Plaxton Cheetah

The Plaxton Cheetah is a body of a minibus and a minicoach. It was built from 1997 to 2014 by Plaxton.

Plaxton Cheetah
Overview
Manufacturer	Plaxton
Production	1997–2014 (Cheetah) 2015–2019 (Cheetah XL)
Assembly	Wigan, England
Body and chassis
Class	Minibus (Cheetah) Midibus (Cheetah XL)
Body style	Single-decker bus
Doors	1 (inswing door)
Floor type	Step entrance
Chassis	Mercedes-Benz Vario Mercedes-Benz Atego
Powertrain
Engine	Front mounted 4.2-litre (4,249cc) inline-four diesel engine. Output (Vario 815D) = 150 bhp (111 kw)
Capacity	29/33 seated passengers
Transmission	5 or 6-speed manual, 4-speed Allison automatic
Dimensions
Length	7.0m to 8.1m
Width	2.4m
Height	3.0m

Plaxton Cheetah 1

The first generation Plaxton Cheetah 1 was a body of a minibus. It was built from 1997 to 2000 by Plaxton.

The Plaxton Cheetah body was built on the Mercedes-Benz Vario chassis.^[a]

Plaxton Cheetah 2

The second generation Plaxton Cheetah 2 was a body of a minibus. It was built from 2000 to 2014 by Plaxton.

The Plaxton Cheetah 2 body was built on the Mercedes-Benz Vario chassis.^[1]

Plaxton Cheetah XL

The Plaxton Cheetah XL is a body of a minicoach. It was built from 2015^[2] to 2019 by Plaxton.

The Cheetah XL was made as a replacement for the second generation Cheetah 2.^[3][4]

The Cheetah XL body was built on the Mercedes-Benz Atego chassis.^[5][6][7][8]

In 2019, Plaxton stopped making the Cheetah XL because of poor sales.^[9]

Gallery

• 
  Mercedes-Benz Vario with standard Plaxton Cheetah 1 bodywork
• 
  Mercedes-Benz Vario with custom-made Plaxton Cheetah 1 bodywork
• 
  Mercedes-Benz Vario with Plaxton Cheetah 2 bodywork
• 
  Mercedes-Benz Atego with Cheetah XL bodywork

Notes

1. Both cites don't mention "Vario" however the numbered models (O 814, O 816 etc) all come under the Vario name.:
   Walter, Richard (15 May 2021). Buses on the Western Isles. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0455-6.
   Machin, Tim (15 January 2021). Buses of North Staffordshire. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9951-6.