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Plaxton Panther

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Plaxton Panther
Plaxton Paragon
Leger Holidays Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B9R in August 2011.
Overview
ManufacturerPlaxton
Production1999 - 2010 (1st generation & Paragon)
2010 - Present (2nd generation)
2012 - Present (Panther Cub)
2013 - Present (3rd generation)
Body and chassis
ClassCommercial vehicle
Doors1 door
Floor typeStep-entrance
ChassisVolvo
Iveco Bus
Powertrain
EngineVolvo
Capacity53-70

The Plaxton Paragon and Plaxton Panther are closely related designs of coach bodywork built by Plaxton in Scarborough, England, since 1999,[1] and still in production as of 2013.

For part of their design life, Plaxton was part of TransBus International, during which time the designs were officially referred to as the TransBus Paragon and TransBus Panther.

The Paragon and Panther replaced the Premiere and Excalibur respectively, with the Paragon being the standard and the Panther the premium specification coach. Externally, the main distinguishing feature between the two models is the front end, which is more upright on the Paragon, although the difference is not as pronounced as that between the Premiere and Excalibur.

One important new feature of the designs was the use of a stainless steel structure, to resist corrosion and prolong vehicle life expectancy.

The Generation 2 Panther was launched at Euro Bus Expo at Birmingham in November 2010. It shares some of the external design with the Plaxton Elite and will comply with the new European WVTA requirements as well as the older domestic Certificate of initial fitness (COIF) standards. New 12.8m version will be available on Volvo B9R with 53 seats. The Generation 2 15m Panther will be built on the Volvo B13RT for Megabus with 65 seats and the latest PLS lift. Production of the Paragon ceased afterwards.

The Panther Cub is a short wheelbase version launched in 2012

The Generation 3 Panther launched in September 2013 and is a more substantial facelift with a similar rear to the Elite and new headlights similar to the Elite Interdeck

Body numbering

Since the 1989 build season, Plaxton's body numbering system has used a letter to identify the body style. The following letters are used for the Paragon and Panther:

  • L Panther
  • T Paragon

Plaxton Panther

  • Eddie Brown Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12B in April 2013
    Eddie Brown Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12B in April 2013
  • Wiltax Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B10M rear in June 2007
    Wiltax Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B10M rear in June 2007
  • Lakeside of Ellesmere Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B12B in May 2013
    Lakeside of Ellesmere Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B12B in May 2013
  • Leger Holidays Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B9R rear in May 2013
    Leger Holidays Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B9R rear in May 2013

Plaxton Paragon

  • National Holidays Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B12M in June 2013
    National Holidays Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B12M in June 2013
  • Wiltax Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12M in June 2007
    Wiltax Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12M in June 2007

References

  1. ^ Millar, Alan (2007) Bus & Coach Recognition : Ian Allan Ltd., ISBN 0-7110-3136-3
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