• The Alexander Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander Dennis Pointer 2 combination was replaced during 2006 by the Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart. While the chassis is largely the same as the original, though incorporating a Euro4 engine, fully adjustable drivers dashboard and disk brakes, the biggest change though was the replacement of the Pointer 2 bodywork with the Enviro200Dart bodywork, which is in structure, more of an Alexander type design, though the interior seems to be mainly Plaxton influenced.

• The standard Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis does remain available for other manufacturers to body (though a Euro4 version), at the moment this is available with Caetano Nimbus, ELC Esteem, ELC Myllennium & MCV Evolution bodywork though some were produced with Alexander Dennis Pointer 2 bodywork, I doubt any more will be now.  Confusingly though, the Enviro200Dart chassis is also available to other manufacturers to build on, even though the only difference I'm aware of is the drivers dashboard, either way some have been built with ELC Esteem bodywork!  Similarly the Enviro300 and Enviro400 chassis are now available for other manufacturers to body.

• The chassis is now also available with more options than ever before, still with the basic 5 lengths, but all versions (apart from the 11.3M model) are now available with either a 4 or 6 cylinder Cummins ISBe4 engine and either an Allison or Voith gearbox.  When any chassis is fitted with the 6 cylinder engine though the length is increased by 242mm due to a longer rear overhang.  The 11.3M model is, like the SPD, only available with the 6 cylinder engine and Voith gearbox, so there is only one length!  The standard width of the Enviro200Dart is 2.4M, though some 2.3M wide Dart SLF chassis were produced, so far no indication has been made of an narrow Enviro200Dart being available, though to compete with the slimline Optare Solo, this might be a good idea for ADL!

• Confusingly too, the Enviro range bodies are now available on some other chassis too, the Enviro200 body is also available on the MAN 14.240/A66 chassis, the Enviro300 on the MAN 18.240/A69 chassis, the Enviro400 on Volvo B9TL (one Volvo B7TL/Enviro400 demo was built) and Scania 230UD chassis with the Enviro500 is available on the Volvo B9TL tri-axle.

Specification

Engine
Cummins ISBe 4 cylinder turbocharged and intercooled diesel
engine certified to Euro 4 emission standards using Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
Displacement: 4.5 litres
Power: 140 PS (103 kW) @ 2500 rpm
Torque: 550 Nm (406 lbft) @ 1100-1600 rpm
Or
Cummins ISBe 4 cylinder turbocharged and intercooled diesel
engine certified to Euro 4 emission standards using Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
Displacement: 4.5 litres
Power: 160 PS (117 kW) @ 2500 rpm
Torque: 600 Nm (443 lbft) @ 1100-1600 rpm
Or
Cummins ISBe 6 cylinder turbocharged and intercooled diesel
engine certified to Euro 4 emission standards using Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
Displacement: 6.7 litres
Power: 205 PS (151 kW) @ 2500 rpm
Torque: 750 Nm ( 553 lbft) @ 1100-1800 rpm

Gearbox
Allison 2100 4 or 5 speed automatic transmission
Ratios: 3.102, 1.811, 1.406, 1.00, 0.712 Rev: 4.492:1
Or
Voith DV500 3 speed automatic transmission with integral
hydrodynamic retarder.
Ratios: 3.17, 1.67, 1.00 Rev: 1.48:1

• The longer Enviro300 remains available at 12M and 12.5M lengths, all at 2.55M width, and this is expected to gain a facelift during 2006 to look similar to the Enviro200Dart and Enviro400 bodies.  Following the purchase of Plaxton by Alexander Dennis in May 2007, although it is early to say I would guess that at some point too the present Plaxton Primo may be given a facelift and hopefully many other improvements to become an Enviro100.  The Plaxton Primo is available at just one size at present, 7.9M length, 2.4M width though personally I think it could be in ADLs interests to develop this (or its replacement) as both the existing 2.4M and also a 2.3M wide vehicle to compete with the slimline Optare Solo range!