Design: the iconic look of the Setra MultiClass LE

• Low-entry design: deliberate division into two segments
• Front design: distinctive face of the Setra family
• Numerous door options: Welcome aboard!
• Folding ramp at door 1: available for bus variants without a platform

Setra is synonymous with captivating and enduring design. Planning a low-entry bus is a twin challenge for designers. For interurban buses, practicality comes first, coupled with attractive packaging. For low-entry buses, the fact that the vehicle is divided into two segments further complicates matters. The difference in height between the low-floor section at the front and the high-floor area at the rear unavoidably results in a step in the window line.

Low-entry design: deliberate division into two segments

The designers of the new Setra MultiClass LE have turned this problem into an advantage: the outside of the new low-entry bus is deliberately divided into two distinct sections. The clear division of the passenger compartment into "stalls" (lower floor section) and "boxes" (upper floor section) makes the exterior of the new interurban buses more elegant. The two segments are tied together by a wide vertical strip. The exterior is clad in aluminium panels painted in the vehicle's colour. The panel edges are pleasingly rounded and quite different from the boxy designs typically associated with scheduled service buses.

On the right side of the vehicle, the doors blend seamlessly into the bodywork thanks to a tinted glass panel above the door leaves. The dark-framed, rounded A-pillars at the front, and the similarly shaped corner profiles at the rear dissolve the usual boxiness and give way to smooth and flowing forms.

The roof of the interurban bus appears to float above its body. The result is a light, airy design that is unique within the industry and free from the austerity typically associated with conventional interurban buses. There are two tint levels to choose from. This look is particularly striking if customers choose the darker tint option for the side windows.

Front design: distinctive face of the Setra family

The front of the MultiClass LE has the new Setra family face introduced by the brand for its current range of touring coaches. The confident chrome-plated brand logo rests on a glossy black front panel framed in matte silver. To the left and right, black headlights with full LED lamps as standard really stand out. They not only look the part but also provide excellent illumination – very important for an interurban bus during darker seasons and off-peak hours. They also save energy and last for the vehicles' entire service life. They significantly lower costs and improve safety throughout many years of service in frequent interurban applications.

The new LED lighting elements above the headlights resemble eyebrows. They work as combined turn signals, position lights and daytime running lights. These stylish lights come from the new generation of Setra coaches and are identical on the left and right. This simplifies spare parts management in the event of minor damage that can occur during demanding interurban transport. At the same time, they accentuate the family resemblance among Setra's bus series.

Further up, the windscreen is visually extended downwards by a black panel. A contour edge running across the entire width of the vehicle separates the area below. The newly adopted brand emblem, a K in a circle, is prominently displayed in this area, as it is on the brand's coaches.

No matter where you look, every detail of the new interurban buses has been meticulously crafted. This attention to detail extends to the contours of the joints, the frame around the front panel, the raised letters of the brand name and the headlights. Lastly, the fog lights are integrated into black panels at the bottom left and right. This not only gives the buses a sturdy presence on the road but also creates space for integrating optical systems for advanced driver assistance features, such as the second generation of the Predictive Brake Assist 2 active braking system.

This clever feature is just one of many that show the practicality of these new interurban bus designs. The front left and right corner bumpers can be folded out without tools, should any repairs be necessary. The same applies to the front panel, behind which the container for the windscreen washer fluid is now conveniently located for easy access.

On the sides above the front wheels, the trademark shows the pedigree of the new MultiClass 500 LE – it is a genuine Setra through and through. This is also shown by the brand logo on the distinctively designed rear of the bus. The top features an aerodynamic roof with a trailing edge. At the bottom, the rear lights have the familiar basic shape but are equipped with full LED technology and a completely unique lighting pattern that is related to the red stripes found on the new Setra coaches whilst remaining unmistakably distinct. Keen observers will notice that the brand logo within the rear lights serves both as a subtle statement, as well as to prevent product piracy.

Numerous door options: Welcome aboard!

The exceptional versatility of the new Setra MultiClass LE begins with the selection of doors. For entrance number one, a single-leaf door is available in two widths of 900 and 1,150 millimetres. There is also a new option for a wider door with two leaves, providing a passage width of 1,380 mm. Entrance two can be chosen as a single-leaf door or as a double door (1,150/1,380 millimetres). On request, all models can also be equipped with a third door located behind the rear axle (900 millimetres wide). All doors fully glazed down to the floor.

Depending on the specific door position and door variant, companies can choose between outward swivelling doors, inward swivelling doors or swivelling/sliding doors to suit their specific needs and preferences. Many other details also speak of great practicality. For example, the support arm of the outward swivelling door at entrance one is mounted above. This prevents the door from getting damaged by, for instance, contact with embankments, high curbs, or tight and banked bends on mountain passes.

Depending on the door variant and tyre size, entrance two offers a range of ramp options, including a mechanical folding ramp, a double ramp with a combination of electric and mechanical functions, and an electric wedge ramp.

Folding ramp at door 1: available for bus variants without a platform

A mechanical folding ramp for door one is also available for the first time. It can be fitted in variants without a platform as they have the required aisle width to allow wheelchair users to safely reach the special use area opposite entrance two. In this area, wheelchairs can be safely secured either using convenient mushroom head fittings and belts, or with belts integrated into the platforms. Alternatively, a special use area can be fitted on the right in the direction of travel.

The boarding height of city buses in the front section at entrance one - excluding the kneeling function - is only between 311 and 314 millimetres when equipped with 275/70 R 22.5 tyres. With interurban bus tyres of size 295/80 R 22.5, boarding height only increases to 355 to 358 millimetres.

Destination displays from a range of manufacturers can be fitted to help passengers spot the correct bus at the bus stop and so that companies can select their preferred supplier.