires.com 

Conti Coach HA3 

Conti CityPlus HA3 

26

man magazine 


In a league of its own 

Surpassing all expectations, 

the team coach of 

FC Bayern Munich carries 

goalie Neuer & co. safely 

and comfortably to their 

matches. The luxury coach 

was built at MAN’s ultramodern 

plant in Ankara. 

S 

wathes of mist drift across the 

empty stage, with the outline of a 

coach eventually appearing on a 

curtain in the background. Amidst flying 

sparks, the stage is ablaze with light. Quick as a 

flash, the illusionist Julius Frack pulls back the 

curtain, and all of a sudden it appears: an MAN 

Lion’s Coach L Supreme in fiery red – the new 

team coach of the FC Bayern Munich football 

club. With this spectacular show, MAN handed 

over the luxury vehicle in August 2014 to the 

record-breaking champions. Some 300 invited 

guests, including Bayern legend Paul Breitner, 

double winner Thiago Alcántara, as well as executive 

board member and sports manager 

Matthias Sammer, witnessed the presentation 

on the esplanade of the Allianz Arena. “The 

coach is an important entity for the team and 

we are very happy to be starting into our 

new season with this new vehicle,” observed 

Sammer. Until this point in time, however, 

the team coach had literally come a long way, 

Photo: MAN 

Showcase plant: MAN’s coach 

works in Ankara is renowned for 

its excellent work – as FC Bayern 

Munich is also aware. 

28 

29

man magazine 


“The bus offers all 

that a football team 

could wish for.” 

Paul Breitner, Brand Ambassador of FC Bayern Munich 

Proud of their product: Some MAN 

employees in Ankara wore their 

FC Bayern jerseys during the bus 

production process. 

The app contains a 

film about the 

vehicle construction 

in Ankara. 

having been built almost 2,000 kilometres 

away from Munich, at MAN’s plant near Turkey’s 

capital of Ankara. 

man’s production of commercial vehicles 

in Turkey dates back to 1966, when the 

truck plant in Istanbul became the company’s 

first production site outside of Germany. With 

more than 1,600 employees, the Ankara plant 

is MAN’s largest and most modern coach production 

facility today. The assembly of urban, 

long-distance and touring coaches for the 

MAN and NEOPLAN brands spreads over an 

area of around 320,000 square metres. The 

Lion’s Coach L Supreme of FC Bayern also 

joined the line here on 21 March 2014. For 

about two years, all coach models – ranging 

from the Bayern footballers’ flagship to the 

unassuming municipal bus – have been manufactured 

on a single production line. This 

renders production highly flexible and efficient. 

Vehicle completion takes only 22 days. 

Overall, the site has a technical capacity of 

3,400 vehicles per year. 

In order to build the FC Bayern team 

coach, MAN specifically set up a special nine- 

person project team in Ankara, which followed 

the coach through every construction 

phase. Production begins with structural 

work, when the skeleton of what eventually 

becomes the team coach is first welded 

together and later serves as the base on which 

to mount the inner and outer sheet metal 

plates. For measurement control purposes, 

one randomly chosen vehicle is analysed precisely 

each day at the plant’s 3D Centre: A laser 

tracker compares some 700 measurement 

points all over the coach, with accuracy down 

to a tenth of a millimetre. The cathode dip 

painting facility, which is one of the most advanced 

in all of Europe, first provided the 

Bayern team coach with a chemical coating 

for corrosion protection, followed by a paint 

job in the team’s characteristic colours. This 

special shade proved a real challenge for the 

paint professionals: Several coats were necessary 

to achieve a perfect match. The next stop 

was the pre-assembly station, where the 

coach was fitted with tinted windows, an airconditioning 

system, axles and its Euro 6 

engine, a 480-hp power pack from the plant in 

Nuremberg. Prior to its installation, the elaborate 

cabling for the exclusive interior was addressed, 

followed by interior panelling, the 

dashboard and the premium leather seats. 

After receiving its final touches, the Lion’s 

Coach L Supreme was thoroughly checked 

once more during various tests and finally 

handed over to sales for the last inspection 

round. Until delivery, the vehicle had to undergo 

a total of seven quality checks. 

A vision in red: At the Allianz Arena, 

MAN officially handed over the new 

luxury coach to FC Bayern Munich. 

the new fc bayern team coach was 

ready for shipment to Germany in early May 

2014, with about 1,000 MAN employees in 

Ankara involved in building the coach. And 

naturally, they are proud to think that a top 

team like Bayern Munich will be on the road 

in their creation. “As I spent two years living 

in Munich, the ‘Bavarian’ coach was very special 

for me,” says Kartal Erköy, production 

manager in the fittings department. “We 

sometimes need to work night and day 

to build such a complex vehicle, but we do 

it gladly and with so much motivation,” he 

Photo: MAN 

explains. “The high-tech standard of this 

coach is no less fabulous than the football expertise 

of the FC Bayern team itself.” 

Before the lavish unveiling ceremony at 

the Allianz Arena, the Lion's Coach L Supreme 

still needed to receive its exclusive interior 

features, including a full service entertainment 

centre, 19-inch LCD screens, WLAN, a 

sound system, retractable tables, leg rests and 

a fully equipped kitchen. Finally, the decor for 

the current season was applied by hand 

through a foil, with the sides adorned by the 

team’s logo and an oversized FC Bayern shirt. 

The luxury vehicle was received with 

enormous enthusiasm by FC Bayern players 

and managers alike. “There’s no comparison 

to previous models. This new coach offers all 

that a football team could wish for or need,” 

commented Paul Breitner. Absolutely the top 

coach for a top team. And not least due to the 

commitment and passion of the employees at 

MAN’s plant in Ankara. 

Find a video on the assembly of the 

FC Bayern coach at MAN’s Ankara plant under 

the link > www.man.eu/discovermanfcbayernbus 

3 400 

vehicles 

MAN’s production site in Ankara builds 

3,400 coaches every year – ranging from 

simpler municipal types to a unique 

model for FC Bayern Munich. 

30 

31

man magazine 


Addition to the 

coach family 

Amidst high demand for standard long-distance buses, operating 

conditions remain a challenge. The new MAN Lion’s Intercity was 

tailored to specifically meet the requirements of this segment. 

Photo: MAN 

The new MAN Lion’s Intercity is 

customised for long-distance and 

connecting services, as well as 

school commutes. 

O 

ffering its customers tailormade 

solutions has always been 

part of MAN’s business philosophy. 

The segment of standardised long-distance 

coaches is currently experiencing rapid 

growth figures throughout Europe, yet customers 

have very specific requirements that 

are not easily reconciled. Demands might encompass 

features typical for long-distance 

coaches, such as generous stowage room or an 

aerodynamic design, while the purchasing 

price of vehicles ought to remain rather low. 

MAN therefore developed a specific product 

to exactly meet these expectations: the MAN 

Lion’s Intercity. 

“During the development process for the 

MAN Lion’s Intercity, we focused on the overall 

operating costs, namely the Total Cost of 

Ownership, or TCO,” explains Florian Rott, 

Product Marketing Buses & Coaches at MAN 

Truck & Bus. “Our customers value a lightweight 

design, maintenance and repair 

friendliness, and economical fuel consumption.” 

One of the many features significantly 

contributing to achieve this target is the new 

MAN D08 Common Rail engine, a smaller and 

therefore lighter unit with a cubic capacity of 

just 6.9 litres. This variation alone resulted in 

weight savings of at least 450 kilos. The new 

and especially efficient air-conditioning system 

also reduces vehicle weight by a further 

65 kilos. As air drag and associated fuel consumption 

play an important role in long-distance 

transport – as opposed to urban traffic 

– MAN engineers paid particular attention to 

aerodynamic considerations. Among other 

characteristics, the Lion’s Intercity features 

an arched, slightly slanted panoramic front 

window and a sharp tear-off edge in the rear. 

Robustness and reliability are not just 

values generally associated with MAN, but 

play a larger than average role in this coach 

segment. “The MAN Lion’s Intercity is built 

for strenuous daily use,” explains Florian 

Rott. The coach not only scores well in terms 

of reliability, but also because of its user- 

290 

horsepower 

A highly efficient D08 common rail 

engine powers the two-axle coach 

manufactured by MAN. 

friendly furnishings: Materials and designs 

used inside are resistant to dirt, while the 

smooth surfaces used in the interior – 

including the floor – make for easy cleaning 

and therefore an improved TCO ratio. Both 

the passenger area and the driver’s cab are designed 

for comfort and practicality. In the 

MAN Lion’s Intercity segment, customers do 

not expect to find an on-board WC or a kitchen 

– a distinguishing difference to the new 

MAN Lion’s Regio coach. On the other hand, 

the option of a removable landing allows for 

the accommodation of wheelchairs or prams. 

Considering the fact that the MAN Lion’s 

Intercity is typically deployed as a school bus, 

there are absolutely no compromises made in 

terms of safety. The vehicle has a very comprehensive 

set of standard safety features, including 

an electronic braking system, an 

emergency braking assistant, an electronic 

stability programme and a fire warning system. 

“On request, all of MAN’s available safety 

systems can be applied to the MAN Lion’s Intercity,” 

emphasises Florian Rott. In addition, 

the elaborate ring-spar construction shape of 

the MAN Lion’s Intercity already conforms to 

the ECE R66.02 mandatory standard, which 

comes into effect as of 2017. It offers improved 

safety in case of a rollover – the first coach in 

its segment to do so.. 

Discover more details about the distinctive 

design, numerous applications and outstanding 

security features of the MAN Lion’s 

Intercity in our interactive web special at 

> www.man.eu/lionsintercity 

32 

33

man magazine 


Closer to 

the clouds 

Night drive: En route to Milan, 

the Giosy Tours’ NEOPLAN 

Skyliner passes Lake Lugano. 

34 

Coach with a view: The generous panoramic 

windows of the NEOPLAN Skyliner offer 

passengers an almost 360-degree perspective. 

Photos: Claudio Bader 

A legend returns: Now in its fifth generation, the NEOPLAN Skyliner coach 

debuts once again in 2015. Coach operators, drivers and passengers alike 

are impressed by its outstanding features of economy, safety, design and 

comfort – and not least the spectacular views. 

Tinny loudspeaker announcements 

in Italian waft from platform 

2. In the bustling parking 

zone of the Lugano railway station, 

they sonorously announce 

the departure of long-distance 

trains destined for Chiasso or “Milano Centrale”. 

Since 1874, trains have been departing 

from Lugano, tucked away in Switzerland’s 

southernmost Italian-speaking corner, heading 

further south to Italy or due north via the 

Gotthard Tunnel. As there are no rail connections 

to Milan’s Malpensa airport, however, 

flight passengers are lined up at the Giosy 

Tours bus stop on Piazzale Besso, just behind 

the station. Based not far away in Cadenazzo, 

the Ticino bus company offers several regular 

services daily to Malpensa. When the coach 

pulls up, travellers are dazzled: As the flagship 

of Giosy Tours, this NEOPLAN Skyliner is a 

bright red double-decker touring coach, four 

metres high, 15 metres long and 2.55 metres 

wide. The three-dimensional convexity of the 

windshield, the seamlessly smooth bodywork, 

as well as flush-mounted doors and hatches, 

lend the 505-hp vehicle a spectacularly dynamic 

silhouette. 

“It’s always a special moment when the 

Skyliner drives up,” comments Corrado 

Bernasconi. The driver enjoys how people 

on the street turn their heads to look at his 

505 

horsepower 

The NEOPLAN Skyliner is powerful and 

efficient. The MAN TipMatic transmission 

and a drag coefficient value of 0.41 result 

in economical fuel consumption. 

In the app: Ride along 

with Corrado Bernasconi 

and his passengers on the 

NEOPLAN Skyliner. 

35

man magazine 


Streamlined: Compared with other double-deckers without an 

aerodynamically optimised design, the Skyliner reduces fuel 

consumption by up to 5%. 

coach. “I appreciate the design, and the many 

functional details at my workstation,” enthuses 

the driver. The 50-year-old especially values 

the high safety standards, which are also 

a major priority for passengers, he says. Today, 

travellers on board are joined by both the 

founder as well as the managing director of 

Giosy Tours. Lino Bassi greets travellers with 

a classic “Salve” and wholeheartedly participates 

in stowing away the luggage. Now 83, he 

founded the company 35 years ago and handed 

over management to his son Matthias just 

two years ago. A trained automotive mechanic, 

44-year-old Matthias has built up a modern 

fleet, comprising 15 vehicles with capacities 

ranging from nine to 79 seats. “We have 

the right fit for all purposes and all kinds of 

travel,” he states. Matthias Bassi first saw the 

Skyliner "live" at an exhibition in Rimini, 

which was enough of an impression to make 

up his mind: “It had to be this one, nothing 

else.” Right after the exhibit, he purchased his 

favoured model – the first NEOPLAN Skyliner 

to operate in Switzerland. 

Double-decker buses seem to run in the 

Bassi family. Many years ago, Lino Bassi introduced 

the first double-decker to Switzerland’s 

Ticino canton. “It had room for 50 passengers, 

featuring really swish furnishings on the bottom 

floor with bistro seating,” he recalls. “All 

the same, there’s no comparison with the 

technology and comfort of today.” Coach entrepreneur 

Matthias Bassi explains his choosing 

the Skyliner mainly because of the MAN 

drive’s efficiency and the powerful hightorque 

engine with 505 hp and a cubic capacity 

of 12.4 litres. He was equally impressed by 

the automated MAN TipMatic transmission 

system, which facilitates a gear-changing 

strategy to maximise fuel savings. Since the 

Skyliner has a drag coefficient comparable 

to that of a modern mid-category van, Bassi 

Relaxed journey: Especially the 

upper deck offers passengers 

a seat to relax and enjoy the 

great vistas. 

"It’s always a special 

moment when the 

Skyliner drives up." 

Corrado Bernasconi, driver with Giosy Tours 

Suitable stowage: The NEOPLAN 

travel coach provides plenty of 

room for passenger luggage. 

Photos: Claudio Bader 

considers the double-decker coach “an economical 

vehicle with top scores for environmental 

friendliness.” From regular customer 

surveys, Matthias Bassi is aware that passenger 

satisfaction is based on a variety of quality 

features offered by the NEOPLAN coach. “One 

crucial factor is the sense of safety, combined 

with the sporty and dynamic design, the privileged 

views, seating comfort and a thoroughly 

airy sense of space. Our customers appreciate 

all these aspects,” says Bassi. 

The trip to the airport begins. Four metres 

above the road, the journey on the upper 

deck assumes a unique and elevated flair. The 

large-scale panoramic windows offer passengers 

an open view of almost 360 degrees in all 

directions. “That’s the particular charm of the 

Skyliner,” says Bassi. A feeling of being closer 

to the clouds. On the left, Monte Brè and 

Monte San Salvatore, Lugano’s local mountains, 

rise up into the sky. Along the way, the 

chilly winter day mystically shrouds Lake 

Lugano in glistening wafts of mist. While 

travelling on the E35 Autostrada, the landscape 

lies hidden behind low-hanging clouds 

and rolling fog, yet gusts of wind occasionally 

tear the greyish curtain aside and offer a vista 

of snow-sprinkled mountains and hills, nestled 

into by hamlets and charming country 

villas. Even a grey day like this offers a worthwhile 

journey to those willing to open their 

eyes to the experience. 

“Terminal uno,” announces Bernasconi’s 

voice over the onboard intercom, as the 

Skyliner comes to a halt at Milan’s Malpensa 

airport. He opens the luggage compartment 

and hands the passengers their suitcases and 

bags. A young woman rewards him with a 

farewell smile. “I’m happy when my passengers 

are happy,” says the driver, aptly summarising 

his relationship with the Skyliner. “And 

they do enjoy travelling in such a unique, 

comfortable and safe vehicle.” 

See a video interview with Matthias Bassi 

and Corrado Bernasconi in the NEOPLAN 

Skyliner at > www.man.eu/discoverman 

The new NEOPLAN 

Skyliner: comfort at 

the highest level 

NEOPLAN launched its double-decker class 

in 1967, with currently more than 4,000 

Skyliners in service all over the world. 

Scheduled for market delivery as of the 

third quarter 2015, the coming generation 

includes a range of new technological highlights: 

Efficient Euro 6 drive with GPSsupported 

cruise control EfficientCruise 

371 kilowatt / 505 hp 

6 cylinders / 12.4-litre cubic capacity 

Maximum torque 2,300 newton metres 

at 1,000 to 1,400 revs per minute 

Automated TipMatic transmission system 

Emergency Braking Assistance (EBA) 

and electronically controlled CDS suspension 

system 

Low-floor design for barrier-free, impairment-friendly 

passenger transport 

36 

37

man magazine 


The app includes more 

photos of Peter Meyer in 

action on Fraser Island. 

The sandman 

Is it a bus? Or is it a truck? The vehicle 

that ranger Peter Meyer uses to get around 

Fraser Island differs vastly from a serial model: 

It comprises an MAN driver’s cab with a 

bus body behind it – making it perfect for the 

special tasks it has to tackle on Fraser Island. 

The island is located off the eastern coast of 

Australia – and is made entirely of sand. 

“While operating on soft sand, you must 

maintain an extremely high engine speed, always 

approaching the red zone,” Peter Meyer 

explains. “Sand seeps in through all the cracks, 

while salt water, salt-laden air and mud will 

destroy any machine in the long run. I have 

been here for 20 years and have driven many 

different vehicles. Those coming from MAN 

are definitely the most enduring!” 

Meyer, 44, is an Australian with German 

roots. He uses his MAN vehicle, which has allwheel 

drive, 28 seats and a 280-hp engine, to 

show visitors around the island. And sometimes 

he actually gets to rescue tourists. 

“Quite a few inexperienced private sightseers 

come here with their expensive all-wheel vehicles, 

believing that they can drive anywhere. 

Ultimately, they get stuck – and I will 

pull them out again,” Meyer relates. It won’t 

happen to him, as he has a reliable machine 

and many years of experience. “Just unloaded, 

these vehicles weigh 13 tonnes – which 

makes tyre pressure all the more important! 

I drive with a pressure of 2.75 bar, while 7.6 or 

7.9 bar would be standard on asphalt roads. 

This is done to enlarge the tyre footprint and 

thus float over the sand, rather than digging 

yourself into a hole.” 

Sand highway: The beach 

is Fraser Island’s 

motorway. Here, the 

maximum speed is 

80 kilometres per hour. 

Photos: Martin Kaluza 

Beach buggy: The 280-hp MAN 

vehicle with a bus body never 

comes in sight of an asphalt road. 

Australian ranger Peter 

Meyer has been driving 

tourists around Fraser 

Island for 20 years. 

38 

39

five-door 

four-door 

man magazine 


Clean 

1 

4 

Highlights of the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG: 

1 At the ticket validation machine, 

passengers can scan tickets purchased by 

smartphone. 2 Translucent folding bellows 

between the bus sections create a pleasant 

and well-lighted atmosphere. 3 An area for 

wheelchairs provides barrier-free mobility. 

4 An additional fifth door facilitates quick 

boarding and alighting of passengers. 

The MAN Lion’s City GL 

CNG was voted “Bus of the 

Year 2015”. A low-emission 

engine and a sophisticated 

design with five instead 

of four doors helped the 

articulated bus in winning 

the title. 

winnerIts natural 

40 passengers 

Five doors for smooth passenger 

entry and exit flows and an exceptionally 

clean natural gas drive: 

These two highlights of the MAN 

Lion’s City GL CNG ultimately secured 

the title “Bus of the Year 

2015” for the 18.75-metre articulated bus, 

which is bestowed by a European jury of trade 

journalists. “The vehicle makes effective use of 

the available space and operates exceptionally 

clean,” said jury chairman Stuart Jones. “The 

combination of innovations made MAN a persuasive 

winner.” MAN successfully positioned 

the Lion’s City GL CNG as an ecological vehicle: 

gas engine conforms to the strict 

Euro 6 emission values and emits 17% less CO 2 

than comparable diesel vehicles. Experts are 

currently recognizing a revival of natural gas 

drive solutions. “Natural gas is an economically 

effective option for reducing CO 2 until electrical 

drives become commercially attractive,” 

says Rudi Kuchta, Head of Bus Sales at MAN. 

By using biogas or synthetic e-gas, the CNG 

model is already almost CO 2 -neutral and emits 

up to 97% less CO 2 than a comparable diesel 

engine when running on 100% biogas. This 

ratio places it on the same level as a fully electric 

vehicle. In addition, it is exceptionally 

3 

2 

Five is an engaging number: More passengers can board and 

exit through the five doors of the articulated vehicle. 

Photo: MAN 

40 

41

man magazine 

Find a movie on the 

new MAN Lion’s City 

GL CNG in the app. 

97 % 

less CO 2 

When utilising 100% biogas, the 

natural gas engine of the MAN Lion’s 

City GL CNG emits 97% less CO 2 than 

comparable diesel vehicles do. 

economical. Due to significantly lower fuel 

costs compared with a diesel bus of the same 

class, the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG can save 

around 15 percent of its lifecycle costs over a 

period of 10 years. 

The jury were also impressed by the innovative 

vehicle concept of the bus, aimed at 

urban operations with high passenger turnover: 

With a load capacity of 142 people, the 

articulated bus is the only one on the market 

to feature five doors. As a result, more passengers 

can simultaneously board and exit than 

in the case of traditional vehicles, which 

significantly shortens the waiting time at 

stops. Increased fluctuation reduces travelling 

time and thereby also the number of necessary 

vehicles. During rush hour, the driver 

can electronically block three folding seats 

thus creating even more standing room. 

the bus also offers its passengers a wide 

range of conveniences: They can scan and 

validate their smartphone-bought ticket as 

well as surf the Internet via WLAN during 

their journey. They also ride in a friendly 

interior with noticeably better lighting than 

in other buses: Translucent folding bellows 

make the area between the bus sections more 

inviting, while glass panels in the ceiling and 

LED light strips illuminate the interior evenly 

and create an agreeable atmosphere. All this 

is well received. “Passengers are delighted 

with the bus,” confirms Thomas Köhn, a bus 

driver in Hamburg. The new urban model is 

also more than satisfying from the drivers’ 

perspective. “It’s great to operate such a modern 

bus, which actually also supports me in 

doing my job,” marvels Köhn. The three doors 

in the rear are opened only by passengers 

pressing a button and close automatically, 

while the inner and outer mirrors of the bus 

can all be electrically adjusted. Thus, the driver 

can focus entirely on the task of transporting 

passengers to their destination in an 

expedient and safe manner. 

A movie on the new MAN Lion’s City GL 

CNG can be found at > www.man.eu/boty 

Award-winning model: The Lion’s City GL 

CNG has an impressively clean natural 

gas drive and is designed to handle high 

passenger volumes. 

Economy teams up with 

environmental friendliness. 

Bus of the Year 2015. 

Higher passenger flow, lower emissions. MAN kann. 

The MAN Lion’s City GL CNG has been voted Bus of the Year 2015 by an international jury. The distinguished 

combination of an environment-friendly gas engine and passenger-oriented interior design is the excellent solution for 

inner-urban transportation. The five-door concept speeds up passenger flow and thus saves time for user and operator. 

www.man.eu/bus 

Photo: MAN 

MAN kann. 

42

man magazine 


Pit operations: The MAN dump 

loader is a reliable team member 

in the Bernburg salt mine. 

under 

ground 

O 

nce the iron door slides into 

place, the bucking elevator hurtles 

down to a depth of 500 metres 

below ground. Once arrived down under, 

the world has changed entirely: Neon light illuminates 

the outer area, an assortment of 

jeeps awaits. Traversing the mine in all directions 

is a labyrinth of passages and tunnels. At 

a balmy 25°C, a refreshing scent lies in the air: 

salt. It is a universal sensation– everything 

here consists of salt. Walls and ceilings glitter 

in places, the floor is smooth and hard: To facilitate 

the employment of heavy equipment, 

specific road construction is implemented by 

using finely grated salt and water. Salt is in the 

air, covering machinery, tools and vehicles. 

“Due to the low humidity in here, salt does no 

harm,” says Volker Grzeschuchna. “Yet if you 

brought this jeep back up to the surface, it 

would immediately start rusting and fall apart 

in a couple of days.” 

Grzeschuchna heads M+E Underground 

Technology at the European Salt Company 

(Esco) in Bernburg an der Saale. The East 

German mine has been sourced for salt since 

1912 and covers about 25 square kilometres. 

Grzeschuchna is below ground every day to 

ensure smooth operations. His responsibilities 

cover not only all electrical equipment, cables, 

power supply, lighting and the conveyor 

belts, but also the vehicle fleet with its massively 

heavy mining machinery and the 

trucks supplied by MAN that were hauled 

down to the tunnel in piece parts. 

body structure and especially the three-axle 

chassis proved a much bigger challenge. It’s 

more than eight metres long, with a width just 

a few centimetres less than the diameter of 

the transport shaft. That took us three attempts.” 

Once below, the vehicle was reassembled 

over the course of two weeks until ready 

for its first mission. Müller remains unperturbed 

by the fact that the delivery was not 

exactly an easy exercise – and Esco has ordered 

four more dump load and one skip load 

vehicles from MAN. “It’s much more cost-effective 

for us to convert MAN dumpers than 

to purchase special mining equipment,” says 

Grzeschuchna. The vehicles are optimally 

equipped for tackling subterranean assignments. 

“Those driver’s cabs come with an automatic 

fire-extinguishing system and a filtered 

ventilation system, for example” says 

400 

kilograms 

MAN’s HydroDrive system offers more 

traction in off-road conditions. In 

addition, trucks with HydroDrive are 400 

kilos lighter and lower than conventional 

all-wheel vehicles and therefore ideally 

suited for operating below ground. 

Watch the spectacular 

truck transport below 

the ground in the app. 

“Moving the new vehicles down here 

In the depths of the Bernburg mine, salt is extracted far 

beneath the ground. This requires vehicles that can easily cope 

with the challenging underground terrain – such as the Euro 6 

HydroDrive by MAN. Dismantled into its individual components, 

the truck is lowered into the pit through a narrow shaft. 

Photos: Jörg Gläscher 

was a real adventure,” recalls Uwe Müller, 

Works Manager at Gress + Zapp Bernburg. The 

company is one of MAN’s service partners 

and specialised in the transport and maintenance 

of trucks underground. “We had to dismantle 

the truck, get the individual parts 

down below and reassemble them.” Three mechanics 

worked for a week to take the vehicle 

apart. “Stowing the parts in boxes and lowering 

them down on a hook was not really an issue,” 

says Müller, “yet the driver’s cab, the 

Precision manoeuvre: 

When lowering the chassis 

through the shaft, every 

centimetre matters. 

Dismantling: The vehicle 

is broken down into its 

individual components 

on the surface. 

44 

45

man magazine 

“It’s much more 

cost-efficient for 

us to convert MAN 

vehicles.” 

Volker Grzeschuchna, Head of M+E Technology at Esco 

On the hook: The truck chassis 

is carefully lowered down 

the mine and received below. 

Thomas Triller, Sales Manager at MAN. The 

ceiling heights in the tunnels, explains Triller, 

are rarely a problem, but sometimes still a 

rather tight fit: “With its operating height of 

3.35 metres, the vehicle can cope with the given 

ceiling heights.” 

to safely steer their machinery, drivers 

receive specific instruction lessons by Heinrich 

Degenhart, a MAN ProfiDrive trainer. “We 

first work through the theoretical part before 

going down the mine.” MAN ProfiDrive trains 

the drivers in the safe and economical use of 

the vehicles. Below ground, standard driving 

techniques are practised, including those for 

dump load trucks, explains the expert. One of 

the challenges: “We are navigating tunnels 

where the terrain becomes rather slick and 

slippery. In some places, the salt has been 

compacted into a surface as smooth as glass.” 

After one day of training, the men are qualified 

to operate the vehicles. The reason Esco 

chose a model with HydroDrive is that additional 

traction at the front axle is an option 

when needed. “This means improved driving 

safety on unsurfaced terrain often found underground,” 

Triller explains. In addition, the 

HydroDrive truck sits lower than a conventional 

all-wheel vehicle – a considerable 

advantage and safety factor in the narrow 

tunnels down under. And with its weight reduced 

by up to 400 kilos, it also consumes less 

fuel. Other customers also appreciate the advantages 

offered by the MAN HydroDrive: 

11,000 vehicles have been sold since 2005. 

While the roll-off skip loaders transport 

spare parts and explosives underground, it is 

the task of the MAN dump load vehicles to fill 

in the pits no longer extracted for salt. To this 

end, the truck carries a load of construction 

backfill materials to the upper edge of the pit 

and pushes it down – and repeats this action 

until the entire cavity is filled. Right beside it 

are lumps of salt taller than a human figure. 

The pit resembles a cathedral – 30 metres 

high, with glittering walls of salt. Lumbering 

and groaning, a wheel loader tips the blocks 

into the gorge of a shredder, where the saline 

substance is broken down and deposited on a 

conveyor belt. It will eventually find its way 

up, above the surface and into the light of day, 

to find use as gritting or table salt. 

Grzeschuchna is satisfied. Business is 

going well, further acquisitions are in the 

pipeline. “The MAN dump loader has performed 

well in the test phase. We’ll probably 

be ordering more vehicles before the end of 

this year.” 

Photos: Jörg Gläscher 

ECOLIFE – FEELING AT HOME ON ANY ROAD 

The ZF-EcoLife automatic transmission makes no compromises. Whether on plains or in the mountains: 

TopoDyn Life, the intelligent drive program, adjusts the shift characteristics to the route profile, thus reducing 

fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions. The gear change between the six gears is barely noticeable. The high gear 

spread allows driving at a low engine speed even at 80 km/h. The retarder also offers high performance without 

compromises. It is actuated smoothly and depending on topography. The dual cooling concept comprising an 

integrated oil cooler and an attached retarder oil cooler provides for high temperature resistance. For a long, 

excellent drive. ZF-EcoLife. The universal genius. www.zf.com/EcoLife 

Come and visit us 

from June 8 – 10, 2015 

at the UITP Milan, 

Hall 3, Booth F150 

46

man magazine 


Systematic safety 

The app includes a 

film about safetyassistance 

systems. 

ACC 

Adaptive Cruise Control 

(ACC) monitors and 

continuously maintains the 

distance to the moving 

vehicle ahead. 

EBA 

Should the driver fail to 

recognise a hazardous 

situation in due time, the 

Emergency Braking 

Assistant (EBA) automatically 

initiates an emergency 

braking process. 

Human beings behind the wheel are the 

most important safety factor in road traffic. 

MAN supports the work of drivers with a wide 

range of innovative assistance systems. 

LGS 

The Lane Guard 

Assistant (LGS) monitors 

the road markings and 

issues a warning to the 

driver when crossing 

without indicating. 

esp 

The Electronic Stability 

Programme (ESP) 

intervenes as soon as 

the vehicle threatens to 

skid and applies the 

brakes to individual 

wheels as needed. 

Illustration: bjoernson.de 

L 

arger than anything else on the 

road, buses are fascinating hightech 

machines. While both their 

scale and mass sizes alone award them a special 

status, it also moves bus operators into 

the spotlight in terms of safety and responsibility. 

MAN, however, does not leave drivers to 

their own devices, but rather offers them support 

through a range of intelligent assistance 

systems. In addition to the passive safety 

features of all MAN vehicles, these systems 

relieve drivers in both daily driving routines 

as well as critical situations, and help to avoid 

or at least reduce risks. That is well received by 

customers. “The investment in modern driver 

assistance systems is an important aspect of 

our safety concept,” reports Johann Strasser, 

Head of Purchasing and Vehicle Fleet Management 

at the Vienna-based bus operator Dr. 

Richard. “They are joined by seamless vehicle 

maintenance routines, instruction courses 

and driving technique training as other fundamental 

elements of our strategy.” 

Many innovations celebrated in the past 

as safety milestones have since become 

standard – including the Anti-Blocking System 

(ABS) and Traction Control System (TCS). 

Among more recent additions, the Electronic 

Stability Programme (ESP) is the most widely 

known. As soon as a vehicle threatens to start 

skidding, ESP immediately intervenes – and 

much faster than even an experienced bus 

driver could manage. The system reduces the 

drive momentum and applies the brakes 

to individual wheels as needed to stabilise 

the vehicle. Especially the monotonous solitude 

during long hauls or at night represents 

48 

49

man magazine 

Foresightful assistance: 

The Emergency Braking 

Assistant (EBA) 

intervenes preventively 

(visual warning signal in 

yellow), should the 

driver fail to activate 

the brake in time. 

Efficient. Durable. Comfortable. 

The New Goodyear Coach Line. 

a particular challenge to drivers, and here 

MAN has already rendered support for several 

years with its Lane Guard Assistant (LGS). 

A video camera continuously monitors the 

road markings. Should they be crossed without 

signalling, a warning beep alerts the driver. 

Avoiding hazardous situations has entirely 

different aspects as well, however. Active Roll 

Stabilisation or Continuous Damping Control 

(CDC), for example, reduces dangerous 

moments of inertia torque – which can occur 

in case of varying load weights or vehicles 

with a high gravity centre that can cause considerable 

lateral forces during braking or 

swerving manoeuvres. In just split seconds, 

CDC adjusts the damping of each individual 

shock absorber to reduce the roll movement. 

The outcome for the driver includes shorter 

braking distances, more direct steering and 

improved safety. 

yet interacting with other drivers can 

also result in risky situations – which is why 

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is such a popular 

assistance system. ACC not only maintains 

a continuous distance, but also automatically 

reduces speed when the vehicle in front slows 

down. To this end, distance and speed are 

monitored through a radar sensor. This system 

is closely interlinked with the Emergency 

Braking Assistant (EBA). Soon to become mandatory 

for new bus registrations, it is already 

available from MAN and will actually reach 

second-generation status, after further development, 

in summer 2015. Whereas the area in 

front of a vehicle had been controlled by radar 

so far, a camera system is now being added to 

improve the accuracy of analysis, and make 

automatic emergency braking even more effective. 

Road safety is not just a matter of human 

lives and safety, however, but also plays 

an economic role, explains Rudolf Ebner: 

“Due to the numerous assistance systems on 

board our vehicles, we not only pay lower insurance 

premiums, but also experience less 

downtime and greater vehicle availability due 

to accident prevention.” 

Despite modern technology, driving competence 

and a sense of responsibility are still 

expected of bus operators. MAN therefore offers 

support in learning even safer driving 

techniques. MAN’s ProfiDrive training courses 

pick up where assistance systems end – or 

rather were not yet forced to act. 

Improved stability: The Electronic 

Stability Programme (ESP) prevents the 

vehicle from skidding. 

Illustrations: bjoernson.de 

The new Goodyear Marathon Coach and UltraGrip Coach 

Made to enhance your fleet efficiency*, Goodyear offers you coach tires featuring TravelMax Technology. 

Asymmetric design, Silefex tread compound, waffle blades – it all stands for reduced rolling resistance, 

improved fuel efficiency, longer lasting performance and low running noise for more comfort. 

In addition, it offers you mobility in all weather conditions. Learn more at goodyear.eu/truck 

50 

* Performances compared to Goodyear’s previous recommended fi tment for coaches (Marathon LHS II, UltraGrip WTD). 

MADE TO FEEL GOOD.

Economical Across 

the Line. 

The DIWA efficiency package for your citybuses: with the new DIWA.6 automatic transmission 

plus topography-dependent gear shifting program SensoTop you ensure lower 

fuel consumption and higher driving comfort. In combination with the telemetric system 

DIWA SmartNet you are in control of your maintenance costs and increase your availability. 

Get to your destination more economically and comfortably – with the DIWA efficiency 

package. 

Give us a call on +49 7321 37-8579 

www.voith.com

MANmagazine Bus edition 1/2015

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