Harris Auto showed 11 vehicles at Coach & Bus UK as it accelerates its bid to become a player in the UK coach market, including a customised AOS Exodus coversion of the Visigo midicoach that suits a funeral application.
That coach and the Higer Super 9 midicoach were complemented by members of the growing Crusader front-engined minicoach and midicoach range.
The already revealed LDV V80– and Iveco Daily-based models are now joined by a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minicoach. The dealer reports strong interest in each. One operator has placed an order for six Daily-based Crusaders.
Additionally, the first full-length Higer integral coach will arrive at the Harris Auto Dublin base this week. Christened the Pegasus, three have been completed at the factory in China and 15 more are on order, says the dealer.
One coach that attracted a great deal of interest at the show was the AOS Exodus (pictured). It is a Visigo that has been converted to suit a funeral application. The underfloor luggage area adapted to carry a coffin.
Included in the package is a small radio-controlled ‘rover’ unit that carries the coffin to and from the vehicle. An extendable awning is provided on the nearside. Also there are external speakers.
Harris says that while the Exodus is a niche product, it believes that it may have an application where the vehicle can be used on conventional coach work besides funeral hires. It is fully seated and laid out to a luxurious specification. The Exodus, and the Visigo from which it is developed, is powered by a Cummins six-cylinder ISB6.7 engine driving through a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox.
