"Jeepney on Steroids: A New Generation of a Filipino Icon With A Twist"
For many decades, the jeepney has not only been the most popular mode of transport in the Philippines, but has also become one of the icon to which the Philippines had been known for. Colorful and flamboyant, some people and enthusiasts alike consider these vehicles as rolling works of art due to their mix of decorations and color schemes especially in their heyday. These vehicles were originally made from US Military jeeps left to the country after World War II. Throughout the years, they have evolved increasing both in size and passenger volume capacity. The most popular of which are based on light trucks like that of the Isuzu Elf or Mitsubishi Fuso Canter chassis with the cab removed and the bodies fabricated from a mix of hand-beaten or machined steel panels. These jeepneys carry anywhere from 18 to 22 passengers. As time progresses, so does the jeepney, with some being built with air-conditioning systems, a wider and taller body, and on even larger frames and more powerful engines rivaling mini buses and coasters.
The evolution of the jeepney has always been slow in terms of improvement and revolutionary designs, but that all changed with the creation of the Sky Jeepney made by Design Development Industries, Incorporated. This is the brainchild of the company’s founder, Mr. Mark Victor Bautista, a graduate of Industrial Design in the University of the Philippines, who has been known to be an enthusiast of Double-Decker coaches. His creation called by many to be a “jeepney on steroids”, this vehicle measures 9.50 meters long, 2.40 meters wide, 3.70 meters tall, and can weigh as much as 13 tons when fully loaded. The jeepney-inspired double-decker body is built upon a sturdy JAC HFC6880 chassis. Propulsion is provided by an Isuzu-derived 6.6 Liter Turbo-intercooled FAW CA6DF2D-23 Straight-6 Diesel Engine generating a hefty 230 hp at 2300 rpm and 780 N.m of torque at 1,400 rpm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels. The flamboyant body uses a tried and tested steel construction for the structure and aluminum skin to reduce overall weight. It uses a Bock air-conditioning compressor with the roof mounted fans and condenser cleverly placed on the hood of the jeepney just above the driver’s seat to keep it out of sight.
Inside, Multiflex seats comes as standard with genuine leather upholstery. The upper deck features a 2x2 seating configuration while the lower deck features a 2x1 seating configuration with conference tables and pulls out beds. The ceiling and side panels are made of fiber glass with native Abaca fiver woven within. The luxurious interior comes complete with a full-size fridge, a microwave oven, and a water dispenser. It has 2 flat screen LCD TVs, a surround sound stereo system, and even Wi-Fi connectivity for the passenger’s entertainment. It is equipped with a total of 8 CCTV cameras on the upper and lower decks. It is GPS equipped and the vehicles speed and location can be monitored and the information of its whereabouts be fed through the owner’s phone.
Truly a unique and luxurious vehicle, the sky jeepney’s striking looks has the added perk of being a real eye-catcher. The unique body design ensures that no matter where you go with it, you’ll stand out from the traffic with many other commuters and pedestrians either checking out its lines and features of the body or grabbing their phones and cameras to take a quick photo. Some adoring its appearance making the onlookers smile as the vehicle passes by, attention and reactions very similar to what many people will give when they see high end and expensive automobiles.
Date Taken: October 3, 2015
Basic Details:
Operator: Jeepney Tours
Fleet Number: Sky Jeepney Mk. 2
Classification: Air-Conditioned Tourists & Charter Bus
Seating Configuration: 2x2 Seats w/ Conference Tables (Upper Deck), 2x1 Seats w/ Conference Tables & Side Facing Seats (Lower Deck)
Seating Capacity: 39 + 4 Passengers
Body:
Coachbuilder: Design Development Industries, Inc.
Body Model: Sky Jeepney
Chassis:
Chassis Model: JAC HFC6880KY1
Layout: Rear-Longitudinally-Mounted Engine Rear-Wheel Drive
Suspension: Leaf Springs Suspension
Engine:
Engine Model: FAW CA6DF2D-23
Cylinder Displacement: 6.6 Liters
Cylinder Configuration: Straight-6
Engine Aspiration: Turbocharged & Intercooled
Max. Power Output: 230 hp @ 2,300 rpm
Peak Torque Output: 780 N.m @ 1,400 rpm
Emission Standard: Euro 2
Transmission:
Type: Manual Transmission
Gears: 5-Speed Forward, 1-Speed Reverse
* Some parts of the specifications may be subjected for verification and may be changed without prior notice...
Facebook Page Article: Jeepney on Steroids: A New Generation of a Filipino Icon With A Twist
Youtube Video: PhilBES Sky Jeepney EDSA Traffic Roadtest 2015 by Josh Llabore / Lazy Boy (BusP)
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