The official story of London's New Routemaster bus has now been published, with help from Transport for London and contributions from personnel involved in its design and manufacture.
This behind-the-scenes book look at the evolution of the old Routemaster, written by former What Car? Editor Tony Lewin, includes full vehicle specifications and more than 200 illustrations – including design sketches, mock-ups and photographs of testing and productin.
Released in Transport for London's Year of the Bus, Lewin's book places the New Routemaster in the context of its predecessors, from horse-drawn double-deckers to the revolutionary Routemaster and the short-lived bendy bus.
Lewin explores the challenges – technical, environmental, political, economic and aesthetic.
His interviews reveal how Transport for London, manufacturer Wrightbus and design consultant Heatherwick Studio formed an unusual yet smooth-running partnership that, in his opinion, resulted in a bus for 21st century London.
