New Prevost Features to be Showcased at UMA 2007

Enhanced safety and EPA compliant coaches

Sainte-Claire, Quebec, December 22, 2006—At UMA 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Prevost will be presenting its innovative response to integrating the new 2007 EPA compliant Detroit Diesel engine, together with new safety features and interior improvements.

Prevost to offer an Electronic Stability Program—First system of its kind on North American coaches

Complementing the safety features of Prevost vehicles is a new fully enhanced Electronic Stability Program. This new safety feature compares computer performance models with the actual movements of the vehicle. This system electronically monitors wheel speed, steering angle, lateral acceleration and yaw to help protect against loss of control and rollover. In the unlikely event of the vehicle about to slide or roll, the system will apply the brakes either selectively to individual wheels or to all wheels at once in order to prevent sliding, losing control, or rolling over. This will improve performance and stability in turns, sudden lane changes, and avoidance maneuvers. “The Prevost Electronic Stability Program system is an important step towards enhanced passenger and driver safety,” says Claude Picard, Vice-President Marketing at Prevost, “but it will also help protect the operator’s investment by reducing the risk of an accident.”

Integrating the new environmentally friendly engine without compromise

The new EPA regulations require changes in both fuel and engine technology. The new regulations will considerably reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 55 percent and particulate matter (soot and ash) by 90 percent. A lot of money and efforts were invested in engineering, research, and development to meet these new allowances, developing an exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR), a fuel system adapted to low-sulphur fuel, and a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

To fit this new engine into a working motorcoach, Prevost engineers went to great lengths in designing an innovative installation. The vertical installation of the DPF has all kinds of benefits. Positioning the DPF in a vertical position on top means less heat will be generated in the engine compartment. It eliminates the need for special heat precautions for mechanics during engine maintenance and makes the engine more accessible in a less cramped compartment for easier access to major components such as fans and radiators and direct access to DPF for maintenance. Designed to maximize cooling capacity, the DPF poses no heat risk to engine components, and there is no need for special protection, like skid plates, to protect it from stones, shocks, water and other hazards. With less accumulation of dirt and grime, the life cycle of the DPF is also extended, which is important because the DPF is a valuable component and regular replacement would be prohibitively expensive.

Prevost also developed a new patent-pending diffuser to replace the exhaust pipe. It features a special flush design to prevent water infiltration and to cool the exhaust more effectively. Compared with a traditional exhaust pipe, gas temperatures now drops by 50 percent at six inches.

“It was a real challenge to integrate the new EPA-compliant engine in our 2007 coaches while maintaining the serviceability, practicality, safety, and performance,” declared Claude Picard. “Our engineers have really exceeded our expectations with this new engine installation.”

A revamped interior with more new features

To accommodate the new engine, Prevost’s engineers had to reconfigure the interior of the coaches while keeping the same seating capacity in its vehicles. To avoid sacrificing space, they replaced the conventional door on the restroom with a sliding door in the Prevost H-Series. The new restroom sliding door provides an even more appealing and stylish interior design, save space, and provides greater access to the lavatory.

Prevost is also offering a new central flip down monitor for the video system to go with the Prevost Premium Sound System introduced in 2006. Since the central monitor is out of the way when not in use, it can be optimized to 17”, giving passengers a better view while reducing the number of monitors needed throughout the coach.

Prevost is a leading North American manufacturer of premium intercity touring coaches and the undisputed world leader in the production of bus shells for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. Prevost Car Inc. is owned by Volvo Bus Corporation, which gives it access to the financial strength, product development capabilities, and quality manufacturing technology of the world’s second largest motorcoach and transit bus manufacturing group. Volvo Bus Corporation is part of the Volvo Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines. Prevost has its main manufacturing facilities in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, Canada. Prevost also has six Parts and Service Centers located strategically in Canada and the United States. www.prevostcar.com