Optare Esteem

East Lancs / Optare Esteem
The Sussex Bus East Lancs Esteem bodied Volvo B7RLE in Brighton in September 2014
Overview
Manufacturer	East Lancashire Coachbuilders/Optare (reverse takeover of Darwen Group)
Production	2006–2009
Body and chassis
Chassis	Scania N94UB Scania N230UB Volvo B7RLE MAN 12.240 Alexander Dennis Dart SLF Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart Alexander Dennis Enviro300
Powertrain
Capacity	33 to 60 (up to 43 seated)
Dimensions
Length	10.7-12.2m
Width	2.52m
Height	2.9m

The Optare Esteem (introduced in 2006 as the East Lancs Esteem, and sold as the Darwen Esteem between 2007 and 2008) is a low-floor single-decker bus body. It has been built on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB, Volvo B7RLE, MAN 12.240, Alexander Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart and Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis.

The Esteem was launched by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. When they went into administration, they were bought by Darwen Group and the Esteem was rebranded. Darwen later performed a reverse takeover of Optare, resulting in the Esteem being rebranded again.

Metrobus have the largest number of the original East Lancs Esteems, some of which are on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB and MAN 12.240 chassis while the remainder are on Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis (which has now been superseded by the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart). The first two Esteems to be built on the Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis were delivered to Courtney Coaches in 2006, and were the first Enviro300s with bodywork not built by Alexander Dennis. Other companies who have Esteems in service are Stagecoach in Preston, Heathrow Airport (on contract to an operator) and many more.