MELROSE PARK, Ill. – (September 28, 2010) – IC Bus today unveiled their first fully integrated small shuttle bus, the IC Bus™ AC Series, today to customers, dealers and the media at an event at the Navistar Engine Plant in suburban Chicago.

Unlike the typical small shuttle buses offered today, the fully integrated IC Bus AC Series features a proprietary design which allows for bumper-to-bumper coverage and ensures customers have a single point of contact with only one network, IC Bus. This one-stop-shop approach provides everything bus operators need throughout the lifecycle of the bus, including financing, parts, service and warranties.

“Bus operators shouldn’t have to settle for less and that’s why we’re introducing our first fully integrated small shuttle bus,” said John McKinney, president, IC Bus. “We launched the AC Series because we believe our customers deserve better.”

Rugged, Durable, Dependable
The AC Series is in a class by itself when it comes to durability, carrying a lifecycle approximately twice as long as similar small shuttles in the industry. Sharing a platform with the commercial-grade International® TerraStarTM truck, which was introduced this past spring, the AC Series is built to last, featuring frame rails rated to 80,000 PSI, better than any other manufacturer in the industry, It also brings unmatched serviceability with its full-tilt hood, allowing for unobstructed access to the engine compartment.

The AC Series also comes with an abundance of features that take comfort to a whole new level, allowing unique customization to meet a fleet’s exact needs. From tour and charter operations, hotel or rental car shuttles, paratransit operations, day care or public transportation, whatever the operation, the fully integrated AC Series will be a game changer for how bus operators purchase, maintain and operate their fleet.

Powered by the MaxxForce® 7 V8
The AC Series bus is powered by the lightweight, rugged, yet powerful 220 hp 6.4-liter MaxxForce® 7, which delivers outstanding fuel economy and low overall cost of ownership. It combines a 28,000-psi (1,900-bar) high-pressure common-rail fuel system, dual sequential turbocharger system and a high strength compacted graphite iron (CGI) block. The MaxxForce 7 is matched with an Allison 1000 Series transmission for optimum power output.

The MaxxForce 7 is built with MaxxForce Advanced EGR emissions technology, the only no-hassle emissions technology available in the bus industry. With MaxxForce Advanced EGR, bus operators won’t have the worry or inconvenience of finding or filling liquid urea.

“The MaxxForce 7 V-8 provides big power from an efficient, reliable and durable platform,” McKinney added. “Customers will find the MaxxForce 7 to be the perfect fit for their operations with true commercial vehicle power, durability and capability.”

Bus Innovations, Integrated Manufacturing, Industry Leadership
For the past decade, IC Bus has been at the forefront of the transportation industry, implementing numerous innovative ideas in manufacturing, service and support for bus operators. These innovations have helped transform Navistar from a chassis supplier in the 1990s to a truly integrated bus manufacturer today, helping create an industry shift that has helped deliver better products with better customer support—a win-win for the bus-buying consumer and the model for what IC Bus aims to achieve in its new products. Plus, IC Bus backs its integrated products with one of the most extensive, experienced dealer networks in the industry—bus experts that have built a reputation for the unparalleled customer support.