The new VISEON C10: premium midi-format coach (short version)

•    The first premium coach completely developed and produced by VISEON offers travel comfort of the highest level
•    New premium class in midibus sector


In May 2010, the bus manufacturer from Pilsting in Lower Bavaria is presenting its first coach completely developed and produced in-house - the VISEON C10. As a new midi coach in premium class, the VISEON C10 not only focuses on design, comfort and fittings. Technical details, such as the special roof construction with raised beams and headroom to the rear, the powerful but economical drive, the top-quality chassis and the extensive safety features, all set standards in this class. So the VISEON C10 achieves the compactness and agility of a midibus without having to compromise on the comfort and safety of a "big" coach.

The VISEON C10 is not derived from a longer model, but rather represents a standalone vehicle concept, which has been specially created for the requirements of a coach for small groups:
•    Compact with sufficient space in the passenger and luggage areas
•    Light, with powerful but nevertheless economical drive
•    Comfortable with full-format chassis fit for travel and
•    safe, with everything that modern framework construction and electronics have to offer.

The design team around designer Michael Streicher have given the VISEON C10 an expressive and elegant appearance with harmonious proportions and a lively and dynamic line. Distinctive: multiple use of the VISEON-V; a little one underneath the windscreen or elegantly shaped over the B and C columns on the side. Other accents come from the boomerang-like headlights and lighting elements on the front and rear. The striking headlights with daytime lamp give the VISEON coach its characteristic eagle appearance.

VISEON are using LED technology for all outside lights for the first time on a coach, except for the main and high-beam lights and the fog lights. In addition to the usual side marker lights, all indicators and brake lights on the front, side and rear now benefit from the durable, fail-proof and energy-saving LED technology. In addition, the VISEON C10 has subtle LED daytime lamps that enable energy-saving travel without main headlights. VISEON also offers main and high-beam headlights with extremely clear bi-xenon lamps. Adaptive headlights already come as standard.

The light-weight and stable, self-supporting structure has been welded from precision-lasered square bar steel using tried and tested all round spar technology. The whole steel tube construction is reliably and permanently protected against corrosion with a top-quality KTL primer down to the smallest elbow. Therefore, VISEON makes a 6-year guarantee against perforation corrosion. Front and rear are made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic, the side walls are lined with galvanised steel plate. The extremely light aluminium luggage flaps and doors get their unusual stability from the double-leaf method familiar from car doors. The luggage space flaps, the engine space flap and the service flaps are attached at the top with newly developed multi-link hinges. This enables an unusually large opening angle of over 140 degrees. The luggage space with more than six cubic metres offers enough space for the baggage of up to 41 guests.

Entry is convenient via three, 220-milimetre-high steps. The escort space has generous legroom and can be fitted with a single or double seat. There is a 55-litre fridge and space for travel documents beneath the large flap in the dashboard. The dashboard is made of top-quality composite materials with a soft-touch surface and is a distinctive chocolate-brown colour, making a pleasant change to the industry-standard grey.

The instrument area is slightly tilted in the driver's direct line of vision. Two large round instruments and central multi-function display show all necessary information at a glance. The switches for service functions like door openings, toilet, hostess call or reading light are on the right, with the switches for drive functions like lights, fog lights, sun blinds or mirror adjustment, on the left. There is plenty of storage space in the VISEON C10: a large, closable drawer to the right of the driver offers A4-sized space for travel documents or other paraphernalia. Other storage space and holders are located beneath the driver's window, to the left of the driver's seat and in the gear lever console. The designed space for the driver's area is so generous that even tall people can find a comfortable sitting and working position.

Another step leads to the spacious passenger area. The central aisle offers headroom of at least 1,980 millimetres along its whole length. This is possible because the roof is raised over the central aisle in the rear section. A panoramic window has also been added here. The spacious luggage racks offer enough space even for larger bags. The comfortably designed interior with four harmonised basic colours of light beige, chocolate-brown, black and aluminium-grey can be individually designed from the large selection of upholstery and colour-matched carpets for the wall cladding. The roof channel with its multi-function aluminium profile represents a world first and a substantial innovation on the new VISEON C10. This profile contains a rail system for attractive service sets with reading lights and hostess call, which can be installed at as many points as you wish. The show-stopper: The power supply for the service sets is already integrated in the profile. Therefore, there is no need for cables or failure-prone connectors to be fitted in the roof channel.

The heating and air conditioning system developed by VISEON ensures a good climate. It is electronically controlled as standard and provides an indirect ventilation system with outlets at the aisle and windows. The air conditioning is available with different power performance of 24 kW or 32 kW. The customer has a choice of seating: VISEON offers price-neutral top-quality passenger seats from Kiel and Vogel. The standard Blaupunkt audio system provides entertainment and information. There is a video system with 19-inch folding monitor above the driver's seat and a further 19-inch monitor, which is positioned above the middle toilet. For rear entry, two 10.2-inch monitors are positioned at the side instead of the second 19-inch monitor.

To ensure that guests are not only comfortable but also safe during travel, VISEON has equipped the premium midibus VISEON C10 with the latest chassis on the market: The tried and tested MAN coach chassis that is now available in modular construction. At the front, the five-link axle with independent MAN VOS-08 suspension ensures drive comfort and safety of the highest level. At the rear, you have the MAN HY-1336 drive axle, which is equipped with a special bus suspension with broad spring track. Despite a relatively low permissible overall weight of 16 tonnes, the VISEON C10 is built on a full coach chassis and, thus, profits from big brakes with 430-milimetre discs, coach tyres of class 295/80 R 22.5 (optional: 275/70 R 22.5) fitted as standard ex works and sufficient reserves with regard to load and performance.

The ESP stability programme will be available on the basic version from Autumn, as will cruise control and brake control. Further electronic drive assist programmes, such as lane guard system (LGS) with vibration warning integrated in the driver's seat or the adaptive cruise control (ACC) are available on request – very unusual for the midibus class!

VISEON has emphasised the environmental credentials of the bus as a means of transport by using a relatively low-volume and, thus, fuel-saving engine with extremely low CO2 and Nox emissions. The VISEON C10 has a 6.9-litre in-line six cylinder MAN D0836 LOH Euro 5 engine. The basic version engine provides 213 kW/290 hp and has a torque of 1,100 Nm at 1,500 min-1. Later on, VISEON will also offer the new midi in an even more powerful version with 240 kW/326 hp and a maximum torque of 1,250 newton metres. Both driving gears are also available in the Euro-5 version without the use of additional operating materials. A manual, ZF 6 S 1901, six-speed gear box transfers the engine power to the drive axle. Gear changing is effected via cable pull and is pneumatically supported in the gear mechanism.