Developed from the air-conditioned 3-axle Dennis Trident 3 for the United Kingdom bus market, upon its launch in 1998, the Trident 2 was offered with the option of being built to either 9.9 metres (32 ft) or 10.5 metres (34 ft) width and was fitted with a Euro II Cummins C Series engine coupled to a Voith DIWA D854.3E or ZF Ecomat 4HP500/5HP500 automatic transmission, each fitted with a 80-degree dropped angle drive.

Trident 2s were intended to be compliant with statutory public service vehicle accessibility regulations introduced in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, with an entrance step height of 325 millimetres (12.8 in) capable of being lowered to 250 millimetres (9.8 in) through a kneeling front suspension, and the 'T-drive' longitudinal system allowed for a flat floor throughout the majority of the lower deck.

[10] Due to increased competition after the launch of the Scania OmniDekka and TransBus being put into administration, sales of Trident 2 dropped significantly, leaving Stagecoach as its major buyer.

The Enviro400 chassis also received a number of modifications such as a longer front overhang, with a different shape of fuel tank became available.

Production of the older version of Trident 2 chassis continued until 2006, with the last example being delivered to Isle of Man Transport.