FOCUSSING on making a journey on a public bus “a real experience”, high-end German bus operator Spillmann has taken ownership of five custom-spec Citaros with “eye-catching” interiors.
Though arguably the type of design treatment traditionally reserved for display purposes only at bus shows, the four Citaro hybrids and one Citaro G – all with Sideguard Assist technology – are making local Bietigheim-Bissingen / Mannheim and beyond passenger journeys even more memorable, the company says.
For years, Spillmann has put a lot of effort into making such bespoke ‘bus experiences’ and these five new Mercedes-Benz buses have been individually designed and customised for just that.
The Mannheim-based bus plant’s managing director of Omnibusverkehr Spillmann GmbH, Bülent Menekse, took delivery of four Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrids and the one Citaro articulated bus from Rüdiger Kappel, head of Fleet Sales, Daimler Buses, Germany.
PRIDE IN SAFETY
The Spillmann MBs offer efficient hybrid components and the Sideguard Assist safety system, the company confirms. The radar-based Sideguard Assist supports the bus driver when making critical right turns; it detects both stationary and mobile obstacles, such as cyclists or pedestrians, Daimler explains.
Citaro passengers receive not only Wi-Fi, USB charging sockets and comprehensive infotainment, but special interiors with every vehicle designed according to a theme.
For example, there is the ‘Skipper’-themed vehicle, which has a floor made of ship planks and printed side walls giving passengers a view of the open sea or sandy beaches, apparently.
In the ‘Astronomy’ bus – and probably the coolest one, we say – the floor (deceptively 3D-ish from the right angle) is printed like the surface of the moon and the side walls show a view from the moon to the earth and into the universe, Mercedes-Benz says.
The ‘Bietigheim’ vehicle (the local area) visualises the highlights of the Bietigheim-Bissingen region on the side walls. The floor has a quarry stone design.
In the ‘Vintage’ bus, Spillmann gave the side walls a colourful 1960s design and it additionally features untreated steel handrails with a vintage character, the company explains.
In the Citaro articulated bus the seat colours create four different zones. This ‘mobility’ bus features an asphalt flooring design including tyre tracks and central reservation.
ABOUT SPILLMANN
Years ago, the bus company started to make local public transport more attractive with cool and unique vehicles, Daimler says.
Spillmann’s company philosophy is to stand out from other run-of-the-mill public buses by creating buses offering a special experience, it says. This means virtually every Spillmann public service bus has special design highlights: from handrails in a chrome or vintage look to eye-catching printed floors and side walls or specially upholstered seats.
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Photography: courtesy Daimler AG