Manufactured as an integral bus, the Excel was launched in 1995 as one of the first fully low-floor single-deck buses in the United Kingdom, replacing the step-entrance Optare Sigma on Dennis Lance chassis.

Most notably, early Excels included a simple flat panel with embossed Optare lettering set between two pairs of twin headlamps, which was situated below a very large one-piece curved windscreen.

Power came from a Cummins 6BT 6-cylinder turbo-diesel engine capable of producing 160 brake horsepower (120 kW), which was mated with a Allison 'World Series' B300R automatic transmission.

[2] The Excel was updated in 1999, with the front similar to that of the Optare Solo and with round headlights, two less rear lights, and a repositioned fuel-filler cap.

A single 10.6 metres (35 ft) Excel was exported to Malta for use by the Supreme Travel Company as a low-floor demonstrator, with features for the Maltese bus market including the removal of the internal heating system, larger sliding windows, an uprated Cummins engine producing 215 brake horsepower (160 kW) and an overall 45-seat capacity.