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Driving new conversions, seating more luxury When entertainer coach leasing companies and coach interior builders came to Pinehurst, North Carolina, last month to see MCI's newest conversion options, they got more than they bargained for. Where they were perhaps expecting to see one coach — the new J4500 conversion shell — they also learned more about the luxury LX Series. Currently in protoype testing, the new J4500 conversion shell offers 89-inch interior height, slide-out windows that are flush with the interior frame and a re-engineered suspension system. Says Jay Daab, vice president of conversion coach sales for MCI, "The company started considering creating a new shell about a year ago when it realized the need for coaches with maximum interior height. We especially wanted to serve the entertainer market — the second largest segment of the conversion market." "We are very good at supporting operators that run in revenue service," says Daab. "Falling into this category are the guys who buy coaches and lease them to entertainers. I interviewed as many of those operators and interior builders as I could find." Tall orders What Daab learned was that the most popular coach in the marketplace had an 89-inch interior height while MCI's current shell, the E4500, had an 86-inch interior. What difference can three inches make? Bunks. The extra space can mean the difference between fitting in three tiers of bunks rather than two — an important consideration for touring bands and others. Armed with that knowledge, MCI decided it would serve the market well to have two shells to choose from, and it started work on the J4500, already the industry's most popular seated coach. The J4500 conversion looks remarkably like the seated model, but with a slightly higher roof. "Looks-wise, MCI's engineering department hit a home run," said Daab. Smooth moves MCI also made sure the J4500 conversion coach offers a superstar ride. With its X12 common-axle suspension, the J4500 has superior ride quality and a very stable front end, with less lateral sway. MCI also moved the bogies out to the edge of the coach and angled them out to provide a more stable platform. Pick three: MCI LX Seated Series For the seated market, MCI will offer an LX Series touring coach based on the E4500 LX on display at UMA EXPO last year. The LX Series will provide operators with a selection of three unique, well-designed, upscale interior packages. Tour and charter operators will be able to customize their coaches with upscale amenities appropriate to their market without the hassle of too many choices and the unnecessary time and expense that can come with the customizing process. The LX is where operators will find leather seats, granite countertops and other fine touches. "In the end, MCI customers will have more options than ever," says Daab. From the custom-level features of the LX Series to the sky's-the-limit possibilities of the J4500 shell, MCI is ready to ride. The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com. |
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