An Optare Soroco 16-seat luxury minicoach is the new flagship of the 12-strong fleet of Herefordshire operator The Little Bus Company (Leo) Limited.

Grenville Childs, managing director of the family-run business, says that the Soroco was a natural choice to replace an earlier one that had given exemplary service. “Our first Soroco proved very reliable and gave us no problems during the three years that we ran it. Our drivers liked it and, most important of all, it was very popular with our customers,” he says.

“We provide a range of services in the Leominster area ranging from school and factory contracts to private hires and airport transfers. But we keep the Soroco for the more prestigious work because it’s in a class of its own when it comes to luxury! This new model is even more stylish looking than our earlier Soroco, which adds to its appeal. Internally it’s very spacious with good headroom and many ‘big coach’ features.”

Weddings and corporate hires are amongst the regular work that the Soroco will be undertaking. It will also be used on golf trips to Southern Ireland where its ample boot space will accommodate the personal luggage of the 16 passengers and will be supplemented by a luggage trailer to carry their golf bags.

Based on the Mercedes-Benz 515 CDi chassis, the Soroco is plated at 5,000 kgs. Power is from a 150 horsepower engine that meets Euro 4 emission standards through the use of EGR technology and common rail technology to deliver optimum performance and fuel efficiency. Standard safety features of the 515 CDi include ABS, EPS and ASR.

Coachbuilt by Optare’s Spanish partner Ferqui, the Soroco measures just 7.38 metres long by 1.99 metres wide, making it easy to access pick-up and drop-off points where access is limited. Kiel seats are fitted, of which 15 are recliners with the four rear seats being fixed, and all have three-point inertia reel seatbelts. An electrically operated plug door with step lighting gives safe and easy access into and from the saloon.

With the engine well forward in the 515 CDi, internal noise levels are low, aided by the extensive use of soft trim to the lower side panels and to the underside of the full-length parcel rack. The centre roof panel is also trimmed in a moquette to match the seating. Double-glazed and tinted side windows with full-draw curtains complete the sense of quiet luxury.

For more information please contact:
David Rowlands, Communications Advisor, Automotive PR, +44 (0)20 7494 8050