Volvo B6: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Front-engined B6F series split from the rear-engined B6 series. There is no continuation between them, except for size and engines.
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{About|the rear-engined bus chassises launched in 1992|the front-engined chassises built between 1976 and 1987|Volvo B6F}}
{{About|the rear-engined bus chassises launched in 1991|the front-engined chassises built between 1976 and 1987|Volvo B6F}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
{{Infobox UK Bus
|background =
|background =
Line 8: Line 8:
|manufacturer = [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]]
|manufacturer = [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]]
|assembly = Irvine, Scotland (1992-2000)<br />Sweden (2000-2005)
|assembly = Irvine, Scotland (1992-2000)<br />Sweden (2000-2005)
|production = 1992-2005
|production = 1991-2001
|predecessor =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|successor =
Line 27: Line 27:


[[File:Avon_Buses_Volvo_B6_10.JPG|thumb|[[Avon Buses]] [[Wright Crusader]] in [[Birkenhead]] in June 2009]]
[[File:Avon_Buses_Volvo_B6_10.JPG|thumb|[[Avon Buses]] [[Wright Crusader]] in [[Birkenhead]] in June 2009]]
The '''Volvo B6 series''' was a series of bus chassis manufactured by [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] between 1992 and 2005. The series was largely aimed at the midibus market in direct competition with the [[Dennis Dart]]; however, a midicoach version was also produced.<ref name=BLOTW>[http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ Bus Lists on the Web]</ref>
The '''Volvo B6 series''' was a series of bus chassis manufactured by [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]] between 1991 and 2001. The series was largely aimed at the midibus market in direct competition with the [[Dennis Dart]]; however, a midicoach version was also produced.<ref name=BLOTW>[http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ Bus Lists on the Web]</ref>


The B6 was mainly built for the UK market, but some were exported to Hong Kong<ref>[http://www.gakei.com/cb6/cb6.htm HKBEC - Citybus Volvo B6R/B6LE]</ref> and Australia.<ref>[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/index-tdv.php Transdev NSW] Bus Australia</ref> They were also sold on Volvo's home markets, but sale volumes were quite low.
The B6 was mainly built for the UK market, but some were exported to Hong Kong<ref>[http://www.gakei.com/cb6/cb6.htm HKBEC - Citybus Volvo B6R/B6LE]</ref> and Australia.<ref>[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/index-tdv.php Transdev NSW] Bus Australia</ref> They were also sold on Volvo's home markets, but sale volumes were quite low.
Line 37: Line 37:


==Volvo B6==
==Volvo B6==
The '''Volvo B6''' was introduced in 1993 to compete with [[Dennis]]' successful [[Dennis Dart]] midibus chassis. It was initially offered in two lengths - the ''B6-50'' and the short-wheelbase ''B6-36'', the latter of which was soon replaced by the ''B6-41''. The B6 was replaced by the B6LE in 1997.
The '''Volvo B6''' was introduced in 1993 to compete with [[Dennis Special Vehicles|Dennis]]' successful [[Dennis Dart]] midibus chassis. It was initially offered in two lengths - the ''B6-50'' and the short-wheelbase ''B6-36'', the latter of which was soon replaced by the ''B6-41''. The B6 was replaced by the B6LE in 1997.


Between 1993 and 1997 a total of 627 B6s were produced.
Between 1993 and 1997 a total of 627 B6s were produced.
Line 47: Line 47:


==Volvo B6BLE==
==Volvo B6BLE==
The '''Volvo B6BLE''' was launched in 1999 as the replacement for the B6LE; production continued until 2002, when it was withdrawn. As the replacement for the B6LE, it continued to compete with the [[Dennis Dart SLF]].
The '''Volvo B6BLE''' was launched in 1999 as the replacement for the B6LE; production continued until 2001, when it was withdrawn. As the replacement for the B6LE, it continued to compete with the [[Dennis Dart SLF]].


In total, 352 B6BLEs were produced between 1999 and 2002. A further B6BLE was produced for [[Plaxton]]'s "Bus 2000" concept in 2004, followed by a second "Bus 2000" B6BLE in 2005. A third chassis was built for the "Bus 2000" project in 2005; however, it was not required, and was instead sold to [[New Zealand]] and bodied by Kiwi. The Kiwi B6BLE was the 1394th and final B6 series bus to be produced, twenty-three years after the completion of the first chassis.
In total, 352 B6BLEs were produced between 1999 and 2002. A further B6BLE was produced for [[Plaxton]]'s "Bus 2000" concept in 2004, followed by a second "Bus 2000" B6BLE in 2005. A third chassis was built for the "Bus 2000" project in 2005; however, it was not required, and was instead sold to [[New Zealand]] and bodied by Kiwi. The Kiwi B6BLE was the 1394th and final B6 series bus to be produced, fourteen years after the completion of the first chassis.


In some markets, the B6BLE was followed by short-wheelbase variants of the [[Volvo B7RLE|B7RLE]].
In some markets, the B6BLE was followed by short-wheelbase variants of the [[Volvo B7RLE|B7RLE]].
Line 69: Line 69:
{{Volvo Buses|state=collapsed}}
{{Volvo Buses|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:Volvo Buses|B6]]
[[Category:Volvo Buses|B06]]

Revision as of 12:40, 9 November 2014

This article is about the rear-engined bus chassises launched in 1991. For the front-engined chassises built between 1976 and 1987, see Volvo B6F.
Volvo B6 series
Jit Luen bodied B6LE of Citybus in Hong Kong
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo
Production1991-2001
AssemblyIrvine, Scotland (1992-2000)
Sweden (2000-2005)
Body and chassis
ClassMidibus chassis
Floor typeStep deck
Low floor
Powertrain
Engine5.5-litre front-mounted I-6
Volvo TD63, D6A
TransmissionAllison/ZF
Avon Buses Wright Crusader in Birkenhead in June 2009

The Volvo B6 series was a series of bus chassis manufactured by Volvo between 1991 and 2001. The series was largely aimed at the midibus market in direct competition with the Dennis Dart; however, a midicoach version was also produced.[1]

The B6 was mainly built for the UK market, but some were exported to Hong Kong[2] and Australia.[3] They were also sold on Volvo's home markets, but sale volumes were quite low.

Volvo B6R / B6-45

The first member of the B6 series was the Volvo B6R, a midicoach launched in mid-1992; in 1993, it was renamed to the Volvo B6-45. Unlike other members of the series, the B6R/B6-45 suffered from disappointingly low sales - by 1995, when the chassis was withdrawn from sale, only thirteen had been built.

A fourteenth B6-45, for export to Russia, was built as a one-off in 1998. No further B6-45s were ever built.

Volvo B6

The Volvo B6 was introduced in 1993 to compete with Dennis' successful Dennis Dart midibus chassis. It was initially offered in two lengths - the B6-50 and the short-wheelbase B6-36, the latter of which was soon replaced by the B6-41. The B6 was replaced by the B6LE in 1997.

Between 1993 and 1997 a total of 627 B6s were produced.

Volvo B6LE

Volvo launched the Volvo B6LE in 1995, initially as a low-floor variation of the B6 to compete with the Dennis Dart SLF. However, after sales proved promising, the B6LE completely replaced the B6 in 1997 before it was itself replaced by the B6BLE in 1999.

In total, 398 B6LEs were produced between 1995 and 1999; this includes two modified vehicles used as the testbed for the then-upcoming B6BLE.

Volvo B6BLE

The Volvo B6BLE was launched in 1999 as the replacement for the B6LE; production continued until 2001, when it was withdrawn. As the replacement for the B6LE, it continued to compete with the Dennis Dart SLF.

In total, 352 B6BLEs were produced between 1999 and 2002. A further B6BLE was produced for Plaxton's "Bus 2000" concept in 2004, followed by a second "Bus 2000" B6BLE in 2005. A third chassis was built for the "Bus 2000" project in 2005; however, it was not required, and was instead sold to New Zealand and bodied by Kiwi. The Kiwi B6BLE was the 1394th and final B6 series bus to be produced, fourteen years after the completion of the first chassis.

In some markets, the B6BLE was followed by short-wheelbase variants of the B7RLE.

Specifications

The Volvo B6 chassis was built to compete with the Dennis Dart, while the B6LE/B6BLE were built to compete with the Dennis Dart SLF. They could be fitted with Volvo TD63E/TD63ES engines (later Volvo D6A engines). The Volvo B6 prototypes were built in Austria, but the production buses were built in the United Kingdom.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Bus Lists on the Web
  2. ^ HKBEC - Citybus Volvo B6R/B6LE
  3. ^ Transdev NSW Bus Australia

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvo_B6&oldid=633083246"