MAN Lion's City


The MAN Lion's City is a range of low-floor and low-entry public buses built by German truck and bus manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus since 1996 primarily for the European market, but is also available in chassis-only variants worldwide. The name Lion's City has been used since 2004, when MAN's public bus models which had been marketed separately were gathered into one range, when also most models received a facelift. The first models to be introduced were the 12-metre low-floor intercity bus NÜ xx3 in 1996, the 12-metre city bus NL xx3 in 1997 and the articulated NG xx3 in 1998. As with former MAN bus models the power-rating made up part of the model name, giving the NÜ-series buses with power-ratings of 260 and 310 hp model names NÜ 263 and NÜ 313 respectively. The main production sites are in Starachowice and Sady in Poland, but the models have also been built in Germany, Turkey and Malaysia. Initially most of the midibus variants were manufactured by Göppel Bus in Augsburg, later Nobitz.
Models are available with a 6-cylinder turbocharged straight engine which runs on diesel, compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. Versions with hydrogen fuel cell drive and with hydrogen internal combustion engines have been successfully tested, as well as diesel-electric hybrid drive. A production hybrid-electric version, the Lion's City Hybrid, which uses supercapacitors and two 67 kW electric motors is available since 2010. Hybrid electric buses offer increased efficiency in urban traffic and use 30% less fuel than combustion-only buses.
The latest generation of Neoplan Centroliner is based on the Lion's City.

Integral variants

Codes inside parentheses are internal codes that identify some technical characteristics of the variants, like length/wheelbase, number of axles, floor height, width, engine arrangement and so on. Some codes are unique to one variant, while others are shared between variants. Some variants have changed from one code to another over time. These codes are sometimes mistakenly used as a model designation. One can find the codes in VINs and in vehicle production serial numbers.

Current

;City
;City
;Intercity
;Intercity
;City
;Intercity
The type designations were used to define all models prior to 2004. With the introduction of the model names in 2004, the system is still in use on all vehicles, but is more for internal use. In most cases it can be found on the plate inside the bus where one find the VIN.
;Floor height
;Adaption
;Power code
For example, an ND323F low-floor double-decker bus has a power output of 320 hp.

Chassis variants (for external bodywork)

chassis variants are offered for external bodywork by local bodywork manufacturers. Most are bodied in the local manufacturer's own styling, but some are licensed to replicate the Lion's City bodywork, usually in markets where MAN don't sell the integral variants. This includes the East Lancs Kinetec for the UK market, which only replicate the front part. Gemilang Coachworks in Malaysia replicate the whole bodywork for their buses sold in Asia Pacific market, including the Lion's City Hybrid bodywork mounted on conventional diesel chassis.
The MAN ND313F and MAN ND363F, with the chassis code A34, is a tri-axle 12-metre chassis. A total number of 27 chassis were built between 2003 and 2006.
In 2003, Kowloon Motor Bus of Hong Kong received one MAN ND313F with Neoplan Centroliner N4426 bodywork, it received fleet number APM1 and registration number LE4612, entering service later in the same year. The bus remained unique in Kowloon Motor Bus fleet. It was retired in January 2019.
25 ND363F received Ayats coach bodywork, and were delivered to Ulsterbus of Northern Ireland in 2006.

MAN ND243F / ND283F (A48)

In 2006, a 10.85-metre two-axle version was launched as the MAN ND243F and MAN ND283F, with chassis code A48.
One ND283F received an East Lancs Kinetec+ bodywork, which had a front similar to that of MAN Lion's City.
Two more ND283F test chassis were built, but no ND243F.

MAN ND323F / ND363F (A95)

In 2013, a new double deck chassis based on the A22-series low floor single-decker chassis was launched as the MAN ND323F and MAN ND363F, with a new chassis code A95. Currently, the bodywork of all A95 buses are built by Gemilang Coachworks and are based on the licensed MAN Lion's City DD design, and is also marketed in various markets as the MAN Lion's City DD for the 12 m long variant and the MAN Lion's City DD L for the 12.8m long variant. A concept bodywork design was unveiled in 2015, in the form of a 3-door bus built for Singapore's Land Transport Authority. Currently, a refreshed design based on the concept is being adopted on the newer buses. In addition, the Australian market buses feature a different rear end design as compared to those sold in other markets.

Singapore

In November 2014, SMRT was given a single MAN ND323F demonstrator for trial purposes at the manufacturer's request. Following a successful trial run, SMRT ordered 16 MAN ND323Fs which were delivered between August and November 2015 with tree guards pre-installed.
In late 2015, the Land Transport Authority ordered 60 units as part of the Bus Contracting Model order. Largely similar to the previous batch procured by SMRT Buses, these buses had some minor differences in appearance such as the omission of tree guards. The final 10 units of this batch were equipped with USB charging ports. The first 15 buses were painted in SMRT's corporate livery, while the rest featured LTA's green livery. All of these buses are currently assigned to SMRT Buses.
Also in late 2015, a 12.8 m long custom built MAN ND323F with 3 doors and 2 staircases was built for the LTA, featuring an updated concept bodywork design. Originally deployed to Tower Transit in 2017, it was transferred to SBS Transit in early 2018.
In September 2016, LTA ordered another 122 MAN ND323Fs which were put into service in 2017. These buses contain similar specifications with the previous batch but with an updated bodywork design, with the first 30 units being based on the concept and the rest with an updated design. These buses were assigned to SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Go-Ahead Singapore, with most units in SMRT Buses replacing retiring Mercedes-Benz O405G bendy buses.
In late 2017, under a negotiated tender, the Land Transport Authority ordered 250 MAN buses, which were 150 MAN NL323Fs and 100 MAN ND323Fs, equipped with Euro VI engines and minor differences to the bodywork in the previous batch. These buses were equipped with two wheelchair bays as compared to one in previous batches. An option was excised in 2018 to procure an additional 150 MAN ND323Fs in this batch. These buses entered revenue service in May 2018 and are currently assigned to SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Go-Ahead Singapore for fleet additions and replacement of retiring buses.
In July 2018, a tender was awarded by LTA to ST Kinetics for the procurement of 111 MAN ND323Fs, which were delivered with subtle differences as compared to the earlier batches. These buses entered service in March 2020, with the final bus expected to be delivered in 2021. Similar to the previous batch, these buses will be assigned to various bus operators for fleet additions and replacement of retiring buses.
Following the successful trial of the three door MAN ND323F, the Land Transport Authority announced that 50 production batch 3-door ND323Fs will be procured along with 50 3-door Alexander Dennis Enviro500s. These buses will be released on the roads in 2020.

Hong Kong

In August 2014, Kwoon Chung Motors Company ordered 9 ND323Fs replacing 8 Dennis Tridents and 1 MAN 24.310. Also, KCM's subsidiary company New Lantau Bus purchased 10 ND323Fs. They were delivered to Hong Kong in June and August 2015 respectively. Moreover, in 2017, NLB purchased 16 ND363Fs with Gemilang Lion's city DD facelift body, they were delivered to Hong Kong since November 2017 and registered since February 2018. The order has been increased to add another 13 vehicles and registered since June 2018. In 2018, NLB purchased 5 ND363Fs with Gemilang's Lion's city DD facelift body which is equivalent to the previous order and equipped with a Euro 6 engine. They are being delivered to Hong Kong since February 2019.
In May 2015, an ND363F was delivered to Kowloon Motor Bus of Hong Kong and was first used during August 2015. In October 2015, KMB placed an order for 20 ND323Fs with Gemilang Lion's city DD body. In 2017, KMB ordered one ND323F with Gemilang self-build body and equipped with Navaho LCD display.
New World First Bus also ordered a 12.8m long ND323F.
New China Lane Travel, To Yo Travel and Goldspark Hong Kong Tours have also ordered ND323Fs in open top form.
Discovery Bay Transit Services from Discovery Bay placed an order of four ND323F in 2016 and delivered in June 2017. They were registered on late-June and mid-July 2017. In 2019, DBTSL ordered 2 ND323F equipped with Euro 6 engine and delivered in January and February 2020.
HZMB bus operator has ordered 20 ND363Fs with 4.2m height variant and delivered in 2018. In 2019, HZMB bus operator has ordered 40 ND323Fs with 4.2m height variant and Euro 6 engine. These buses are delivered since April 2019.

Australia

In 2017, State Transit purchased 38 Gemilang Coachworks bodied MAN A95s for its Sydney B-Line service.

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