Caetano Levante

The Caetano Levante is a coach body built by Salvador Caetano on Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF, Scania K EB, Volvo B8R, Volvo B9R, Volvo B11R, Volvo B12B and Volvo B13R chassis, exclusively for National Express in the United Kingdom. It was specifically designed to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.[1][2][3]

Caetano Levante
Stotts Coaches Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9R in Blackpool in May 2013
Overview
ManufacturerSalvador Caetano
Body and chassis
Doors1
Floor typeStep entrance, wheelchair access at entrance using a lift
ChassisMercedes-Benz OC 500 RF
Scania K EB
Volvo B8R
Volvo B9R
Volvo B11R
Volvo B12B
Volvo B13R
Powertrain
TransmissionVolvo I-Shift 6-speed
ZF Ecomat automatic
Scania Opticruise
Dimensions
Length12.60 m (41 ft 4 1⁄8 in) (2 axles)
14.20–14.90 m (46 ft 7 in–48 ft 10 5⁄8 in) (3 axles)
Width2.55 m (8 ft 4 3⁄8 in)
Height3.70 m (12 ft 1 5⁄8 in)
Chronology

Originally only available on the Volvo B12B chassis, the Levante enabled both able-bodied and wheelchair passengers to enter the vehicle via the front door, using a combination of a front-mounted lift and two single pedestal-mounted seats in place of the traditional double at the front nearside of the passenger area. It is used by most National Express contractors although some continue to purchase Plaxton Elites.

This model is similar to a Portuguese market model, Caetano Winner, which was presented in 2004 and was born from a collaboration with Evobus with the first units being equipped with Mercedes-Benz OC500 chassis, but other manufacturers' chassis can be applied.

Levante III

In September 2017, the Levante III was launched with prototypes built for National Express contractors Edwards Coaches on a Volvo B11R and Skills Coaches on a Scania.[4][5]

References
  1. Accessible coaches starts trials BBC News 24 November 2005
  2. Scania announces Caetano bodies for NatEx Archived 2016-06-24 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 4 July 2006
  3. National Express goes for 15m coaches Archived 2016-05-07 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Professional 5 June 2007
  4. National Express unveils Caetano Levante III Coach & Bus Week 27 September 2017
  5. All-new Levante is here Route One 29 September 2017
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