Mellor extends Orion to make 27-passenger bus11 November 2020

Based on Mellor’s Orion product, the new uprated 5.5-tonne Orion Evolution features a 180bhp Euro VI diesel engine, ZF 9-speed automatic transmission and 10-year structural warranty for a base price of £90,000.

The introduction of the Orion Evolution follows Mellor’s strategy of developing ‘size appropriate’ vehicles with the operational flexibility to make unviable routes viable again. The new model launch is particularly pertinent at a time when the UK bus industry is experiencing a shifting patronage profile while the impact of COVID-19 restrictions remains ongoing.

Alongside the diesel engine, whose fuel economy is said to be 20mpg, Mellor is also offering the Orion Evolution with an all-electric drivetrain for operators looking to deliver a zero-emissions operation.

Divisional managing director John Randerson says: “This vehicle plugs a niche but significant gap in the market, a gap we believe will grow as operators realise the benefits which this size appropriate vehicle can bring: large enough to cater for the peak demands in town, yet small enough to offer a viable proposition off-peak and especially on rural routes.”

Mellor, part of the Woodall Nicholson group, also manufactures the Strata, Orion, Tucana and Pico small bus models.

Author
Transport Engineer

Related Companies
Mellor Coachcraft

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