What is coming down the line from Prevost
About 30 shells out, Prevost will be equipping the new rigs beginning at number 08-9-xx with a built in band-type tire pressure AND temperature meter. For those who watch for tire pressure and temperatures, this will be displayed in real time on the Pilot's dash.
Under discussion with the use of the Volvo engine which is in Prevost coaches now, is the Swedish system of combining water and urea for reduced emissions. for those who may not have had the time to think this through yet, the fueling of urea in the engine may make the Taco Twins tour a visage of the future, and minimize the need for black tank dumping. Hmmm.
The Prevost Car Company Version
Been traveling today and have found some good discussion here.
This is the Prevost 'party line' on the topics that have been addressed.
Prevost has used DD engines for a very long time. There is an article over on prevost-stuff about a 1951 motorhome built completely by Prevost...still on the road.
The company settled on the 8V92 originally due to its long development history; in various versions the engine had been tweaked for almost 50 years. The primary market for the engine was the over-the-road trucker. Due to competitive pressures, and an emergine marine market, DD developed the Series 60. This was introduced into Prevost shells around 1994 and became a big sales pitch for the converters...and indeed has proven to be a good engine. We've hashed over the differences here many times...better gas mileage, higher torque on the low end, and so on.
The other thing that the truckers wanted was a 500hp+ engine, which sealed the deal for Detroit and the engine was discontinued. Pretty much end of the discussion, since buses were a small part of the market for DD. there are some 1994-1995 Series 60 XLV coaches with 5-speed transmissions as the six speed was temporarily unavailable. Allison's inventory was bought out by the Army to replace the trannies in the Abrams Tank, used in Gulf War I. As transmissions were available, they would put them in. So during this brief period some 5-speeds were made, other 6-speeds.
With increased requirements for EPA emissions standards, Prevost had a choice: Build a coach with a Series 60 that put out something like 660F at the tip of the exhaust with all the mechanicals to meet the standards, or find another engine.
Last spring at the Liberty Stuart Rally, Frank Konigseder, Liberty President, with a bevy of Prevost execs surrounding him, announced that Prevost would be going to the new Volvo engine. He also noted that anyone who wanted a tried and true engine should, "Buy one now," as the cut-in was coming sooner rather than later. Volvo already had the old Mack engine plant in Hagerstown, MD and it was determined that the 12.7 liter engine, tested in Sweden, would be produced in the old Mack plant and would be put in chassis...soon. This too, would be eventually a roof exhaust coach.
As to the entertainer issue.
The primary business of Prevost is the seated coach, which we all forget about. The entertainer coach is as special a design as the motorhome shell. It is designed for maximum comfort for those who travel and larger bays. Fleet owners of the Prevost entertainer have tested other manufacturers and prefer the Prevost primary for the ride. Many of those on such coaches are sleeping during the ride and are doing so at about 5 and 1/2 off the deck and need to be rested at the end of the journey. The Prevost entertainer coach seems to fit the bill for that.
Around the corner from where I am writing at this moment in Lakeland, FL, there is a guy who owns 200 entertainers and leases them on a long term basis to companies who sublet them them to entertainers. Other bus companies have tried to court him, but he is solid on the Prevost.
Had enough?
Me too.
Enjoy the Holidays!
