Telegram channel “Avtopotok” shared a photo of the monocab and provided details about the project. According to an insider, we are talking about a small bus on the KamAZ Compass chassis. Judging by the design of the body, SimAZ will be engaged in production, that is, the Ulyanovsk enterprise will switch from Japanese Isuzu chassis to Chinese, familiar from JAC trucks. After the departure of Isuzu from Russia, such a replacement looks logical.
In terms of form factor, glazing and door arrangement, the new bus resembles the previous SimAZ product, however, not all body panels are the same: the wheel arches, the roof are decorated differently, the area of the rear doors is increased, the rear overhang is changed, and a completely different front mask. The headlights are original, on the grille there is a KamAZ label.
Structurally, the Isuzu N-Series and JAC N-Series are close, which means that the Compass chassis can be installed instead of the Japanese source without significant interventions in the design. The main engine should be Cummins ISF3.8, the main gearbox – 6-speed “mechanics” Fast Gear. The characteristics, assembly place and name of the bus will most likely be confirmed next week at the Komtrans-2023 exhibition.
Among other expected novelties of the commercial exhibition are a tourist bus and a promising MAZ truck tractor, as well as another compact KamAZ bus with the alleged index “4290”.
Transformer buses
