The first 12.2m variant of the Plaxton Leopard has been delivered to Cheshire operator Roy McCarthy Coaches.
The family-run company, based in Macclesfield, has been in business for 45 years and its fleet of 10 vehicles is dominated by Plaxton coaches.
Andy McCarthy, Managing Director, is delighted with his latest addition and is particularly pleased with the vehicle’s manoeuvrability. He commented: “This shorter version of the Leopard retains all of the plus points of the bigger 12.8m model – but is easier to handle and that is a real bonus when turning in relatively confined spaces, such as schools, and often in rural locations.
“It also has 57 seats, which is ideal for school work, private hires and day trips. There is the added bonus that new drivers are more comfortable with shorter vehicles, which makes the learning curve that bit easier before they progress to full-length tour coaches.”
Andy’s latest fleet addition is a Euro6, B8 with ZF automatic transmission.
Commenting on the introduction of the new Leopard, Simon Wood, Regional Sales Manager at Plaxton, said: “This new model extends the appeal of the already popular Leopard, giving us models at 12.2m and 12.8m and, as Andy McCarthy has pointed out, it retains seating capacity while introducing improved manoeuvrability, courtesy of the shorter wheelbase.
“To an extent, it is a superb replacement for the former Plaxton Profile, while having its own distinct, modern features. We are already receiving a lot of interest from other operators.”