Magelys crowned 'International Coach of the Year 2016'

Wednesday 16th September 2015

The International Bus & Coach of the Year Jury, made up of senior journalists from 22 of Europe’s leading bus and coach industry publications, has voted the Iveco Magelys “International Coach of the Year 2016”, beating five other contenders: the Setra TopClass S516HDH, Neoplan Skyliner, Volvo B11R Sunsundegui SC7, Temsa HD12 and VDL Futura FMD2-129/370. The winner was decided following this year’s Coach Euro Test event, which was held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second city, in June.

Everything in the Magelys has been designed to increase visibility, encourage discovery and allow passengers to fully enjoy the journey. In comparison to a traditional coach, the standard roof side glazing panels provide a truly panoramic view. This overriding feeling of spaciousness and transparency makes the Magelys truly original, allied to a refined elegance that highlights the high-value aspect of the vehicle.

With its two possible lengths: 12.2m and 12.8m, and versions: Magelys Line and Magelys Pro, the Magelys family meets the varied needs of transport companies in the tourism and line market. Illustrating the flexibility of the design, the Magelys tested in Bulgaria was fitted with all the required devices for emerging regional and international coach line business following German and French deregulation.

The vehicle on show in Plovdiv was presented on the basis of being the most-equipped version of the coach. A Magelys Pro, the vehicle featured a wheelchair lift with a dedicated door and a demountable table arrangement enabling drivers to easily help a disabled passenger board without having to remove seats, 46 Kiel leather seats, toilets, three motorised LCD monitors, connectivity with Wi-Fi, 220 V and USB plugs, GPS and a road camera.

Unusually – indeed uniquely among the candidates – the Magelys does not utilise EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) to control engine exhaust emissions, relying instead solely on SCR (selective catalytic reduction). Furthermore, the vehicle’s Iveco Cursor 9 engine has a capacity of 8.7 litres, yet delivers 294 kW (400 hp) and torque of 1,700 Nm at 1,250 rpm. The engine is matched to a ZF AS-Tronic automated transmission, delivering a very comfortable drive. Fuel consumption is reduced by up to 10% compared with Euro V, helped by a 200 kg weight reduction and optimised aerodynamics.

Naturally, Magelys – protected against corrosion by a cataphoresis treatment for a longer career – also has all the latest safety features, such as LDWS and AEBS, and includes a self-supporting structure that complies with roll-over test R66/01. This international regulation ensures the coach’s structure remains safe and secure for passengers in case of a roll-over accident.

The Coach of the Year jury says: “The Magelys is not a new name in the coach market, but jurors appreciated the Euro VI approach, which offers an array of innovations that go beyond the ‘Silver Smile’ frontal styling that is now a prominent feature of all members of the Iveco range.

“Iveco has focused on efficiency with the Magelys, and jurors appreciated how this manifests in a number of ways designed to reduce the total cost of ownership for the operator. A significant factor in the appeal of the Magelys was the price-to-quality ratio, combining value for money with a vehicle that does not compromise on the specification or the standard of materials used. Furthermore, it is a vehicle that can be used for a variety of roles and for a full life.”

Sylvain Blaise, Head of Iveco Bus, says: “We are very proud that the Magelys emerged victorious and was named Coach of the Year 2016 after extensive test drives involving strong competitors. This demonstrates that the vehicle is attractive and uniquely meets the developing regional and international routes in Germany and France.”

The trophy will be presented on the Iveco Bus stand at the Busworld exhibition in Kortrijk, Belgium, which will open its doors to the public on October 16-21, 2015.

The last Iveco coach to win the International Coach of the Year title was the EuroClass HD in 1995.