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 2006, 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
  • Lion's City 12, 12 m single-decker diesel
  • Lion's City 12 G, 12 m single-decker CNG
  • Lion's City 12 E, 12 m single-decker electric
  • Lion's City 18, 18 m articulated diesel
  • Lion's City 18 G, 18 m articulated CNG
  • Lion's City 18 E, 18 m articulated electric
  • Lion's City, known as NL xx3 1997–2004 – 12 m single-decker
  • * horizontal engine
  • * vertical engine, since 2002
  • Lion's City Hybrid – 12 m hybrid single-decker
  • Lion's City C – 13.7 m single-decker
  • Lion's City L, known as NL xx3 - 15 m 1998–2004, Lion's City LL 2004–2009 – 14.7 m single-decker
  • Lion's City G, known as NG xx3 1998–2004 – 18 m articulated
  • Lion's City GL – 18.75 m articulated
  • Lion's City M – 10.5 m midibus
  • * 2.38 m wide
  • * 2.5 m wide
;City
  • Lion's City LE, known as EL xx3 2003–2004, Lion's City T 2004–2008 – 12m single-decker
  • * version based on standard low-floor, horizontal engine platform, including CNG version, available since 2011
  • * version for South African market – bodied on 18.280 HOCL-NL/R chassis by MAN South Africa in Olifantsfontein since 2011
  • Lion's City C LE – 13.7 m single-decker
  • Lion's City L LE – 14.7 m single-decker
  • Lion's City G LE – 18 m articulated
  • Lion's City GL LE – 18.75 m articulated
;Intercity
  • Lion's City Ü, known as NÜ xx3 1996–2004 – 12m single-decker
;Intercity
  • Lion's City LE Ü, known as EL xx3 2003–2004, Lion's City TÜ 2004–2008 – 12m single-decker

    Discontinued

;City
  • Lion's City DD – 13.73 m double-decker
  • Lion's City GXL – 20.45 m articulated
  • Lion's City M, known as NM xx3 and EM xx3 until 2005 – 8.13 m to 11.21 m midibus, bodied on 10/11.xxx HOCL, 12.xxx HOCL-NL, 14.xxx HOCL-NL and MAN NLxx3F chassis by Göppel Bus
;Intercity
  • Lion's City ÜLL, known as NÜ xx3 - 15 m 1998–2004 – 14.7 m single decker

    Type designation system

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 finds the VIN.
;Floor height
  • N: Low-floor bus
  • E: Low-entry bus
;Adaption
  • L: Rigid bus
  • D: Double-decker bus
  • G: Articulated bus
  • M: Midibus
  • Ü: Intercity bus
;Power code
  • xx: First two digits of power output in hp
  • 3: third generation
  • F: Denotes that it is built as a chassis for external bodywork
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 and Gemilang Coachworks's version of the Lion's City, replicating the whole LHD bodywork for their buses sold in Asia Pacific market, including the Lion's City Hybrid bodywork mounted on conventional diesel chassis.
  • NLxx3F – single-decker bus, horizontal engine, 10.5 m – 12.0 m
  • NDxx3F – double-decker bus, 10.85 m – 12.8 m. They have only been built in relatively small numbers and only for right-hand drive markets.
  • NGxx3F – articulated bus, horizontal engine, 18.0 m – 18.75 m
  • NMxx3F – midibus, vertical engine, 9.7 m – 10.4 m

    Single Decker

MAN NLxx3F and 14.2xx HOCL-NL (A66)

The MAN NLxx3F is a series of low-floor single-decker city bus chassis between 10 metre and 12 metre lengths, offered by MAN since 1998, with chassis code A22. They are based on the integral low-floor MAN NLxx3 Lion's City. Available versions since launch include: NL223F, NL233F, NL243F, NL263F, NL273F, NL283F, NL313F, and NL323F. -Liquefied petroleum gas and Compressed natural gas versions are also available, with NL313F Compressed Natural Gas being the most powerful. While the low entry rigid bus MAN 14.250 HOCL-NL vehicles were powered by the MAN D0836 LOH-65 engine paired with ZF Ecomat 6HP 504C 6-speed automatic transmission and one unit will be receive a ZF Ecolife 6AP 1400B gearbox. newer Euro VI bus are new equipped with MAN D0836 LOH-81 engine, which is Euro 6 compliant and ZF Ecolife 6AP 1400C 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Operators

Europe

Spain

of Madrid, Spain received a total of 84 CNG-powered NL313F CNGs in 2008. They were bodied by Castrosua and Burillo.
In 2011, five 10.4m NL283Fs and one Hispano Area-bodied NL283F began operating in Santiago de Compostela and Buñol respectively.
Between 2011 and 2012, 13 man NL283F buses came into operation in Tcc Pamplona, of which four were bodied by Sunsundegui and the other 9 by Castrosua.
In 2017, fifteen NL323F buses came into operation in EMT Malaga, all of them bodied by Castrosua

United Kingdom

initially developed a bodywork for the MAN NL273F, called the Wright Meridian. It was the first MAN chassis to be bodied by Wrightbus. A Meridian demonstrator was launched at the Coach & Bus Live 2007, which entered service with Whitelaws. Regal Busways, Newbury Buses and Diamond Bus North West each operate an handful of Wright Meridian-bodied NL273Fs across the United Kingdom.
North Macedonia
In 2020, Skopje's public bus company received it's order of 33 CNG operated buses. The order included 21 12m E1856 with a capacity for 85 passengers, and 12 18m E1856 with a capacity for 149 passengers. All the busses where EURO 6 compliant.

Asia-Pacific

Singapore

Public Bus

trialled an MCV Evolution bodied MAN NL323F demonstrator in 2010. In 2012, SMB138Y had its electronic compartments damaged by water. It was taken out of service, returned to the dealership, de-registered and sent for Gemilang Coachworks of Malaysia re-bodied for export to Australia. Due to unconventional Australian road standards, SMB138Y had to be rebodied with a MAN Lion's City Hybrid bodywork manufactured under license by Gemilang Coachworks. After changing registration many times, the ex-SMB138Y bus was finally registered as XQ39KQ in Australia.
Following the success of the trial, SMRT Buses announced the purchase of 200 MAN NL323F Euro 5 with MAN Lion's City Hybrid Bodywork manufactured and assembled in Malaysia by Gemilang Coachworks, similar to their European MAN Lion's City Hybrid buses. The first of these debuted in 2011. These were followed up by orders for 202 more of such buses in 2013, and then 332 more units in 2014. Therefore a total of 734 units were purchased, bearing with the Gemilang Mark 1 bodywork. these buses are equipped with MAN D2066 LUH-32 engine, which its emission standard Euro 5 compliant and coupled to 6-speed automatic ZF Ecolife 6AP 2000B gearbox. Batch 3 A22 buses will be receive the 4-speed automatic Voith DIWA 864.5 gearbox and 160 units its the same ZF Ecolife 6-speed automatic gearbox like other SMRT's MAN A22 Batch 1 and 2 buses.
Also, certain buses have been registered with APAD in Malaysia for cross-border bus 950. SMRT had registered and reserved 20 MAN NL323F A22s as a direct replacement of Mercedes-Benz O405 upon the expiry of registration with APAD. In January 2022, SBS Transit had to APAD-register these buses to replace Scania K230UB buses previously used on its cross-border routes, 160 and 170/170X. In November 2027, SMRT will be early retirement of 20 MAN A22 buses to replace their Volvo B5L Hybrid buses as new registration with APAD for cross-border service fleet.
The 61 remaining MAN A22 Euro V Batch 1 buses will be receive lifespan extension for two years due to surprise delivery for electric buses until between 2030 & 2032. resting for first batch of MAN A22s to be retired between 2028 & 2029.
As part of the Bus Contracting Model, some of the buses were transferred to Tower Transit, Go-Ahead and SBS Transit respectively, and some buses have been repainted into the standardized Lush Green livery. Other MAN NL323F units retained either the SMRT Buses "Stripes" livery or the SMRT Buses "Pixel" livery, both of which were inherited from the operations of SMRT Buses.
In October 2016, a MAN A22 concept bus with 3 doors was exhibited at the Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition. Marketed as the MAN Lion's City SD 3 Door, it features a modified bodywork design based on the MAN Lion's City Hybrid, built to a low-entry configuration under license by Gemilang Coachworks. The bus was later painted into the Lush Green livery and pasted with decals, registered as SG4002G, and began a 6-month trial service with SMRT Buses from 19 June 2017, starting from bus 190. Soon after, this bus was redeployed on bus 901. The bus was later taken out of service in December 2017 after its trial and parked at ST Engineering compounds. The bus was then converted to the LTA Smart Bus and exhibited during Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition 2019 where it displayed some proof-of-concept by youths. Some features include retractable handgrip, wingless mirror, driver facial security & anti-fatigue system, bus lane violation system, contactless payments systems, interactive capacity lighting systems, auto-tinting windows and interactive touch screen windows. As part of the proof-of-concept, the engine of the bus was removed with no further road trials planned. In 2021, the bus was parked at LTA's Headquarters at Hampshire Road for static display until 2023 when it was sent for scrap.
In 2017, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore procured 250 MAN Buses of which 100 units being MAN NL323F with Mark 2 bodywork. The 100 Mark 2 bodywork buses are Euro 6 compliant. They are also bodied by Gemilang Coachworks with MAN Lion's City Bodywork paired with a 6-speed automatic ZF Ecolife 6AP 2000B and 4-speed automatic Voith DIWA 864.6 gearboxes. These buses also are equipped with MAN D 2066 LUH-51 engine, and features a Luminator Technology Group Passenger Information Display Systems, Gorba Electronic Destination Signage, Driver Assistance Technology, and the two wheelchair bays. These buses made their debut on 28 May 2018, the first day of bus 851e and together with MAN ND323F A95 Mark 4 bodywork units.
In January 2018, a BSEP MAN A22 Euro V Batch 2 was taken out of revenue service, and shipped from Singapore to Turku as part of a proof of concept for retrofit diesel buses to electric buses. The project was done with Finnish vehicle manufacturer, Linkker and assisted by ST Engineering. The bus had undergone extensive conversion and installation of traction system, battery system, power distribution system, vehicle control system, charging connectivity system and driver's workplace upgrade. it has since been retrofit with overhead opportunity charging via pantograph with a secondary CCS2 plug-in charger and Linkker electric driveline. The bus is refitted with a permanent magnetic synchronous electric motor with Lithium iron phosphate battery, supplied by Danfoss of Denmark. The bus was then redeployed back on revenue service after approximately 4 years in 2021, repainted with LTA's Lush Green livery and re-registered as SG3100M. The retrofit electric bus was operated by SMRT Buses, appearing on Buses 176 & 976 only. However, the bus was plagued by several issues and was taken out of revenue service and was back on ST Engineering's premises for repairs. After 8 months, retrofit electric bus returned to revenue service once again in August 2023.