PAZ-3204 Vector

PAZ-3204 Vector

PAZ-320412-05 near Barnaul railway station

PAZ-3204 “Vector” is a Russian high-floor small class bus produced by the Pavlovsky Bus plant. It was created in 2006 and is designed to replace the classic PAZ-3205 model, mass-produced since 1989, but is still produced in parallel with it.

The model was first introduced in 2003. It is a bus similar in size to the PAZ-3205, but with modern finishing and a comfortable interior. The first version with air suspension had problems with the reliability of the design and remained not very widespread. In total, as of August 2017, at least 9,188 copies were produced, of which at least 224 have already been written off.

Initially, the PAZ-3204 index was assigned to the all-wheel drive version of the PAZ-3203 series buses (PAZ-3205 prototypes). In 1973, a single prototype was produced, which successfully passed state tests and was recommended for mass production, but it suffered the same fate as the entire PAZ-3204 series (1973 model).

In the early 2000s, the PAZ-320401 bus was demonstrated as a modernization of the PAZ-3205 bus. The car received an updated appearance, air suspension on the rear axle, a lower floor level in the cabin and a Cummins diesel engine. 9 copies were produced. Serial production of the model was launched in 2006.

In the fall of 2008, PAZ modernized the 2006 model 3204. The design of the bus was somewhat simplified. From then on, it began to be designated PAZ-320402-03, the air suspension gave way to a spring one, the bus underwent a facelift – it received new headlights and windows with rubber seals instead of the modern glued ones. In addition, the front passenger door was moved closer to the front axle of the bus, and the floor level was raised.

The bus began to be produced with several interior layout options: urban (17 seats, total capacity – 53 passengers), urban and suburban (21 seats, total capacity – 50 passengers) and suburban (25 seats, total capacity – 43 passengers).

At the same time, a modification of the bus extended to 8.5 m was released.

PAZ-320402-05 in Barnaul (Altai)

In 2011, a restyling of the 3204 model was introduced, called the Vector PAZ. The bus began to be equipped with ISF3.8 engines, new at that time, produced by Cummins. Since 2013, mass production of the restyled version began.

In 2015, a deep modernization of the bus was carried out, which received its own name PAZ “Vector Next”. Unlike previous modifications, it is built on the GAZon Next chassis under its own designation GAZ-C40R13. An air suspension for the rear axle has been introduced. Modifications have appeared with a low floor level on the rear platform, making access easier for passengers with limited mobility. In 2019, production of the extended model PAZ Vector Next 8.8 began, after which the production of older versions 3204 was discontinued.

Modifications

PAZ-3203 (after restyling – “Vector”) – basic model, shortened to a length of 7100 mm, wheelbase 3800 mm. They were equipped with engines produced by ZMZ of the ZMZ-53 family, the same as the PAZ-3205.
PAZ-320302 (after restyling – “Vector”) – city bus, 17-21 seats. It is also available in the form of restyling.
PAZ-320370 – school bus.
PAZ-320401 – experimental model, city bus, length 7600 mm, wheelbase 3800 mm, with air suspension on the rear axle and a lowered floor level in the front part of the cabin. Only 9 examples were built.
PAZ-320402 – basic model, city and suburban bus, length 7600 mm, wheelbase 3800 mm, number of seats: up to 25, spring suspension with shock absorbers is used instead of pneumatic. Discontinued in favor of Vector Next 7.6.
PAZ-320403 – on a Tata chassis with screen doors, production discontinued.
PAZ-320412 (after restyling “Vector”) – city and suburban bus, extended model with one window section, length 8560 mm, wheelbase 4760 mm, number of seats: up to 30. Production of the line was discontinued in favor of 320414.
PAZ-320414 “Vector 8.8” – city bus, an extended model with one window section with a double door in the rear, length 8800 mm, wheelbase 4760 mm, number of seats: up to 30. Production discontinued in favor of Vector Next 8.8.
PAZ-320470 – school bus based on PAZ-320402, length 7600 mm, wheelbase 3800 mm, number of seats: 23.
PAZ-320472 – school bus based on PAZ-320412, length 8560 mm, wheelbase 4760 mm, number of seats: 31.
PAZ-320305 – city and suburban bus, equipped with gas-gasoline engines produced by ZMZ. It belongs to Vector Next 7.1 family (length of 7100 mm, wheelbase of 3800 mm).
PAZ-320405 – standard city and suburban bus. It belongs to Vector Next 7.6 family (length of 7600 mm, wheelbase of 3800 mm).
PAZ-320406 – standard city and suburban bus
PAZ-320435 “Accessible Environment” – urban, with a low floor in the rear section, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair and a wider double-leaf rear door.
PAZ-320436 “Accessible Environment” – urban, with a low floor in the rear section, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair and a wider double-leaf rear door.
PAZ-320445 – urban, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair and a wider double-leaf rear door.
PAZ-320446 – urban, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair and a wider double-leaf rear door.
PAZ-320415 “Accessible environment” – urban, with a low floor in the rear section, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair, with a double-leaf rear door. It belongs to Vector Next 8.8 family (length of 8800 mm, wheelbase of 4760 mm).
PAZ-320425 – urban, with a double-leaf rear door, capacity 56-61 passengers.
PAZ-320455 – long-distance.
PAZ-320475 – school bus, with the ability to transport a disabled person in a wheelchair and a double-leaf rear door.

After designating the model index, an index of the type of installed engine is added through a hyphen. Modifications of PAZ-320302 were produced with the following types of engines: PAZ-320302−02 – with an injection gasoline engine ZMZ-5245, Euro-5

PAZ-320302−08 – with carburetor gasoline engine ZMZ-5234, Euro-4.
PAZ-320302−11 Powered by gas fuel – with an Isuzu 4HV1 gas engine running on CNG.
PAZ-320302−12 Powered by gas fuel – with an injection gas-gasoline engine ZMZ-5245 engine and gas equipment for operation on CNG, Euro-5.
PAZ-320302−22 – with an injection gas-gasoline engine ZMZ-5245 engine and LPG for operation on liquefied gas, Euro-5.

For modifications with a gas engine, the cylinders are installed under the cabin floor.

PAZ-320405-04 «Vector Next» in Suzdal (Vladimir Oblast)

Vector Next

On June 3, 2016, serial production of PAZ “Vector Next” buses began. The new model is based on the GAZon Next chassis. An air suspension was used at the rear, which significantly reduced shaking, which was very noticeable in the PAZ-3205 and PAZ-3204. The model has a modular body, disc brakes. Modifications vary in length (7.1 m, 7.6 m or 8.8 m), fuel (gas or diesel), engine and gearbox. Passenger capacity varies from 26 (in the version for transporting children) to 61 (in the 8.8 meter version). The first PAZ Vector Next bus belongs to the manufacturer.