[GB] Euro Bus Expo 08 Part 4 - Optare

Although the Expo has been an important trade show for all manufacturers, but arguable, Optare would been the one who takes it even more seriously - Ever since the merger of Darwen (ex-ELC) and Optare, this is the first time the much expanded coachbuilder to show its customers where its future lies. And on Optare's stand, it is obvious that they have been pulling all the stops to do so.

A number of new vehicles were on display during the show, and like ADL, Volvo and Wrightbus, they showed off their hybrid-drive products, in the form of a Tempo which is part of an order placed by Metroline of London:



The hybrid Tempo is hardly the most significant vehicle on Optare's stand though, and that honour falls onto their much anticipated integral double decker, the Rapta, and the Solo+, another revision of the popular Solo midibus:



The Rapta displayed in the show was, by all means, is far from a completed vehicle - all the windows are tinted and visitors are not able to get in the vehicle. Nevertheless, it is a stunning looking vehicle, and has the same family face that appears on the Solo+ as well. The dual door layout is expected to have an capacity of over 90 passengers, conforming TfL's latest vehicle specifications.



The Rapta will be powered by a Euro 5 MAN or the Mercedes OM906 engine, offering an EGR or SCR solution to customers. On top of that, a hybriddrive version will also be available.



Meanwhile, 2 Solo+ were displayed at Optare's stand, one as a diesel-powered example, the other an all-electric-drive example:



Unlike the Solo SR, launched bearly a year ago and only entered service this year, the Solo+ retains much of the design of the legacy Solo - it retained the flat side windows and roof, and a much more conservative styling both internally and externally. Although it is a very modern looking bus, but somehow, I think the air of quality that the Solo SR brought to the range has, somehow, been lost, and the Solo+ looks rather cheap in comparison. No word has been said about where the future lies for the Solo SR version, but with so little commonality with the new Solo+ (also it, the SR, shares much of its design with the Versa), it will surely put a big question mark over its logn term future.



The simplified design carries on to the cabin - you can almost tell that ex-ELC people must have stuck their nose into the design. I quite like the cabin late production legacy Solo and the Solo SR, which have some very nice touches of style. The Solo+, however, lost much of that and looks rather bland in comparison:





Apart from the new Solo+ and Rapta, Optare also showed off their controversal looking, but increasingly successful Optare Versa. The example on show is one of the first dual door example every built, and this is destined to Transdev London:



- End of Part 4 -

[ 本帖最後由 NV58 於 2008-11-8 16:38 編輯 ]

新家族面相車頭好似d雪櫃

原帖由 NV58 於 2008-11-9 00:37 發表
Although the Expo has been an important trade show for all manufacturers, but arguable, Optare would been the one who takes it even more seriously - Ever since the merger of Darwen (ex-ELC) and Optare ...

The Rapta and Solo+ make me think of the KMB new Scania's,
I don't like the Solo+ too,
the Solo SR looks much better.
It's a good news that Versa is going into London.

is there any news for the Versa at all? will there be a revised version like Solo series?

The Rapta make me think of the KMB new Scania too.

but i don't think the look of Solo+ would be better than that of Solo SR.

So the Rapta is it the Optare Side engine double decker that were rumouring about back in few years ago?

原帖由 iczer3 於 2008-11-9 10:09 發表
So the Rapta is it the Optare Side engine double decker that were rumouring about back in few years ago?

I don't know, but from what I saw it doesn't look like it. The Rapta seems to have the conventional rear transverse engine layout like the Trident and B9TL.

原帖由 ate7 於 2008-11-9 09:20 發表
is there any news for the Versa at all? will there be a revised version like Solo series?

I've heard no plan for this, but then I'd be surprise if they think about that now - the Versa has been in service fore barely a year!

The Hybrid Tempo looks very similar the Custom Coaches CB 60 EVO Body wor~

I love the old design for its Optare vehicles, but the new one looks pretty ugly, the Versa looks like a tram rather than a bus.

原帖由 MetroLine 於 2008-11-10 08:57 發表
The Hybrid Tempo looks very similar the Custom Coaches CB 60 EVO Body wor~

I love the old design for its Optare vehicles, but the new one looks pretty ugly, the Versa looks like a tram rather tha ...

Doesnt look like CB60 at all, apart from the dome/Destination box.

The Rapta's top front have a bit influence from East Lancs' Olympus

[ 本帖最後由 iczer3 於 2008-11-10 13:36 編輯 ]