The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a four-meter-high double-decker coach that makes an extremely impressive appearance at first glance. With its aerodynamic “sharp cut” design, it has also become the flagship and icon of the premium NEOPLAN brand since 1967. In 58 years, around 5,550 vehicles have been delivered to customers all over the world – from the NASA shuttles at Cape Canaveral to a motorhome for an Arab royal family and a tour bus used by the Kelly Family in the 1990s. The new limited Skyliner “Auwärter Edition,” which will celebrate its trade fair premiere at Busworld Europe in October 2025, combines nostalgic design elements with state-of-the-art technology. It impresses with eye-catching “retro-look” decals, elegant interior details, and high-quality features such as aluminum rims, a large kitchen, and a spacious toilet. The special model features a digital cockpit with SmartSelect, innovative assistance systems such as MAN SafeStop Assist, and a highly efficient drive system with an advanced MAN D26 engine and EfficientCruise 3 shift program – an attractive overall package for greater safety, efficiency, and comfort.
Sustainable in passenger transport: top marks for CO2 emissions
The Skyliner is not only the flagship of the NEOPLAN model range, it is also a triple champion in the important disciplines of climate protection, efficiency, and safety. Due to its high capacity, which makes maximum use of the physical limits of the vehicle concept, there is hardly a more sustainable way of traveling on the road. With up to 83 (travel version) or 96 (long-distance version “Skyliner Express”) passengers, modern MAN drive technology makes it possible to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer to well below ten grams – a top value that has also been confirmed by independent tests. With up to 11 cubic meters of luggage space, the double-decker offers more storage space than other competitors. In addition, the low-floor lower deck with space for up to two wheelchairs makes it ideal for the booming long-distance services in Europe.
Limited Skyliner “Auwärter Edition” to mark anniversary
To mark the 85th birthday of Konrad Auwärter and the 90th anniversary of the NEOPLAN brand, the company is presenting a limited edition of 30 “Auwärter Edition” models at the Busworld Europe trade fair in Brussels. This edition is particularly striking thanks to its classic “stainless steel plank” design with the stylized Auwärter swing arm, which adorned both the front masks and the factory buildings of the traditional brand and its vehicles – as it still does today at the Auwärter car park in Pilsting. These design features are complemented by high-quality aluminum rims. Comparably elegant details are also evident in the cockpit and the high-quality interior. In addition, elegant stainless steel and wood-look details from the NEOPLAN Individual collection have been incorporated. In addition to the optional driver’s berth at door 2, the Skyliner offers a practical storage space directly next to the large L-shaped kitchen with access from the inside and outside, as well as a particularly spacious toilet on the lower deck. The experts in bus modification at the Ankara plant are responsible for this high-quality carpentry work. Other features of the new edition include the modern OptiView mirror replacement system, the Lane Return Assist and MAN SafeStop Assist driver assistance systems – for greater safety and comfort on the road.
“To this day, Konrad Auwärter and his life’s work remain inextricably linked to our premium brand NEOPLAN,” says Heinz Kiess, Head of Product Marketing Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, adding: “On behalf of the entire MAN and NEOPLAN family, we would like to congratulate him on his 85th birthday with this attractive special model and wish him all the best! The history of NEOPLAN and also that of the Skyliner would be inconceivable without his expertise and unbridled passion for automobiles.”
