Leaders in small bus innovation Mellor has launched two new and revolutionary products at Euro Bus Expo 2018.

The new Strata Plus and Strata Ultra were unveiled at the National Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 30 October. They follow on from the success of Strata, which Mellor developed to be ‘the UK’s small bus of choice’.

These new models combine the rigorously tested Mellor coach-built body and low frame conversion with the proven Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and drivetrain.

They also feature the Strata’s class leading fuel economy and low cost of ownership. The innovative low floor saloon area easily accommodates wheelchair or buggy users, while creating accessible and spacious seating areas.

Strata Plus will immediately benefit from LEB accreditation, further reducing operating costs. It is anticipated that LEB accreditation of the Strata Ultra will follow in early 2019. Operators will also receive a comprehensive three-year warranty support from Mellor.

Both new buses have extended wheelbases and body lengths and will be offered on the new model 907 Mercedes Sprinter. The Strata Plus reaches 8.1m and the Ultra stretches to 8.8m. They have accessible low floor single-step entry and are the same width as the original Strata model.

Strata Plus and Strata Ultra accommodate 26 and 30 passengers respectively, giving operators the opportunity to increase vehicle-carrying capacity while still enjoying the efficiencies, economies and advantages delivered by a small bus.

Mellor managing director John Randerson said: “We are extremely proud that all Mellor low floor buses have class-leading seated capacity. We believe passengers will have an enhanced experience and that travelling in comfort will lead to increased bus patronage and route viability.

“We actively encourage the engagement of our sales and engineering teams with our customers to ensure vehicles are tailored to meet their requirements.”

An array of features are available to enhance operator and passenger experience, including destination signage, interactive next stop audio-visual displays, climatic control, Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging points.

The ground-breaking design characteristics of the Strata are continued in the Strata Plus and Ultra, ensuring that space for seated passengers is prioritised.

Highly customisable, the vehicles also come with a range of additional options to meet varying accessibility and executive demands. Choices of seats, interior trim levels and designs are available across the range.

The Strata Plus and Ultra exemplify Mellor’s commitment to the small bus sector, and the belief that bus services can be provided cost-effectively.

John Randerson added: “We invested extensively during the Strata’s initial development phase. This has been justified since its introduction with excellent customer feedback and significant numbers of vehicles already delivered and in service.

As part of our continued growth strategy and as a result of customer requests, we challenged ourselves further to provide a higher carrying capacity on what is acknowledged to be an excellent platform. I think we can all be proud of the result.”