The Temsa Diamond was built by the Turkish manufacturer Temsa from 2004 to 2012 as its flagship intercity coach. Fourteen metres long, with three axles and 54 seats, it was designed by Bob Lee, who had also drawn the Neoplan Skyliner, and used a 12.8-litre MAN diesel with an eight-speed manual gearbox.
Temsa Diamond at a glance
| Maker | Temsa, Adana, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2012 |
| Type | intercity coach |
| Launch | introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model |
| Length | 14 metres |
| Seats | 54 |
| Axles | three |
| Engine | MAN D2876 LOH 02, 12.8-litre turbodiesel |
| Output | 460 hp and 2,100 Nm |
| Gearbox | ZF 8S2101 manual |
| Designer | Bob Lee |
| Role in the range | Temsa’s flagship model |
The Diamond has a short page in the Turkish Wikipedia; the rest of the article comes from the model list and company history in the English article on TEMSA.
History of the Temsa Diamond
A new flagship for 2005
The Diamond was presented in 2004 and went into production as a 2005 model. It stood at the top of the Temsa range, above the Safari coaches that the company had developed since 2000, and was aimed at long-distance passenger work. At 14 metres and with three axles it was the largest vehicle the company offered at the time, and it carried 54 passengers.
Design and engineering
The body was drawn by Bob Lee, the designer also responsible for the Neoplan Skyliner. Underneath sat a 12.8-litre MAN D2876 LOH 02 turbodiesel rated at 460 hp and 2,100 Nm, driving through a ZF 8S2101 manual gearbox. That combination of a large MAN engine and a ZF transmission was typical of the coaches Temsa developed for European markets after 2000, when the company moved from Mitsubishi-based designs to its own bodies with bought-in drivetrains.
The end of the line
The Diamond never reached the sales volumes Temsa had hoped for, and production ended in 2012 after eight years. Its place at the top of the range was taken by later models, while the Diamond itself is remembered as the most ambitious coach of the company’s first decade of independent design. It also appeared among the Temsa models included in a special edition of the Bus Driver game released by SCS Software in 2007.
Design and features
- Fourteen metres and three axles: the biggest coach in the Temsa range of its day.
- Bob Lee bodywork: the designer of the Neoplan Skyliner drew the Diamond.
- MAN power: a 12.8-litre D2876 turbodiesel with 460 hp and 2,100 Nm.
- ZF eight-speed gearbox: a manual transmission matched to the long-distance role.
- Flagship equipment: 54 seats in a coach intended for long intercity routes.
Temsa Diamond versions
- Diamond 14: the standard 14-metre, 54-seat three-axle coach.
- 2005 model year: the launch specification shown in 2004.
- Bus Driver edition: the Diamond was one of the Temsa models featured in the 2007 special edition of the game.
The Diamond sat above the Safari in the range, and the later Tourmalin took over the city and intercity work. More coaches are in the Temsa collection.
Video: Temsa Diamond
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Temsa Diamond, Turkish Wikipedia: production years, dimensions, engine, gearbox, designer
- TEMSA, English Wikipedia: company history, Bus Driver edition
