Blue Bird Vision
| Blue Bird Vision | |
|---|---|
| File:2011 Blue Bird Vision.jpg
2011 Blue Bird Vision
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Blue Bird Corporation |
| Production | 2003-present |
| Assembly |
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| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | school bus |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Blue Bird |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
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| Transmission |
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| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
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| Length | 309–499 in (7,848.6–12,674.6 mm)[1][2] |
| Width | 96.0 in (2,438.4 mm) [1][2] |
| Height | 122–128 in (3,098.8–3,251.2 mm)[1][2] |
| Curb weight | up to 33,000 lb (14,969 kg) GVWR[1][2] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
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The Blue Bird Vision is a conventional-style cowled-chassis bus manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation. Built on a proprietary chassis designed and manufactured by the company, the Vision is available in various seating configurations and capacities ranging from 36 to 77 passengers. While sold primarily in a school bus configuration, the Vision is also available in various commercial and specialty configurations.
First introduced in 2003, the Vision underwent a major redesign for 2008 model year and an exterior update for the 2015 model year. Coinciding with other alternative-fuel vehicles from the company, the Vision has been available with propane/LPG fuel systems as an option since 2009. In 2016, the Vision will become the first gasoline-fueled school bus in the USA since the discontinuation of its CV200 predecessor in 2003.[3]
The Vision is produced by Blue Bird in its factory in Fort Valley, Georgia, in the same factory as the long-running Blue Bird All American line of buses. Until 2010, the Vision was also manufactured in a second factory in LaFayette, Georgia, which is now closed.
Contents
Background
In the early 2000s, Blue Bird was in the midst of trying to find a standard chassis supplier for its Blue Bird Conventional buses. In 2003, the company's 10-year supply agreement with General Motors to be the standard supplier was set to expire. The same year, Freightliner (parent company of chief competitor Thomas Built Buses) pulled its chassis supply; Navistar, marketed by Blue Bird as an alternative to GM, was parent company of IC Corporation (formerly AmTran/Ward).
In 2002, Blue Bird began development of a new generation of the Blue Bird Conventional, using a Ford F-650 Super Duty medium-duty chassis. As Ford was largely left out of the full-size bus industry after 1998, the new-generation Super Duty trucks had yet to find use in school bus applications. Several Blue Bird/F-650 prototypes were built, developing several all-new features unseen on school buses; key to this was a wide-angle lens next to the entry door to increase loading-zone visibility. By the end of 2002, however, production plans for Ford-based Conventionals failed to materialize.
Although the Blue Bird/Ford never reached production, the body design of the Vision would carry over several features from the prototype. Building off Blue Bird’s purpose-built product strategy for maximum quality and optimization, the Blue Bird Vision body design includes exclusive features that directly enhance safety and durability for increased overall value. Particularly key to the Blue Bird Vision is its patented Safety View™ Vision Panel which increases the driver’s view at the lower right front loading and unloading zone. Exclusive to the Vision, the panel is made from laminated glass with a wide-angled Fresnel lens to provide a better view in this critical safety area.
Design History
2003-2007
The first-generation Vision was introduced in 2003 as the replacement for the Blue Bird Conventional/CV200 school bus, which utilized third-party chassis from Freightliner, General Motors, and Navistar International. The Vision was (and is) still unique among school bus manufacturers for using a proprietary chassis for a Type C (conventional) school bus; previously, in-house chassis were reserved for transit style school buses. As such, the Vision features a sharply angled hood for better forward visibility; no outside firms had any influence in its design.
The 2003 Vision featured a 50° wheel cut, for improved maneuverability over previous Type C buses. The instrument panel featured large back-lit gauges and switches. The Blue Bird "Handy Bus" option package specified wheelchair lifts and flat-floor interiors. The Vision was available in standard or high headroom.
From 2003 to 2005, the Vision came with the Caterpillar C7 engine as standard equipment, and in 2006, the Cummins ISB became an option.
2008-2014
For the 2008 model year, Blue Bird updated the exterior body design of the Vision. The sharply angled hood was replaced with a rounded design that offered a larger grille. Instead of sourcing parts from the All American, the new Vision sourced some of its parts (headlights, steering column, instrument cluster) from Volvo trucks; in the early 2000s, Volvo was one of the parent companies of Blue Bird. Along with the traditional manual and air-powered service doors, an electric-powered service door became an option.
In 2009, the Vision became the first school bus (from the factory) to be equipped with a propane-fueled powertrain, using a GM 8.1L Vortec V8 engine. Previously, school buses fueled by propane were aftermarket conversions (typically of the Chevrolet/GMC B-Series bus chassis). Diesel-powered Visions saw the Caterpillar C7 dropped from engine lineup during 2009.
For 2011, Blue Bird made several detail changes to the Vision. On the outside, the exterior design of the rub rails were changed. On the inside, Blue Bird replaced the Volvo-sourced instrument cluster and steering column to increase parts commonality with the All American. As the supply of GM V8 engines was running out, the company switched to a Ford 6.8L V10 to keep availability of propane-fuel buses.
In 2013, a detail change saw the deletion of the Vision's namesake Safety View™ Vision Panel.
2015-present
In July 2013, Blue Bird unveiled a number of changes to the Vision conventional at the School Transportation News Expo trade show. Designated as a 2015 model, the updated Vision entered production in October 2013.[4]
On the exterior of the vehicle, a number of changes were made to the lighting systems. The Volvo-sourced headlamp clusters were replaced with single-piece units with clear lenses; the new design is intended to simplify beam adjustment. In addition, all clearance lights were converted to LED bulbs.[4] The grille design was changed, distinguished by a larger Blue Bird emblem.
Inside, the driver's compartment was given a height-adjustable seatbelt for the driver's seat.[4] A rearview camera became added as an option.
To further increase the appeal of the propane-fueled Vision, Blue Bird introduced an optional 98-gallon extended-range fuel tank (standard equipment being 67 gallons).[1][4]
For 2016 production, Blue Bird expanded the engine lineup by introducing a gasoline-fueled version of the Vision.[3] The first gasoline-engined Type C school bus since 2003, the gasoline configuration utilizes the same 6.8L Ford V10 and 6-speed Ford automatic transmission used in the propane-fueled Vision and in the 2016 Ford F-650; as with the propane version, the powertrain is part of a three-way partnership between Blue Bird, Ford Motor Company, and ROUSH CleanTech.[3]
Powertrain
| Engine | Displacement | Years produced | Fuel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar C7 inline-6 | 7.2 L (441 cu in) | 2004-2009 | Diesel | Discontinued as Caterpillar exited on-highway engine production. |
| Cummins ISB5.9 inline-6 | 5.9 L (359 cu in) | 2004-2006 | Diesel | |
| Cummins ISB6.7 inline-6 | 6.7 L (409 cu in) | 2007-present | Diesel | |
| General Motors L18 (Vortec 8100) V8 | 8.1 L (496 cu in) | 2009-2011 | Propane/LPG | First original-equipment school bus sold with a propane-fueled engine (instead of a conversion). Production of this variant discontinued as supply of General Motors engines ended. |
| Ford Modular V10[5] | 6.8 L (413 cu in) | 2012-present | Propane/LPG
Gasoline (2016-on) |
Ford engine replaced discontinued General Motors engine. Developed with a ROUSH CleanTech propane/LPG fuel system.
2016 production introduces an option of regular gasoline fuel system. |
Comparable products
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blue Bird Vision. |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.blue-bird.com/uploadedFiles/Blue-Bird/Products/School/Vision/SB-VIS-PP-0611.pdf
