CHICAGO In the next few weeks, Coach USA and its megabus.com subsidiary will introduce the first new motorcoach of its kind to hit U.S. highways in nearly a decade.

The unique in North America bus is the Van Hool TD925 double-deck intercity coach. megabus.com will operate the 44-foot, 80-passenger coaches on selected runs between Chicago and other Midwestern cities.

Not since Neoplan stopped building the 40-foot, double-deck Skyliner years ago has a new two-level, over-the-road coach made its way onto U.S. roadways.

The TD925 is an Americanized version of the Astromega double-decker coaches Van Hool builds for European and other markets.

Despite its two decks, TD925 is roughly only a foot taller than many conventional single-deck over-the-road coaches. Its overall height is 13 feet, 2 inches.

The lower deck interior height is 71 inches, while the upper deck has a ceiling height of 67 inches. By comparison, the ceiling height in a Van Hool C2045 single-deck coach is about 76 inches.

The upper deck seats 67, while the lower deck accommodates 23 passengers.

Two-point seatbelts for all seats are standard.

The coach has an on-board restroom, front-and-rear staircases, and a luggage area. Total luggage capacity is 255 cubic feet. That compares with under-floor storage on a C2045 of 452 cubic feet. Parcel racks in the TD925 are optional on the TD925. .

The gross vehicle weight rating is roughly 57,100 pounds, versus 50,700 for a C2045.

The TD925 is powered by a 2007 Cummins ISM engine rated at 450 horsepower. A ZF AS-Tronic transmission is standard, but an Allison Generation IV B500R is available.

Other standard features include a Kidde fire suppression system for the engine compartment, a SmarTire pressure monitoring system, xenon headlights, Carrier-Sutrak HVAC system with high-capacity Carrier O5G compressor, ProHeat auxiliary heater, and a wheelchair ramp with two tie-down positions on the lower level.

For megabus.com, the bright blue double-deck coaches should make a spectacular rolling billboard on Midwestern interstates and city streets.