Sunday, March 30, 2014

New Megacoaches on World's Highways

Most people love to travel either by air or by rail .
The number of those who prefer coaches is small.Besides,coaches are generally taken in short distances. I believe the reason for this is that only few  people are familiar with the amazing  product of Irisbus Iveco called Magelys.
Not only the employees of Irisbus were involved in the development and exploration of this super coach, but also high-class specialists from different countries:20 tour operators,118 drivers,30 tour guides as well as 520 passengers, who crossed more than 10000 miles through four European countries.
The bus passed a six-month trial period, which had been preceded by four-year intense and focused work at design and experimental laboratories. As a result, more than 23 million euros was spent on developing the coach!
But, as the saying goes, the end justifies the means.
In this case, the results exceeded all expectations!
One of the outstanding features of the coach is its enormous windows, which allow passengers to fully enjoy the beauty of surrounding environment during the ride.
Expressing in per cent, the glazing level of Magelys is 35-65% higher than that of other coaches.
Now, let's find out what it's like inside.
Maximal comfort and technically advanced facilities are the basic requirements for a modern coach,and therefor the specialists of Irisbus Iveco have demonstrated great consistency and serious approach in this respect.

The designers have taken particular care about elderly passengers,by equipping the entrance with special footsteps,which have optimal depth and height;and handles, to make their access easier.
The rest of the passengers will definitely appreciate the large entrance,which allows to get into the  cabin without clumsy movements and walk along spacious corridor.
The ceiling height in the cabin is 2,1 meters,so even tall people don't have to bend when moving along.The hand luggage racks are fixed over the seats,like in aircraft.
It is noticeable  that a lot of effort has gone into making the cabin roomy and comfy.
The interior  color schemes of this 'super traveler'  are also pleasantly interesting.
Dominating grey color that usually surrounds us in coaches is now replaced with sand and red colors.
You have free access to refrigerator, coffee-making machine,microwave oven and, of course, toilets.
Three huge LCD screens of the multimedia systems offers you to ejnoy movies at any time.
You are secured against extremely hot weather with the high-quality air conditioners.
As for individual chairs,they are crammed with all available options for  passengers' comfort.

This 12.2 meter long giant is equipped with 450 horsepower Iveco Cursor 10  engine, which meets Euro 5 emission standards;ZF ASTronic 12AS 2301 automatic gearbox;cruise control system;and bi-xenon headlights.
Taking into account the opinion of many drivers, the constructors have designed a new dashboard and placed it towards the steering.
The luggage compartment has a volume of 10.8×11.7 cm^3!
According to automotive experts,this coach is an ideal option to travel long distances.
Indeed, the specialists of Iveco Irisbus brilliantly accomplished the project of creating a comfortable and beautiful mega-coach, which would turn your ride into an unforgettable and pleasant trip.
Magelys is now being manufactured in a French factory.
It has not pushed out other products of its kind out of the market, it has simply established a new segment in its class and expanded the variety of  big travel vehicles.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

A story of one classic car (part2)

Contrary to expectations, Daimler Benz AG (that was the name of the company until 1998) offered an inexpensive car with classic design, instead of an unusual avant-garde model.
The Car was equipped with the following three features: a power brakes system, four-speed gearbox with a synchronizer of the last two speeds, and a rear independent suspension.
The model was called 170V (W136). (W136 indicates the body style index of Mercedes Benz)
No wonder that the cars from the middle of the last century are compared with pure-blooded hunting dogs.
And indeed, the car has longish and elegant shapes with noble spirit.
You only need to open one of the big doors to see the whole welcoming cabin, which
Invites you to relax on huge and comfy seats.

An unusual thing is that the digits on the speedometer and other counters of the control panel do not progress from left to right as usual, but from right to left!
The car has no wing mirrors.
You will have to orient yourself only by using the rear-view window which is fixed on the windshield.
The 170V was manufactured until 1942 and during that period the factory produced 86615 cars.
All the factories of Daimler-Benz closed down as World War II broke out.
Only in 1947 the manufacture of cars restarted with 170V (W 136) model, which had already been tested through war.
The post-war production of the 170V reached 89190 units and lasted until 1953.
The car was introduced in different modifications: a two-door convertible, four -door sedan, cab, and an ambulance.

I guess here comes the end of our acquaintance with this wonderful classic car.

The car is almost consigned to oblivion due to the inattention of the automotive history authors and it will never been sold at fantastic prices in auctions, and yet despite all this, the car will never decrease in historic value and rank.
Mercedes-Benz 170V is a true classic car.
We may consider it as old, but not obsolete.

A story of one classic car (part1)

The car appeared in Yerevan in 1954, when its owner saw this miracle during his Moscow trip and fell in love with it.
He was determined to acquire the car at any price!
He was even ready to part with his new GAZ 12 ZIM, which he had bought two years earlier.
But, I guess ,I am rushing things...

The young and single Albert Shaghoyan, with his friend, was on his regular Moscow
holidays, when one of his female friends invited him to her place and introduced to his father, Lieutenant-General Mikhailov.
During the conversation the young Armenian started to show off his new GAZ12 ZIM and, in response, the general proudly introduced his new and gorgeous Mercedes, which he had brought from Germany after World War II as a war trophy.
The young man simply went mad on the German hostage!
All thoughts were about how to convince the general to sell the car.
Finally, after a couple of weeks, the general agreed to sell the Mercedes.
The young man came to Yerevan, sold his car and quickly returned to Moscow for his German beauty.
All those efforts were not in vain! This kind and devoted car has already been serving his lord with love and without any despondency for 74 years!

 Manufactured in 1940, Mercedes-Benz's 170 V model was one of the most popular civilian cars of the Wehrmacht.
The concept of this model began the course of life in 1931 at the Paris Auto Show, as the result of spoiled relations between BMW and Daimler-Benz.
At first, the car was known as Mercedes-Benz 170.Although the car was installed with an ordinary six-cylinder engine, it had a technical innovation for that time: the self-contained front and rare suspension.
There was a time, when these two German automotive giants were in strong business ties and had combined shareholders.
Wilhelm Kissel, who was the director of Daimler Group, was at the same time a member of the control board of BMW, and the Director of the latter was a member of the control board of Daimler Group.
But in 1931, at the Paris Motor Show, their close business partnership came to an end, because, never having been involved in developing midget cars, which was almost the prerogative of BMW, Daimler- Benz dared to invade into the business field of the Bavarians and started the manufacture of light engine cars.
As a counterbalance, the Bavarians designed their own similar model, thus causing a keen competition between themselves, which transformed into hostility in the end.
In 1935, the famous Mercedes 170 changes its name to 170V and reduces the number of the cylinders to 4.
This refreshed model was first unveiled in 1936, at the Berlin Motor Show.
The success was so huge that it caused deep concern among rival car makers.
(to be continued)