(15 Jun 2014, 7:11 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote ADL need to work with an engine manufacturer who will come up with an engine for long distance runs that is:

- At least 270bhp.
- A torque and average RPM that matches the speed of the vehicle and doesn't cause stress to the engine or other components.
- An ECU that selects the gearing ratio from gearbox by speed and not comfort or economy.
- With ref to the above: 0-15, 0- 25, 25 - 35, 35-45, 45 and above. Not settling into 4th gear at 30mph and a higher gearing ratio for higher speeds.
- NO TURBOCHARGING!

In reality, Cummins will already have such engines, the issues are fitting them onto a double deck bus chassis, with weight restrictions, without losing any passenger capacity from the increased engine size. This is a problem Scania have had, for Euro 6 their own 230/270bhp 9 litre engine is just too big to mount on a standard bus chassis, so they're using a 6.7 litre Cummins instead, with 280bhp.

I agree a new product is required for the UK market, specifically designed for higher capacity interurban bus services, though the reality is there's only a small market base for buses compared to cars, an even smaller market base for interurban low floor double deckers, resulting in the development costs being too high for it to be economically viable. As such, manufacturers have to provide a vehicle that meets the needs of most operators for most of their work, the reality being that work is town/city or short distance interurban/"suburban" type services.