X3-45
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The Prevost X-Series is a family of
motorcoach A coach (also known as a motorcoach or coach bus) is a type of bus built for longer distance service, in contrast to transit buses that are typically used for shorter journeys within a single metropolitan region. Often used for touring, inte ...
es and conversion shells designed and manufactured by
Prevost Prevost, Prévost or Prévôt may refer to: * Prevost (surname), a French surname Places * Prévost (electoral district), Quebec, Canada * Prévost, Quebec, a community in the Laurentians region of Quebec, Canada ** Prévost station * Prevo ...
, a subsidiary of
Volvo Buses The Volvo Group (; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distribution and sale of truck ...
. The current model is the X3-45, which is a (nominal) 45-foot, 3-axle bus for the intercity bus and Class A conversion
motorhome A motorhome (or coach) is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle (RV) which is as the name suggests, like a home on wheels. Features Motorhomes usually have sleeping spaces for two to eight people. Each sleeping space is either fixed o ...
markets. The ancestors of the X-Series can be traced back to 1984, when Prevost released the widebody XL Series of motorcoaches, including the LeMirage XL. A 45-foot model was added in 1992 as the XL-45, which was updated with a second generation in 2000 as the LeMirage XL-II. The third generation bus was released in 2006 as the X3-45, which competes with the MCI D-Series.


Design

The X3-45 has a
wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...
of , with an overall length of , width of , and height of . The standard engine is a
Volvo D13 The Volvo D13 is a turbo diesel engine family manufactured by Volvo which shares a four-stroke, inline-six design with a nominal engine displacement of . On-road versions are available for use in heavy-duty vehicles, including semi-trailer trucks a ...
diesel engine, coupled to an
Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer * Allison family, a family of RMS Titanic passengers Compan ...
" World Bus" 6-speed
automatic transmission An automatic transmission (AT) or automatic gearbox is a multi-speed transmission (mechanics), transmission used in motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving conditions. The 1904 ...
. The X3-45 was updated in 2011 to add a transit bus model, and the styling and chassis were updated in 2019. The most prominent visual changes can be seen around the headlights. Three models are available: * X3-45 (long-distance motorcoach) * X3-45 Commuter (
transit bus A transit bus (also big bus, commuter bus, city bus, town bus, urban bus, stage bus, public bus, public transit bus, or simply bus) is a type of bus used in public transport bus services. Several configurations are used, including low-floo ...
) * X3-45 VIP Specialty / VIP Entertainer (conversion shells) VIP models are conversion shells with minimal interiors which are sold to upfitters for completion. For the passenger models fitted with seats by Prevost, including the X3-45 and X3-45 Commuter, the passenger deck features an interior height of , and there is of storage under the passenger floor. ;Notes Overall fuel consumption, as observed over a standardized driving route incorporating typical transit service routes serving downtown, arterial, and commuter areas, was .


History

Prevost introduced the ''LeMirage'' in 1976 to replace its earlier ''Champion'' and ''Prestige'' series of motorcoaches; although the Champion had been marketed in the United States since 1968, the LeMirage gave Prevost its first substantial American sales, as it eliminated the "stepped" front with a four-piece windshield and retained the tall, curved side windows from the Prestige, resulting in a brighter interior for passengers than its competitors. A wide-body version, the ''LeMirage XL'', followed in 1984, increasing the nominal width from . Prevost also introduced two sister models in 1984, grouping all three motorcoaches as the ''XL Series'': Marathon XL, a stripped-down variant designed to be more economical than the LeMirage XL, and Astral XL, a premium variant with glass roof panels above the passengers, aimed at sightseeing bus tour operators. All three of the XL Series buses introduced in 1984 have a nominal length of . An extended version, designated ''XL-45'', was added in 1992, with a nominal length of . The XL-45 was introduced in part to compete with the
MCI D-Series The MCI D-Series is a model of motorcoach bus produced by Motor Coach Industries (MCI). The bus is primarily used by private companies operating scheduled service or commuter buses, government agencies for the transport of prisoners, and in mor ...
. The second generation XLII series buses introduced in 2000 included both ''XLII-40'' and ''XLII-45'' models, with nominal lengths of 40- and 45-feet, respectively. XLII models can be distinguished externally from their XL predecessors, as the XLII have removed the fluted stainless steel lower body cladding and the side windows are set with flush glazing. The New York
Metropolitan Transportation Authority The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a New York state public benefit corporations, public benefit corporation in New York (state), New York State responsible for public transportation in the New York metropolitan area, New York Ci ...
awarded a contract to Prevost for up to 330 X3-45 Commuter buses in 2019, with the buses to be assembled at the Volvo Buses factory in
Plattsburgh, New York Plattsburgh is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States, situated on the north-western shore of Lake Champlain. The population was 19,841 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. The population of the sur ...
, which it shares with
Nova Bus Nova Bus is a Canadian transit bus manufacturer headquartered in Saint-Eustache, Quebec. Nova is owned by the Volvo Group. The company has roots in the General Motors Diesel Division, which opened in 1979. Nova Bus was established in 1993, by ...
. Prevost production at Plattsburgh concluded by the end of 2022, returning to its home factory in Quebec.


References


External links

* * * * {{cite report , url=https://www.altoonabustest.psu.edu/bus-details.aspx?BN=1907 , title=Bus Testing Report No. 1907: X3-45 Commuter from Prevost , date=January 2020 , publisher=Bus Testing and Research Center, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute , location=Altoona, Pennsylvania Volvo buses Coaches (bus) Tri-axle buses Vehicles introduced in 2006