ZHENGZHONG YUTONG ZK6122H9 IS THE WINNEN OF THE GRAND BAAV AWARD COACH 2010
The award being considered by the Chinese bus and coach industry as the most important award they can achieve, went at the end of the Asian Coach Week preceding the Busworld Asia exhibition to the Zhengzhong Yutong ZK6122H9 coach. This coach is described by the jury as a good example of the big steps forward the Chinese bus industry is currently making.
The outside appearance is of an outstanding level, but also the interior has meanwhile reached a distinction, which according to the jury can be described as “very good”. It is not perfect yet, there is ample room for improvement left, but the development is going fast. Unique to this bus is the application of a number of safety systems, which can be considered to be quite new to the Chinese market. For example the use of a sprinkler system in the passenger area, preventing an outburst of flames, the ESP system mounted on this bus to avoid a roll-over, the night vision system for the driver, and a radar sensor signalizing objects and persons in front of the bus.
The award for the Midi/Mini coach went to the Zhongtong LCK6899H Sparkling, while the BAAV Innovations Award Coach was won by the Zhengzhou Yutong ZK6100EGAA, by far the most innovative vehicle at this 2010 Busworld exhibition by combining exiting shapes with an equally exiting new driveline, which is fully electric. The BAAV Environment Award Coach was won by the Jiangzu Alfa YS6128EV, according to the jury one of the growing number of proofs that the Chinese bus industry is far ahead of the rest of the world in the development and production of emission-free vehicles that are able to good performances. The manufacturer claims an action radius of 260 kilometres for this vehicle per battery load.
The BAAV Safety Award Coachwent to the Zhengtong Yutong ZK6662DXA9, which is the result of the growing attention there is in China for safety, and particularly the safety of children in traffic. Finally, the BAAV Comfort Award Coach was given to the Bonluck JXK614, because it offers space and comfort to its passengers, but also to the driver. Technically, it is a mature vehicle offering good driving abilities. The craftsmanship of the coach interior and exterior is near perfect, hardly any detail is overseen. Bonluck has strong connections with the Denning family, famous Australian coachbuilders from the past, developing integral buses and coaches for the Pacific market. The current Denning generation decided to co-operate with a Chinese bus manufacturer, the Jiangxi Kama Business Bus Co. as business partners. The result of this co-operation could be seen at the Busworld Asia exhibition during the past years, and is already running in considerable numbers on Australian roads.
