It is an intercity, excursion and school bus. It does shuttle runs and provides factory transport. It is versatile, extremely economical and safe. The new Intouro is the right bus at the right time.

The road to immense efficiency starts with choosing the right bus or coach for the job. That’s why the new Intouro covers the whole spectrum, where high-floor buses are concerned. It starts as the 12.18-metre-long Intouro and 13.09-metre-long Intouro M. Then, in spring 2022, the handy Intouro K (10.75 metres) will follow, along with the 14.88-metre-long Intouro L, the first three-axle vehicle in the series.

Form and function achieve perfect unity. Typical of the functional bodywork is the brand’s standard front unit of grille and headlamps. The almost seamless, smooth side walls are easy to clean and simple to decorate with lettering or advertisements, as is the tail with its engine compartment flap free from ventilation slits. The advantages can be put into numbers: in comparison to its predecessors, fuel consumption has been reduced by up to three percent. The causative factor here, alongside the aerodynamically optimised bodywork, is a reduction in weight of around 300 kilograms, depending on the model.

The new Intouro is a bus made to measure, something that is visible externally in the various different destination plate options, the choice of single or double-leaf rear doors, and the ability to choose between a more economical semi-automatic or a fully automatic wheelchair lift. Certain components reduce the costs, for example, headlamps from the Daimler Group parts range. This ensures simple, cost-effective replacement part supply.

The new Intouro is truly practical. Robust and easily exchanged corner bumpers minimise costs. Where full-length glass doors are employed on regular scheduled services, a narrow metal-clad panel is inserted at the bottom. This significantly reduces repair costs after minor impacts, as the entire door pane need not be replaced.

The Intouro also shows flexibility in its fittings. You can see this, for example, in the wing mirrors. The standard mirrors on brackets are particularly cost-effective and can be replaced easily if damaged by any of the bumps and scrapes they receive on the daily route. However, the Intouro also comes with elegant integrated mirrors. They can be selected separately or chosen as part of the “Exterior” package of fittings for excursion and travel transportation. This lifts the Intouro to the level of a refined travel coach.

It includes, on the exterior, a silver-edged front grille, a motor air intake grille in the colour of the vehicle and a black-tinted rear dome. A silver strip below the rear window underlines the sense of tasteful restraint. The “interior” package greets passengers with a silver-effect handrail and stand-out brand lettering to the side of the middle console. The driver has a handy steering wheel clad in composition leather, instruments framed in chrome and shelves with inserts coloured “iron grey”.

But it’s the standard design as an intercity bus that really brings its all. Separating walls in real glass and a single-piece rear dome are examples of the high-quality design of the passenger compartment, as is the mid-level deck framed in aluminium sections. The comfortable feeling is also supported by the light, friendly colour-scheme of the interior.

The modularity of the Intouro is also made clear by the luggage racks. Depending on the job, the Intouro can be designed without racks and air ducts. The racks can also come with openings underneath or, for excursions, without openings. In addition, air ducts and service sets with individual reading lights or air nozzles can be freely combined. Also variable is the seating arrangement, with a choice between Inter Star Eco (ISE) for regular bus service or Travel Star Eco (TSE). Variants can be built on these, such as the inclusion of a removable platform opposite the middle door or a fold-up double seat in the area of the rear double-width door 2 to maximise the number of seats.

The driver’s cockpit is designed in a perfectly ergonomic fashion From its shape to the multifunctional steering wheel and colour screen, it offers the level of functionality you would expect from a travel coach. At the same time, it is practically arranged to be able to take cash register and payment systems for use as a regular bus. Intouro also means high-tech: the bus can optionally be fitted with the new Keyless Start access system. Here, the motor is started by pressing a button. The standard equipment also includes an electronic handbrake.

The Intouro is breaking new ground with its exemplary assistance systems. It is the first bus or coach available anywhere in the world with the emergency braking assistant Active Brake Assist 5. The optional turning aid Sideguard Assist with person recognition is also setting benchmarks. Both assistance systems support the driver and protect the most vulnerable road users.

Another meaning of efficiency: the Intouro drive is based on tried and tested components. Variety is also the abiding impression here. The motor range runs from a compact sixcylinder in-line Mercedes-Benz OM 936 with 7.7 l displacement and 220 kW (299 PS) up to the OM 470 with 10.7 l displacement and 290 kW (394 PS) in the three-axle Intouro. The choice of transmission is even wider. Depending on the model, you can go for a six-speed manual gearbox, the fully automatic eight-speed Mercedes-Benz GO 250-8 PowerShift or a converter automatic transmission by Voith or ZF.

The next step for the new Intouro has already been planned out: it is expected that, from the start of 2022, hybrid models will be rolled out. These will once again significantly reduce fuel consumption.

With OMNIplus ON Uptime, you are always a few steps ahead with repairs and maintenance. OMNIplus ON Uptime carries out automatic and continuous analysis, using the most modern telemetrics technologies, of millions of transmitted vehicle data, on the basis of bus-specific requirements. The system categorizes the notifications and derives practical and effective recommendations for action for you.

The bus and coach-specific telematics services from OMNIplus ON can also be used for your existing fleet management and ITC systems. With the vehicle data interfaces, you can call up data points directly from the bus or coach then store, process and analyse them at will in standardised formats in your own system. There is no need to install additional hardware.