- Noble design elements: black rims, red brake calliper, stainless steel trim, leather seats with embroidered lion
- Sady site near Poznan: around 40 employees, more than 13,000 square metres of floor space.
- Scope of services MAN Individual in the van sector: vehicle refinement, special customer requests, TGE Kombi, preparations for emergency vehicles
Vans usually play a minor role in films and television. They are most present when secret agents are watching a villain from the cargo hold. Things were a little different in the A-Team, a US TV series from the 1980s. In this action series, the pimped-out black van was given the role of the fifth team member. And now the latest member of the TGE family can also fill this special role: The MAN TGE Individual Lion S arouses emotions with its appearance and creates a bond with the vehicle. It is an eye-catcher and a statement.
How does it do that? MAN’s own vehicle refinement relies on discreetly sporty design elements. At the front of the vehicle, an additional stainless steel panel above the number plate attracts attention even from a distance. There are also red trim elements. These are found under the radiator grille, on the side of the vehicle, on the exterior mirrors and on the red-painted brake callipers. The latter contrast harmoniously with the black aluminium rims, which are also part of the Individual Lion S equipment. An eye-catcher at the rear of the vehicle is the three-part roof edge spoiler. Mirror flaps in carbon look with integrated MAN lion as well as the side and rear steps round off the exterior styling package.
The highlight in the interior is the high-quality leather seats with red contrast stitching and red embroidered lion. Further red design accents enhance the steering wheel, air vents and floor mats. The LED lights in the footwell and the storage compartments in the two doors are both visually appealing and practical.
It’s clear that the MAN TGE Individual Lion S is something for automotive gourmets and a masterpiece of sophisticated styling. It is the first result of MAN Individual’s new production site in Sady near Poznan, Poland, which opened this year. In Sady, there is around 3,300 square metres of hall space as well as around 10,000 square metres of outdoor space. Around 40 employees work there on equipment and versions of the TGE that do not come off the production line in Września, 50 kilometres away.
These include, for example, the conversions for passenger transport: the TGE Kombi is built in Sady, as well as all other special customer requests for the 9-seater (8+1) such as wheelchair ramps, air suspension, tables, lighting or air conditioning. Another focus is on attachments and add-ons to expand the intended use, such as a loading ramp, signal light system or three-way tipper. From next year, wheelbase modifications will be added to the scope of services – and of course the new Individual Lion S.
Frederic Jakowatz, who heads the MAN Individual division at MAN Truck & Bus, is pleased about the new possibilities in Poznan: “The new location enables us to achieve faster throughput times thanks to its proximity to the production plant. Our employees in Sady have an average of 15 years of MAN experience in implementing special bus customer requests. In production there, we employ well-trained automotive mechanics, high-voltage electricians, mechatronics, technicians, upholsterers and a smith, among others. When we started this spring, this know-how and experience helped us a lot. This year we will have modified about 150 TGEs. Our target for 2022 is 1,200 modified vans.”
Incidentally, the TGE borrows its name suffix Individual Lion S from its bigger brother, the MAN TGX. MAN Truck & Bus already made an exclamation mark in February 2021 with the TGX Individual Lion S. It is the exclusive top model of the new MAN Truck Generation.