Jul 20, 2023
Leinfelden-Echterdingen / Friedrichsfehn
Bus and touring coach travel company Emil Hilgen from Friedrichsfehn in Ammerland, Lower Saxony, has decided to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary with a very special gift: a fully equipped Setra TopClass S 516 HDH.
It's the first Setra in the fleet bearing the brand's new family face. Following an extensive facelift, next-generation Setra touring coaches feature three-dimensional, chrome brand lettering on a glossy, black background.
In terms of technology, the latest Setra is also a true premium vehicle for Hilgen, evident from elements including adaptive cruise control (ART) with Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA 5): the system relieves drivers by automatically maintaining a constant distance to the vehicle ahead as defined by the driver on the basis of permanent measurements. ABA 5 additionally supports drivers in the event of an imminent collision with stationary objects, moving objects and moving pedestrians.
Today, 40 buses and touring coaches with the striking green Hilgen lettering are in operation for the company. Many of these vehicles – from club vehicles to double-deckers – are Setra and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, given this has been the company's first choice for decades. "The versatile Setra premium touring coach fully meets the high standards of our passengers. Unique all-round visibility, generous interior standing height and the coherently coordinated interior design represent comfort and driving pleasure par excellence," Wolfgang Hilgen explains.
Established on 29 June 1923 by Anna and Emil Hilgen for the transport of sand for local road construction, dairy products and deliveries of all kinds as a haulage company operating with horse-drawn carriages, the Friedrichsfehn-based company soon upgraded the fleet with a truck a few years later. A touring coach trailer soon followed to be able to transport peat workers throughout the region. The first bus was purchased in 1948, and today the company is considered a reliable service provider for local public transport within the districts of Ammerland and Oldenburg. Setra and Mercedes-Benz touring coaches provide the first-class travel experience in coach hire that Hilgen is known for throughout the region.
As a family-owned company, the company has always been handed over to the next generation – in 1980, the business was passed on to the son of the company's founder. Wolfgang Hilgen has been managing the company for 20 years, which was converted to a GmbH & Co KG (business entity with limited liability, common in Germany) in 2017. Together with his brothers Karl-Heinz and Thomas, his son Frederick is already the fourth generation working at the company.
Sideguard Assist is also on board the anniversary touring coach, a three-axle vehicle used on tours throughout Europe. This is a safety assistance system that supports drivers in critical turning situations with potentially restricted visibility. In addition, Active Drive Assist 2 applies continuous steering interventions to keep the vehicle in a target position within the lane.
The S 516 HDH is equipped with 48 seats and a galley kitchen with a fully automatic coffeemaker. The vehicle is deployed in coach hire throughout Europe. The new 360° camera system offers perfect all-round visibility when manoeuvring and in tight spaces. Four cameras at the front, rear and above the side windows record the vehicle surroundings and generate an indirect all-round view from a bird’s-eye perspective.
Comfort features on board also include a high-quality entertainment system with DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and the option to pair smartphones. Furthermore, an HDMI interface makes it possible to connect a laptop to display travel information during a study trip, for example.
