OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2012. After intensive testing an international jury consisting of 17 bus and coach specialist journalists voted the Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI the clear winner of the Bus Euro Test.

 “From its headlamps to its rear spoiler this is just one series of surprises all rolled into a bus” writes specialist magazine ‘Omnibusrevue’ in its September 1st, 2012 issue, announcing the winner of the fiercely contended title of “Bus of the Year 2013”. The prize will be awarded on September 18th, 2012, at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover.

“Receiving this coveted distinction was a tremendous success for us” says Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses. “In recent years we have invested a lot in our new products and technologies. Our whole team has worked very hard. This award means a great validation of our work and it is important for us that its result convinces not only the specialist journalists but – in the opinion of the jury – passengers, drivers and bus operators as well.” According to the jury the new Citaro impresses with its interaction of highly useful innovations. These are directed at reducing maintenance costs and improving environmental compatibility as well as enhancing the safety of driver, passengers and other road users. Apart from this, the jury highlighted the modern design as well as the future compatibility of the vehicle.

Among the features the jury appreciated, some examples are the ESP Electronic Stability Programme and the fact that future regulations such as the roll-over regulation (EC R 66/01) and the Euro VI exhaust gas regulation were already taken into consideration. At the same time, the new Citaro Euro VI weighs less and consumes less fuel.
“If there is one thing that left a lasting impression from the bus, it is of the overall quality of the whole product, coupled with the feeling that the development team has looked at every aspect and knows why it is as it is. Perhaps this is why several of the jury expressed the opinion that, ‘I couldn’t see any faults’”, writes journalist Stuart Jones, Chairman of the jury, in the latest issue of the British specialist magazine Bus & Coach Buyer.
In the four-day-long tests in Versailles the new Citaro prevailed over four competitors: the MAN Lion's City Hybrid, the Irisbus Citelis Hybrid, the VDL Citea LLE-120/225 and the Volvo 7900 Hybrid.