MCV Evolution
The MCV Evolution is a low floor and low entry single-decker bus body built by Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles. It was unveiled in 2003 as the successor to the MCV Stirling. The MCV Evolution 2 was launched, initially on Mercedes-Benz chassis in 2011.
Design
The MCV Evolution is based on the previous Stirling body, retaining a rounded roof dome, albeit no longer peaked, and having options for either a double-curvature windscreen or a single-curvature windscreen. The Evolution body was first offered on the MAN 12.220, 12.240, 14.220 and 14.240 however there were plans to body on an even shorter MAN chassis, the 10.220, which can be built as short as 8.5m long. From late 2005 it was offered on the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis. In October 2009, MCV and dealer Arriva Bus & Coach unveiled a MCV Evolution VDL SB180 at Coach and Bus Live 2009.The MCV Evolution was also offered on larger full-size single-decker bus chassis, such as the Volvo B7RLE, Volvo B8RLE, MAN A22 and Mercedes-Benz OC500LE. One Evolution body was built on VDL SB200 chassis in 2012 as a static demonstrator for the Arriva Bus & Coach dealership, being sold two years later to Welsh independent Richards Brothers of Cardigan. The Evolution was eventually replaced by the long-wheelbase MCV Evora on Volvo B7RLE chassis in 2018, although the Evolution 2 remained in production on shorter, more lightweight chassis.
The original Evolution body is internally designated by MCV as the C102 on Alexander Dennis, MAN, VDL, and Volvo chassis and as the C120LE on Mercedes-Benz chassis, while the Evolution 2 body is internally designated as the C124RLE on Mercedes-Benz and Volvo chassis and as the C130RLE on MAN chassis.
The low-entry Evolution 2 was adapted to right-hand drive configuration on the MAN A69 chassis by French manufacturer Fast Concept Car as the Fast Starter LE between 2012 and 2015, intended for sales in Continental Europe in competition with the Iveco Crossway.
Operators
United Kingdom
contractors Docklands Buses and Metroline both purchased examples.The Evolution body is particularly popular with the United Kingdom's independent bus operators; the first Evolution 2 bodied Volvo B7RLEs were delivered to independent Pulhams Coaches of Bourton on the Water in 2012. East Yorkshire Motor Services took delivery of ten Evolution-bodied Volvos between 2014 and 2016, the first four on Volvo B7RLE chassis, while the remainder were delivered on the new B8RLE chassis.
Travel de Courcey of Coventry was another popular operator of MCV Evolutions, purchasing examples on both MAN and Mercedes-Benz chassis.