Hino has launched its new heavy duty 700 range declaring it is the safest truck it has ever launched in Australia as well as boasting a wider range of axle configurations, transmissions and engine power ratings and Euro 6 compliance across the range.
Although Hino’s product planning manager Daniel Petrovski and national sales manager, Brian Wright would not be drawn on numbers or in stating firm aspirations during T&B News briefing on the new truck, it is clear they believe the wider variety of power ratings and axle ratings will give the company more firepower in the heavy sector against the likes of both Isuzu and Fuso.
It is fair to say Hino has been hamstrung by the lack of a competitive 8×4 offering but the new 700 will see that fixed and put its new big truck on a more equal footing with the market leader and also with other brands mixing in the heavy vocational sector. But just as importantly new 6×2 and 4×2 rigids along with new 6×4 and 8×4 models.
In 2020, the 8×4 market ran to about 1,450 trucks and Hino says while it would like to capture a larger lice of that pie, it understands that as a new entrant to the under 400HP 8×4 market, it has set modest objectives next year for its new model, and says it will increase its sales expectations as its footprint in the market increases.
Interestingly while the new 8×4 models will be available here in the third quarter it won’t be available with the Hino SmartSafe safety suite until mid-2022 as a result in validating the VSC and PCS systems Hino says.
As has been the case with Hino’s new 300 light duty range and the 500 medium duty models before that, safety tech play a key part in the Hino product strategy and it is this play that has helped Hino bridge the gap on Isuzu in medium duty and which it is again hitching its hopes with the 700. In fairness Fuso has also taken this part and while Isuzu initially eschewed a full safety suite, claiming it was too expensive and not wanted by customers, it is believed it is now also scrambling to bring similar features to its trucks.
Hino has also chosen to make the new 700 Euro 6 compliant, a factor like the safety suite, that is apparently being demanded by an increasing number of large fleets keen to show better corporate responsibility. This despite the fact that the cleaner Euro 6 standard is yet to have an introduction date in Australia, a glaring issue for the Federal government while corporate captains have taken the leadership role In ordering the Euro 6 trucks.
Petrovski told us that increasingly, organisations are aware of their environmental footprint and Euro 6 continues to be an important consideration for its customers and without going into specifics of the companies says that it is safe to say that Euro 6 is one of the top three considerations for our larger fleet customers.
In real terms the new 700’s styling is not to dissimilar to the truck it replaces with detail changes around the grille and other cosmetic touches discerning it from the previous 700. The new frontal styling includes a new enlarged chrome grille and Hino badge, with LED headlamps with Daytime Running Lamps set in the bumper, and polished alloy wheels are standard.
The interior has received a major facelift with the same ochre brown dash tones seen in the 500 range now featured in the new big truck and the eye-catching new interior offers increased comfort and practicality for drivers according to Daniel Petrovski.
“In designing the all-new 700 Series, there has been considerable focus on the needs of the driver, as the cab is their home away from home as well as their office,” said Petrovski.
As part of its safety package the new Hino 700 has Driver Monitor (DM) added to the safety package, which Hino calls Smart Safe and also includes a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection), Lane Departure Warning System, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Reverse Camera.
As part of the wider spread of models in the 700 Hino has added the excellent 9-litre straight six turbo diesel which it debuted in its 500 series some time ago. The Euro 6 A09C 9-litre is now available alongside the E13C 13 litre engine.
The 13-litre and 9-litre models have different grille treatments with the larger engine models having four chrome bars on the grille and the 9-litres feating three chrome bars and a lower cab height.
“The all-new 700 Series is built as a vehicle for today and for the future – Australian customers clearly prefer the convenience of two-pedal transmissions, which is why the expanded Hino 700 Series model range is now available with either a true automatic or an automated manual transmission (AMT), which are matched to their respective engine power ratings,” said Mr Petrovski.
The nine litre models begin with the FH 1832 4×2, FR 2632 6×2 and FS 2632 6×4 models, which feature the A09C-VP engine that delivers 320hp (235kW) and 1275Nm of torque delivered from 1,100 – 1,600rpm, and is mated to the six-speed Allison 3200 true automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the 700 Series FY 3036 8×4 model features a more powerful version of the nine litre engine – the A09C-VN – with 360hp (265kW) and 1569Nm of torque delivered from 1,100 – 1,600rpm, and is matched to the larger and stronger six-speed Allison 4440 true automatic transmission.
The SH 1845 4×2 models will feature the E13C-BL engine with the same peak power of 450hp (331kW) and 2157 Nm of torque.
The new 700 Series SS 2848 6×4 prime mover, FS 2848 6×4 rigid and FY 3248 8×4 rigid models utilise the E13C-BK engine with peak horsepower of 480hp (353kW) and 2157Nm of torque, which is now available across a wider range between 1,000 and 1,500rpm, offering the opportunity for improved drivability and fuel efficiency.
The E13C engines are matched to the latest generation of the ZF 16-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT), the TraXon TX 2441TO.
Standard auxiliary braking on all 700 Series is via the ‘Jake Brake’ for better driveability and operational efficiency and in fact it is the only Japanese heavy-duty truck with a available with a Jake Brake.
All 13-litre models have the ZF intarder integrated into the the 16-speed ZF AMT.
Both Petrovski and Wright strongly emphasised the ‘ customer software’ that they believe sets Hino apart from its rivals with the Hino Advantage, the company’s suite of business solutions which they say are aimed at reducing costs over the life of the vehicle.
“Our Hino Advantage solutions include Hino SmartSafe, capped price servicing, Hino Genuine Parts, 24/7 Hino roadside assist, our finance options, and customer support provisions via our Customer Care Centre,” Daniel Petrovski said.
Hino has given its new 700 Series models with a three year or 500,000km standard warranty (whichever comes first), and the option of extending the warranty to 5 years.
Hino currently has a dealership network of 65 sales and service nationally and says it plans to open eight new or updated premises during this year.
Brian Wright says that one of the other advantages that Hino can bring to the table with customers is its close relationship with parent company Toyota saying that providing customers with business solutions to their mobility requirements is at the heart of One Toyota and that Hino was very much part of that.
“Whether it is cars, trucks or materials handling, customers can meet their transport and mobility needs from one central source,” Wright told us.
Petrovski pushed the point that with its Euro 6 credentials and a strong fuel efficiency focus the new 700 is part of a wider Hino aim for a cleaner and greaner image. This is emphasised by Hino’s role as a member of the Toyota family.
“At a global and Australian level, Hino is involved in a number of joint ventures, partnerships, and collaborations aimed at reducing emissions and waste to support the Hino Environmental Challenge 2050, which is a set of long-term goals adopted by Hino to help create a sustainable society for the future,” said Petrovski.
“Hino is continuing to develop ways of creating a sustainable future and is keenly pursuing technologies that enhance environmental preservation and benefit our customer’s businesses. With the improved fuel efficiency of our next generation vehicles, customers can directly benefit from improved operational efficiency whilst reducing their environmental impact,” he added.
The new 700 Series uses a combination of the SCR and cooled EGR as well as DPR.
Hino says it is the only Japanese truck manufacturer to offer Euro 6 emissions compliant options from a car licenced light-duty through to heavy-duty.
As part of its global Hino Environmental Challenge 2050, Hino says it is aiming to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of its vehicles by 90 per cent, including the development of next-generation vehicles such as plug-in hybrids, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles.
T&B News believes a Hybrid version of the 700 Series is in the pipeline and may be available in Australia in the next 12 months, while the company’s major shareholder, Toyota has a strong track record in hydrogen fuel cell electric development with the two companies collaborating on hydrogen FCEV buses so both battery electric and hydrogen FCEV trucks are expected with in the next five years, including here in Australia.
Hino has already announced a joint venture with Chinese battery giant, BYD, with Hino and BYD each committing to 50 per cent capital investment to develop battery electric vehicles.
Hino other major JV is with Volkswagen’s Traton commercial vehicle operation for e-Mobility with the two companies combining to develop both BEV hydrogen FCEVs.
of course the most surprising JV was the recently announced partnership with Isuzu and Toyota, with the three set to combine on a range of connected, autonomous, shared and electric technologies.
In both the USA and here in Australia Hino has also collaborated with Melbourne-based SEA Electric on their localised solutions and supplies Hino Semi Knocked Down (SKD) Glider kits for use in two SEA Electric models here in Australia.
