Optare Tempo

Full size rigid single deck bus built by Optare

The Optare Tempo is an integral low floor, heavy duty, full size rigid single deck bus manufactured by Optare and was launched in late 2004. It is marketed and sold as the replacement for the Optare Excel. It is designed as a lightweight bus, to use less fuel than traditional heavy duty integral rigids. As of July 2017, 233 had been built, including 27 Tempo SRs. The Tempo SR has now been replaced in the UK market by longer variants of the Optare MetroCity, although production of the Tempo SR continues for the Australian market.

The Optare Tempo was launched in October 2004 after the building of two pre production prototypes (both of which saw use as demonstrators and still exist (since relocated). Optare constructed the Tempo as an all welded heavy duty box section integral from stainless and carbon steel dressed in a mix of GFRP (fibreglass) and aluminium modular exterior panels, integrating easy maintenance features like swing out headlamp clusters and multiple LED lamps. Key mechanical services are installed on a demountable frame, connected with "no loss" couplings. Detailed analysis and computer modelling of the design and any impacts of stresses it would see in service were undertaken by finite element analysis firm Analysis by Firth, based in Wigan, UK. The resulting bus underwent testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground. Tempo cabs include a steering column with telescopic tilt and reach and later Optare's computerised 'eco drive' gauge pod with TFT. Designed and constructed by Actia (aiding Optare's electrical systems development since 1997), the revised dashboard incorporates telematics analysis with the ability to alert both the driver and operator in realtime (latter over the internet) to fuel consumption, maintenance issues and driving style. It was originally powered by a Euro III Mercedes Benz OM906LA engine (upgraded to Euro IV compliance with Adblue & Euro V compliance with SCR technology), with a Euro IV MAN D0836 EGR engine option later introduced (both 6 cylinder), coupled to a ZF 6HP500 Ecomat 2 six speed automatic transmission as standard or optionally an Allison T310R five speed automatic transmission. The rear Rába drive axle was engineered to be smoother and quieter, with 4 air suspension bags. ZF 8098 steering gear is implemented through a MAN drop centre low floor front axle supported by a further two air suspension bags (with electronic kneeling capabilities). a hybrid version was introduced for London operators, utilising a "fully proven" and "fully reliable" Allison EP40 Parallel Hybrid drive system powered by removable NiMH batteries combined with a Cummins 250 hp ISBe Euro V SCR engine. This technology was integrated into ten 10.6 metre variants, which also featured Transport for London spec double doors, leaving space for 28 seats. borrowing from the Solo's naming convention. The Tempo SR came in three different lengths: 10.6, 11.3 and 12.0 metres and incorporated a Mercedes Benz OM906LA six cylinder 210 kW (282 bhp) SCR engine, which continued to be housed on a removable cradle alongside the transmission ZF's 6HP500 six speed transmission could be specified as an alternative to the now standard Allison T310R gearbox – both of which feature integral retarders. Trentbarton, then having a long and close relationship with Optare, sparked the facelift of the Tempo to be "fundamentally different to anything else on the market". Between Trentbarton, transport design and branding agency Best Impressions (led by Ray Stenning) and Optare featuring suggestions and ideas from Nottingham area bus users the Tempo SR was born. The finalised bus was unveiled at Coach & Bus Live 2011, and marketed as "the new bus for Nottingham". Stenning reflected that the design "has a natural flow and every line [had] a purpose" and it wasn't "tarting it up for the sake of it". Despite Trentbarton proclaiming their redesign was "taking the transport industry by storm", and Transport for London operators East London, London United and Metroline. Additionally, Lynx are now the largest operators of the Tempo in the world, having purchased large numbers of vehicles second hand.

One 36 seat left hand drive Optare Tempo X1200 was exported to Kiel, Germany in 2007. Beginning with KVG in Kiel, Germany as 713, registered KI EL 7713, in 2010 it moved to Breda, Netherlands where it was re registered BV VH 41 and operated by Arriva as fleet no. 1002, before returning to Germany a year later; namely Saarlouis registered WND P 86 until around 2014 when it finally served in Bayreuth with Heserbus GmbH as BT OS 1010. According to records sometime afterward it ended up in Coburg for spares.

In Australia, Tempos have been purchased by Carbridge and Park Ridge Transit.