The Mascarello Gran Via is an urban bus built by Mascarello Carrocerias de Ônibus, a Brazilian bus and coach body manufacturer based in Cascavel, in the state of Paraná. It first appeared in 2004 and was made in three generations, the last of them from 2011 to 2014, alongside articulated and low-entry versions.
Mascarello Gran Via at a glance
| Maker | Mascarello Carrocerias de Ônibus, Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Type | urban bus, listed by the maker among its urban models |
| First generation | Gran Via 2004 (2004–2008) |
| Second generation | Gran Via 2008 (2008–2011) |
| Third generation | Gran Via 2011 (2011–2014) |
| Articulated version | Gran Via Articulado (2010–2011) |
| Low-entry, first generation | Gran Via Low-entry (2004–2011) |
| Low-entry, second generation | Gran Via Low-entry (2011–2012) |
| Company output | 10,000 units by February 2011; 15,000 by May 2013 |
| Markets | Brazil and more than 18 export countries |
There is no separate Wikipedia article on the Gran Via, so this page uses the English article on Mascarello Carrocerias de Ônibus, which lists the model and its generations. It is based on one source.
History of the Mascarello Gran Via
Gran Via 2004: the first generation (2004–2008)
The Gran Via was launched in 2004, four years after Mascarello had settled into building complete buses. The company, the first and only bus builder in the state of Paraná, is part of a group of companies linked to the agribusiness sector; it began with minibuses and gradually moved to designing and assembling larger models. The urban Gran Via was one of the results of that move up the range.
Gran Via 2008: the second generation (2008–2011)
A second generation followed in 2008 and stayed in production until 2011. During its life the company passed an important mark: in February 2011 it reached 10,000 units manufactured since it started. In September of the same year Mascarello entered the long-distance segment with the Roma 370, a coach rather than an urban bus, which widened the range above the Gran Via.
Gran Via 2011: the third generation (2011–2014)
The third and last generation of the Gran Via was introduced in 2011 and built until 2014. By May 2013 the company had reached 15,000 units manufactured, and by then it was selling both at home and abroad, exporting to more than 18 countries, among them the Philippines, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Guatemala in Latin America, and Ghana, Angola and Nigeria in Africa.
Articulated and low-entry versions
Besides the standard two-axle bus, Mascarello offered the Gran Via Articulado in 2010–2011 and two generations of a low-entry version: one made from 2004 to 2011 and a second from 2011 to 2012. The low-entry body was aimed at city operators who wanted a flat floor without the cost of a full low-floor chassis.
Design and features
- Urban body: the Gran Via is listed by Mascarello among its urban models, between the Gran Micro and the long-distance Roma coaches.
- Three generations: 2004, 2008 and 2011, each replacing the one before.
- Articulated option: the Gran Via Articulado of 2010–2011 for higher-capacity city routes.
- Low-entry versions: two generations, 2004–2011 and 2011–2012.
- Brazilian build: bodies assembled at Cascavel, Paraná, for the home market and for export.
Mascarello Gran Via versions
- Gran Via 2004 (2004–2008): the first generation.
- Gran Via 2008 (2008–2011): the second generation.
- Gran Via 2011 (2011–2014): the third and final generation.
- Gran Via Articulado (2010–2011): articulated bus.
- Gran Via Low-entry (2004–2011): first low-entry generation.
- Gran Via Low-entry (2011–2012): second low-entry generation.
The Gran Via is one of the models in the Mascarello collection on this site, together with the company’s other bus and coach bodies.
Video: OMSI Mascarello GRAN VIA 2011 17-230 EOD DOWNLOAD
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Mascarello Carrocerias de Ônibus, English Wikipedia: company history, markets, Gran Via generations