MCI delivers first J3500, full production set for January 2019

Tuscaloosa Charter Service owner Cliff Dorsey received the keys to the first MCI J3500 in a delivery celebration with MCI.

MCI unveiled the J3500 for test drives with customers, and during its Reliability Rallies at its Service Centers this past summer, and at September’s BusCon. When Dorsey drove the newest member of the J-Series, he couldn’t wait to add one to his fleet. “The idea of adding a 35-foot coach had been on my mind for quite some time,” said Dorsey. “I wanted a small bus with a large bus ride.” 

Full MCI J3500 production begins in January of 2019 with coaches becoming ready for delivery in February.

The smaller MCI J-Series coach offers big advantages. It begins with industry-leading interior space, seating for 40 or 44 passengers and the best-in-class payload capacity. A semi-monocoque construction equal to the J4500 also means longer vehicle life and the MCI suspension makes for a quieter, smoother ride over the life of the coach. The J3500 also comes equipped with an e-Fan system and a smaller, yet powerful 2017 EPA Cummins L9 at 350 hp, 1150 lb.-ft torque w/engine brake and a Gen V Allison B500, six-speed automatic transmission with prognostics capability.

Tuscaloosa’s new J3500 calls for roomy 40-passenger seating by Amaya with partial leather upholstery, three-point passenger seatbelts, and other high-end interior touches including the J-Series rear window and variable programmable lighting option.

Tuscaloosa Charter Service employs 17, and specializes in group trips across Alabama and throughout the U.S. with a fleet of 12 coaches including the D-Series, J4500 models coaches.