UD Trucks has launched a new variant of its heavy duty Quon, using Facebook Live to reveal its important 8×4 version of its flagship to the Australian media
The Covid 19 crisis also meant UD had to use social media to brief the trade press for its Croner launch a moth or so back.
According to UD the new 8X4 Quon has been tailor made for the Australian market and will give it an important weapon in the fierce and competitive 8×4 market which has seen Isuzu pick up a large number of sales in the wake of the demise of the locally built versions of Iveco’s venerable Acco, which ruled the waste and concrete agitator market for so long. We understand Hino has a similar 8×4 version of its 700 series coming later this year so there will be even more choice and competition in the market.
The Quon 8×4 will be available in three model variants, the CG 30 360, CG 32 390 and CG 32 420. The CG 30 360 is powered by the same eight litre six cylinder as the Croner, rated at 360 hp with 1420Nm of torque, and is aimed at the concrete agitator and waste truck markets in particular with a GVM of 30 tonnes. It is being offered with a choice of 4500mm, 5200 or 5700mm wheel bases. You can also choose between UD’s ESCOT 12 speed AMT or the Allison 3200 six-speed automatic.
Moving up from the baby in the 8×4 range to the 32 tonne GVM CG 32 which can be had with either the 390 hp or 420hp rated versions of the 11 litre UD six cylinder with 1750Nm or 1900Nm respectively. The 11 litre engines are only available with the ESCOT AMT and with either the 5200 or 5700mm wheelbases. The 390 and 420hp versions are aimed at construction, mining and tipper dog applications as well as offering the chance for a 14 pallet freight body for distribution work.
The Quon comes equipped with all the safety tech that you would expect from a Volvo family product and matching what the market expectation in latest gen trucks is these days as we have seen with the uptake of trucks like Hino’s 500 series with its suite of safety tech. So naturally it gets UD’s Traffic Eye Active Cruise Control, with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, brake blending and the optional Driver Alert System.
Unlike most of its Japanese counterparts the Quon has disc brakes on all wheels which is another strong safety feature along with a list of passive safety highlights including seat belt pre-tensioners, Drivers SRS airbag and a rigid safety cab.
UD says it has reduced the weight on all its Quon models along with improving load handling and suspension characteristics. UD says that the Quon boasts a single skin, high-tensile steel chassis with an optimised frame structure that gives it a lower tare weight for increased payload and practicality As a result of this lower tare weight, the Quon’s carrying capacities have increased across the entire range while direct body mount solutions enable lower centre of gravity for specialist bodies, particularly for concrete agitator spec.
UD also tells us that the Quon’s chassis has totally flat top rails with no rivets, holes, bolt heads or nuts sitting proud, ensuring it is easier for body builders to build on the truck.
There is a choice of either airbag or steel leaf suspension packages, again according to application while the company says the dual steer axles of the 8×4 delivers tight turning circles and easy manoeuvrability, a factor sure to attract buyers in the waste and agitator sectors.
Inside the cab, as well as the extensive list of passive safety equipment, the dash is dominated by an 8” flat screen LED AV unit which boasts Apple Car Play and Android Auto. All of the other accoutrement for a modern day heavy duty truck is there including integrated sat nav, Bluetooth etc., We’ll have a full review and more detail on this once we have sat in and driven the new Quon 8×4.
While the first examples of the new Croner have already arrived in Australia and Australia Post has already taken delivery of a few of them, UD says that supply is limited during the early stages of its launch particularly with the current Covid 19 crisis supply issues.
Similarly the Quon 8×4 will arrive as they become available but we feel confident the new version is going to win some friends in all of those applications we have already mentioned.
