Renault PR180.2

Renault PR 180.2
Transperth bus no 735, operated by Southern Coast Transit, at Barrack Street Jetty, Perth, 2006.
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault Véhicules Industriels

The Renault PR180.2 is an articulated bus chassis produced by Renault Véhicules Industriels (Renault Commercial Vehicles) in Lyon, France. The PR180.2 is based on Renault's popular PR100.2 rigid bus, and shares many common components. Once a common sight in many French cities, most PR180.2s are now at the end of their useful lives and reside with small private operators.

The Renault PR180.2 was designed around an interesting and unusual concept. Most articulated buses only have one driving axle - either the centre axle or the rear axle, however, the PR180.2 features two driving axles - centre and rear.

Renault PR180.2s have been very popular in Australia. Two Australian bus operators - Transperth in Western Australia and ACTION in the Australian Capital Territory, purchased large numbers of PR180.2s in the late 1980s. In Perth, 65 of these buses were bought in two batches. The first delivery was in 1988, being no. 692 which was painted in a special bicentennial livery. These buses were fitted with state-of-the-art turbocharged and intercooled engines coupled to 4-speed Voith D864.4SR1 automatic transmissions with integrated hydraulic retarders.

Perth's Renault PR180.2s were numbered 692-738 (first batch), and 739-747 and 875-883 (second batch). The 800-series Renaults in the second batch were later renumbered 748-756.

• 692: Formerly carried an all-over advertising scheme celebrating Australia's bi-centenary (1788-1988).
• 693: Delivered in 'CityLink' livery.
• 697: Retrofitted with a ZF 5HP 500 5-speed automatic transmission in 1992.
• 698: Fitted with trial PMC Adelaide doors.
• 705: Fitted with trial SMC doors (these became standard on second batch)
• 722: Fitted with Mobitec LED destination displays.
• 747: Formerly carried an all-over advertising scheme marking it as the 200th Renault bus to be delivered to Perth.