SMRT Trials Mercedes Benz Citaro (O530)

ZYX2005 SG

hi all

Yes. I have always been a fan of the Citaro. having read about them in Buses magazine lent to me by my freinds. loads of praise for the buses in Europe based on what i read from the magazine.

The Citaro is a high quality product. Mercdes benz made sure it is.

Using the Buses magazine and other soruces, we have a "pre-evalaution" of the bus.

the bus front

In 2005 Oct, Mercedes benz decided to reddesign the Citaro. The front was made more friendly. The recess at the front would have hosued a radiator, but of crouse the Citaro needs no front radiator. As such a blank is left there. the shape closely resembles the fronts of the Integro and Turismo or treavego. This is for product identity

Dash

We entre the front door. the semi ciruclar shaped area of the front area will wow you. the drivers dash looks like its form a car. many compartments are avilible for the Sl to hosue his things. From bottles to umbrellas etc. The fridge cooler is a n option for the Ctiaro dash area. SLs can use it to place bottled water and keep them chilled.

The dash as Dave descirbed is soemthing altogether. It will not resmeble the OC500le. The dahs has its own branding. its called the Mercedes VDV (not DVD hor)

IFS

You take seat at the front. Along with the SL, The independant front suspension will provide a smooth ride. Both driver and you will enjoy floating sensation as he turns the steering wheel. U notcie at the front there is no fire extinguisher. that has been hidden in a compartment. You will notice the emrcedes badge porminantly displayed as well. U enjoy the ride for 7 bus stops. if u had noot fallen asleep by then , lets move on.

You step down into the gangway from the granny seat. All u see is nothing. no steps. all the way to the rear. you move forward intot he rear of the bus past the xit doors. (leaf doors?). u do not see any steps. u find a big step to climb onto the rear seat. U stare at the seat.

the City Star Eco? seat

the Ctiaro seat is integrally fitted. it is a Mercdes banrd. Called the City Star Eco. the black rubber areas on the grip extendes on the seat in an inverted trapezium shape. much like the shoulders of a man. This design seem to show the seat is trong and masculine as the inverted trapezium shape looks like shoulders flexing.

The seat indeed is strong and fixed firmely. the entire seat system reduces vibrations from the bus to you. You enjoy a real comfortable ride.

Citaro integral trademark - the roofline

You stare at the roof. a nice Wrightbus like curve but not so extreme. Strip Lighting, the comptemporary design to hosue lights of the day is sued. The lights cruve seamlessly to join the roofline and the side air-con panels. the grey ceiling and white lighting calms u down.

---No hopper window---

--- no Plug sliding train like doors ---*(you would have marvelled at this one)

-- no dieas howow the rear looks like yet. esp the last seat.

U relaise the bus emits low emmissions. with EURO 5 complaiance. the Bluetec additive is added along with the diesel fuel and mixed. The Blutetec used here is BlueTec 5, same as OC500LE.

you stay on the bus and enjoys the ride

ZYX

ZYX2005 SG

Questions of our Citaro

any hopper windows?

What about side EDS. at the top where a hopper window wd be?

how does the rear seats look like. ?

are triabgular grips used for standees?

Confirm no sliding plug rear doors?

ZYX2005 SG

Yes. Expected to be Wright Gemini II bodywork, a facelifted version of the original based on the Wright Streetcar

Wrightbus bodyworks and interior designs incoprate curves everywhere. comptemporary feel to the designs.

ZYX2005 SG

SMRT still goes for MB Germany

While Hong Kong & SBS goes either for Sweden or UK

and that SMRTBuses shd keep at it. topping it off with the Citaro is a god move. i mean good move.

nenepokey SG

most likely the last row has 4 seats, for the engine is mounted at the side. most likely mounted just beside the radiator.

ZYX2005 SG

ooh side vertically placed style?.... no wonder can full zero step to rear...

SMB66X SG

smrt should have bought yutong instead.

i love 135E. (:

Maybe that yutong might continue after citaro? But I do really wish that it does not end up like SBS8031J.

SMB66X SG

This type of Hubcap:

Warning, picture EXPLODES

Rather than:

Pictures belong to their respective photographers.

First picture showing a MB using LAWO EDS and Second picture showing a MOBITEC EDS?

TIB1224Y SG

The engine is mounted to the left of the vehicle (near-side). The radiator is on the other side (off-side).

MAN (Lion City full low floor models) and Volvo (7700 etc) do such placements as well. For double decks, the Neoplan Centroliner uses this placement.

Other than a side placement, an engine can be mounted transversely as well to accommodate a full low floor setting. This was done on the year 2000 Isuzu Erga (KL-LV834系フルノンステップバス/type B) full non-step bus model (presently discontinued) and is the only few Japanese buses that incorporate this technology. The others include the year 1996 UA Non-step bus series (later the Nissan Spacerunner) F type (FHI bodywork) and the N type (Nishi-nippon Shatai bodywork) KC/KL-UA272/460, CNG and diesel versions.

To differentiate a low floor bus and a low-entry bus, full low floor is used here to show that the bus is step-less along the entire corridor. A Citaro is a full low floor, a OC is a low entry.

Merczrox SG

smrt should have bought yutong instead.

i love 135E. (:

No way man!!!!Its a good thing SMRT didnt buy the yutong.

Merczrox SG

Maybe that yutong might continue after citaro? But I do really wish that it does not end up like SBS8031J.

I do really wish that it wld end up like 8031J.Nw i think that SMRT wont bother abt it aft they have bought real high standard European buses.Hahahaha.

Scania SG

First picture showing a MB using LAWO EDS and Second picture showing a MOBITEC EDS?

Heh, if you can tell it just by looking, then you must be a genius, Mobitec destos can produce the so called LAWO font.

SMB66X SG

I don't think they can extend the date too early in advance. But they should be doing so because without extending the O405s would mean a sudden loss of buses from its fleet. Its hard to say now because who knows by 2010 maybe SMRTB has bought enough buses to replace the whole fleet of UDs, ELBOs and O405s?

I think O405 will extend the date as service 950 needs O405. By then, if O405 are out, Hispano O405G bendy will all been use up and not a single will be a spare bus. Then OCs, Citaro & Yutong might cameo on service like 858 which cannot have bendy.

SMB66X SG

Heh, if you can tell it just by looking, then you must be a genius, Mobitec destos can produce the so called LAWO font.

Look like to me...especially the first one, which looks like OC.

sbst275 SG

and that SMRTBuses shd keep at it. topping it off with the Citaro is a god move. i mean good move.

I've been suspecting SBS or HK dun go for MB over lack of double deck models.

Honestly Citaro is nothing new if we look back to Tibs era

sbst275 SG

In 170's case, they just switch bus models as and when the bus retires or converted to FAC status.

Extend can only be a stop gap measure, eventually 950 has to use the OC500LE or Citaro if SMRT goes for MB spree

sgbuses SG

In 170's case, they just switch bus models as and when the bus retires or converted to FAC status.

Extend can only be a stop gap measure, eventually 950 has to use the OC500LE or Citaro if SMRT goes for MB spree

That's still quite far away. By then the OCs might just be lining up for mid-life upgrading. For we might know Lances be sent to do 950 first after the O405s go.

SMB66X SG

I do really wish that it wld end up like 8031J.Nw i think that SMRT wont bother abt it aft they have bought real high standard European buses.Hahahaha.

Lol.

nenepokey SG

I've been suspecting SBS or HK dun go for MB over lack of double deck models.

Honestly Citaro is nothing new if we look back to Tibs era

if TIBS still survives, the Citaros would have come in a few years ago...

lemon1974 SG

anyone have any idea on how many seats there are? from MB website, Dubai have ordered 260 buses few years back with 33 seats.. and from the photos in MB website, there are around 38 seats available with ONE Wheelchair slot. If they put two wheelchair slots, then it will be come around 34 seats...

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