World premiere:
The new VISEON C13 –
premium coach of 12.7-metre length

•    The second model in the VISEON C series offers high capacity and the best travel comfort
•    “Open Space” creates a feeling of greater space and allows at least 1.97 metres of headroom along the whole length
•    Top operating comfort for the driver
•    Engines with 400 hp and 440 hp are available


VISEON Bus GmbH is expanding its range of coaches and with the VISEON C13 is presenting its first coach over twelve metres long at the   IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover from 23rd – 30th  September 2010. The C13 is designed as a two-axle vehicle of 12.70 metres in length, offering up to four additional seats. Managing Director Joachim Reinmuth: “With the VISEON C13 we have developed a vehicle that is specifically aimed at customers with an increased capacity requirement for short trips and excursions. As with our first coach, the midibus VISEON C10, we are once again living up to our claim to be a niche supplier of top-quality premium coaches.” The VISEON C13 is the first coach in the premium class of 12.7 metres in length. This bus stands out due to a pioneering design, the highest level of drive comfort and drive safety, as well as superior standard equipment.


The concept:
perfect proportions thanks to modular system
The VISEON Development Team under Ernö Bartha created a modular system for the midibus VISEON C10, which allows for different lengths, such as the current 12.7 metres, with just a few additional modules. Another advantage of the newly developed system: As for the midibus VISEON C10, VISEON is also offering the C13 with a choice of central and rear entry. The self-supporting bodywork with a tube frame in all round spur technology gives the VISEON C13 shape, stability and security with a comparably low weight. Just like the C10, the VISEON C13 also measures 3.56 metres high, and, thus, is streamlined and fits into garages. Nevertheless, it is high enough to offer enough room for a spacious luggage section and headroom in the aisle. All VISEON C series coaches have the standard front section including entry in common, as well as the rear overhang with striking rear and parts of the middle construction. With an extension of the wheelbase to 6,750 millimetres and the front overhang by 450 millimetres to 2,650 millimetres, the engineers have achieved the overall length of 12,700 millimetres with ideal proportions. The VISEON C13 model with central entry and minimum seat spacing of 785 millimetres in all positions (four star) offers space for up to 48 guests. Up to 44 passengers can be seated in the five-star version with seat spacing of 870 millimetres. Only four and five-star models will be available at the start of production.

The design:
dynamic, elegant and distinctive
The VISEON design language with its elegant lines and distinctive features characterises the new VISEON C13. Overall length and height, the height of the window line, the side panelling and luggage flaps are all connected in a visually pleasing relationship. As a central design element of the side section, the VISEON V soars elegantly over the B and C column and tapers away gently on the roof edge. This roof edge, also called roof rounding, covers the central in-roof air conditioning with its striking raised design and, thus, contributes substantially to the cheerfully and harmoniously proportioned appearance of the sides.

The stylised V repeats – sometimes larger, sometimes smaller – on the front and the rear. The headlights and light elements also follow the characteristic VISEON V shape. The front of the VISEON C13 has a friendly and self-confident appearance. The large, deep-design front windscreen with its smiling bottom edge curving upwards suggests a kind openness. The headlights and daytime lamp give the new VISEON coach its characteristic eagle appearance and also a sporty look. The striking form of the front headlights is repeated in the rear lights, giving the C13 a distinctive appearance from the rear as well.


The coachwork: well-thought-out technology down to the last detail
Design and function go hand-in-hand on the VISEON C13. For example, the high roof rounding not only fulfils aesthetic demands. It also acts as a trough that stops rainwater from running from the roof over the side windows. Additionally, the rounding acts as a channel for running all the cables and hoses and piping for the air conditioning. The ventilation ducts in the narrow ceiling lining are, therefore, free of disruptive inserts and the air is fed without disruption straight to the air outlets for ventilation of the passenger area.

With its functionality, the special design of the roof edge adds to the overall design of the modular, self-supporting tube frame. The light-weight and extremely stable structure has been welded from precision-lasered square bar steel using tried and tested all round spar technology and has two defined antiroll bars in the area of the B column and at the rear. Of course, the coachwork is certified in accordance with the latest tightened standard ECE R66 on antiroll stability. 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.

The connection between the self-supporting framework and the chassis and drive modules is effected at defined points that do not cover any hollow spaces and, therefore, can easily be re-protected against rust after fitting.

Whilst the front and rear sections consist of glass fibre reinforced plastic, the panelling and the side walls are lined with fully galvanised steel plate, which is firmly connected under tension. The extremely light aluminium luggage flaps and doors get their unusual stability and torsional stiffness from the double-leaf method familiar from car doors. The smooth outer surface is firmly connected to the stabilising inner of bevelled steel. The luggage space flaps, the engine space flap and the service flaps are all attached with the newly developed multi-link hinges. These facilitate an unusually large opening angle of over 140 degrees. This makes the luggage space and service points particularly accessible. The attractive wheel arches of corrosion-free, glass fibre reinforced plastic are designed as universal models for left and right and can be removed if needed.

The luggage space and the service points:
generously sized and easily accessible.
The high design with an aisle height of 1,270 millimetres above road level facilitates a voluminous luggage space with 10.0 cubic metres with rear entry and 9.1 metres with central entry. This can be accessed via three large flaps. With central entry you can have either a driver’s couch or an additional storage space behind the central door.

The main control panel for the vehicle electronics is also stored in the luggage space, well-protected  yet easily accessible. Other control panels are located close to the consumers, in the area of the front and rear doors and behind the service flap underneath the driver's seat. This service area also houses the batteries on a pull-out slide, a circuit breaker and a 15-litre container for the screen wash system. The spare wheel is stored behind the fold-down fairing. The VISEON engineers have fitted the diesel tank between the wheelhouses of the front axle. This can be filled from both sides as standard.


The vehicle lighting: LED technology throughout
Apart from the main, side and fog lights, all rear lights, indicators, brake and position lights on the new VISEON C13 now benefit from the durable, fail-proof and energy-saving LED technology. VISEON also offers main and high-beam headlights with extremely clear and wide-illumination bi-xenon lamps. An adaptive light that - controlled by the wheel lock on the left axle - switches off the right or left fog light as needed, comes as standard on the VISEON C13.


The driver’s workstation:
generous, clear and practical
Entry to the VISEON C13 is convenient via three, 220-milimetre-high steps. The escort space has generous legroom and can be fitted with a single or double seat. As the attachment points are identical for both models, customers can also choose to change to seat later on. 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 curves around on the driver's side around the workstation at the wheel. 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. In a very clear, user-friendly and practical layout, the switches for service functions like door openings, toilet, hostess call or reading light are on the right, whilst the switches for drive functions like lights, fog lights, sun blinds or mirror adjustment, are on the left. The lever for the handbrake is also on the left at the front, directly next to the driver.

The optional navigation device with optional rear view camera function, the electronic heating and air conditioning controls with VISEON’s own control, the audio and video system and the digital tachograph are arranged at the front on the right-hand side of the screen integrated into the dashboard and are easy to access from top to bottom. There is still sufficient space underneath for a large, closing drawer, which is A4 sized and can be used to store travel documents or other paraphernalia. There are further pockets and holders, for example under the driver’s window and an elegant roller cover in the gear lever console.

The driver in the VISEON C13 has a comfortable and ergonomically optimised seat slightly beneath the passenger level, meaning he is not in the passengers' direct line of sight. The designed space for the driver's area is so generous that even tall people can find a comfortable sitting and working position. The workstation impresses with outstanding panoramic visibility. The new type of outside mirrors offer an excellent view to the rear, side and directly in front of the vehicle. A vibration-damping element in the mirror arm reduces vibrations, which also helps to improve visibility. The special glass of the mirrors reduce glare at night (Nightsafe®). Mirrors are also available with water-repellent glass (Hydrosafe®). Customers may also order a camera-supported blind spot assist at extra cost. This used four LED lights in the mirror to warn the driver when vehicles or obstacles are in the blind area to the left of the vehicle.

The passenger area:
comfort, elegance and “Open Space”
Another step leads to the spacious passenger area. The central aisle -  slight slope at the front - offers headroom of at least 1,970 millimetres along its whole length. The ceiling opens out into a dome-like extension with generously sized panoramic window at the rear. VISEON has applied for a patent on this unique roof extension behind the centrally located air conditioning system, which is called “Open Space”. It guarantees sufficient headroom and generous clearance in the aisle at the rear and in the slightly raised area above the engine.

The spacious luggage racks are upholstered underneath and offer enough space even for larger bags. Slightly curved brackets connect the rack to the ceiling at regular intervals. This tried and tested design not only counters disruptive movement and vibrations. It also helps to keep the vehicle's overall weight as low as possible, as this system is much lighter than free-running supports and their extensive anchors. The cross members of the luggage racks are also home to the aisle lighting and loud speakers.

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 ceiling lining is a neutral light beige tone and is made from top-quality, completely recyclable plastic. This comprises a stable base layer of ABS plastic and thermoplastic polyurethane layer fused to this in a coextrusion process, which not only gives the ceiling a light grain, but also a sophisticated soft-touch.

Roof channel with integrated power supply
The roof channel with its multi-function aluminium profile represents a substantial innovation on the new VISEON C13. This profile not only forms the ventilation channel with the air outlets for even room ventilation. It also contains a rail system for the side curtains and 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. Advantage: no cables or failure-prone connectors 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. Thus, there is a pleasant, draught-free climate in the whole passenger area whatever the weather. The air conditioning is available with 32 kW or 39 kW cooling capacity. Maintenance-free convectors can heat the inside evenly and provide pleasant radiant heat. Additional entry heaters on the front door and also on the rear door on request prevent cold getting in at this point. The side windows are a new type of insulating glass and so also ensure even temperatures inside and also contribute to the vehicle's low weight Due to demonstrably better stability than with the standard 4.0-milimetre sheets of glass inside and outside, two 3.0-milimetre-thick layers of glass are used here.

The customer has a choice of seating:  VISEON offers price-neutral top-quality passenger seats from Kiel and Vogel. The basic equipment includes adjustable back rests, folding arm rests and seatbelts, as well as a large selection of upholstery. All exposed seats are equipped with 3-point seatbelts. Variants are available with footrest, folding table with drink's holder, leather edging or full leather upholstery. The standard Blaupunkt audio system provides entertainment and information, alongside 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. A 19-inch screen recessed in the ceiling is also available.

The chassis:
drive comfort and safety at the highest level
The comfort and safety of the passengers are largely determined by the quality and performance of the chassis. The VISEON C13 – presented for the first time at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2010 – is equipped with the latest chassis available on the market: 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. Thanks to a technical axle load of 13.0 tonnes at the rear and 7.5 tonnes at the front, the chassis has sufficient reserves. In some European countries, for example France, registration is also easily possible with a permissible overall weight of 19 tonnes.

A further advantage of the latest MAN chassis is the modern safety equipment on the VISEON C13. The ESP stability programme will be available on the basic version as will cruise control and top speed limiter. Further electronic drive assist programmes, such as lane guard system (LGS) with vibration alarm integrated in the driver's seat or the adaptive cruise control (ACC) are available on request when series production starts.

The drive:
powerful, economical and environmentally-friendly
The VISEON C13 is available with two different engines. A 10.5-litre in-line six cylinder MAN D2066 LOH EEV with 400 hp (294 kW) in the basic version provides an extremely economical, environmentally-friendly yet powerful drive. This engine has a torque of 1,900 Nm at 1.000 – 1,400 min-1. Customers can also order the VISEON with a 12.4-litre six-cylinder MAN D 2676 LOH 26 (EEV) with 440 hp (324 kW) and a maximum torque of 2,100 Nm at 950 – 1,400 min-1. Thanks to modern common-rail technology, a cooled exhaust gas recirculation and an electronically controlled filter, both power trains even in the offered EEV version run without using additional operating fluids.

VISEON is also offering two alternatives transmissions. Whilst in the 400-hp version the standard offering is a manual, ZF 6 S 1901, six-speed gear box to transfer the engine power to the drive axle, the larger engine is equipped with the power-shift 12-gear ZF AS-Tronic transmission. This is also available for the 400-hp engine. Two different axle drive rations can be selected for the drive axle.

The service:
across Europe around the clock
VISEON customers can rely on fast assistance and a reliable replacement parts service if required. Around 35 partner firms in the important Central European countries are ready to assist VISEON customers if required. These partners are specially trained to handle VISEON buses.
A team of coach specialists are also available on our own 24-hour Service Hotline on +49 (0)995 398 099 3333. Thanks to the MAN technology in drive and chassis, VISEON customers can also call on a wide network of workshops across the whole of Europe.

The production concept:
highest quality “made in Germany”
VISEON produces the new VISEON C13 midibus exclusively at its lead production site in Pilsting, Lower Bavaria. To this end, the company installed a new bodyshell line with new, cutting-edge frame welding machinery last year. Qualified staff put the precision-lasered and prefitted components together here into a complete frame and weld them into a high-strength vehicle frame. Then the steel tube frame is taken by low loader for KTL priming. The frame returns to the production line two days later and receives the modules for chassis and drive. The components supplied by MAN are then removed from the transfer chassis and individually integrated into the tube frame at defined points. Then the staff attack the pre-tensioned side plates and fit the roof. This is designed in three parts and already has all openings and sealing frames for the air conditioning system. Paintwork, window installation and final fitting with interior finishings are also effected by experienced staff using tried and tested classic methods at the Pilsting site. The VISEON C13 is produced in less than 90 days in a cutting-edge factory under the “Made in Germany” quality seal.

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