In advance of its launch in November in Australia there’s a new look Hino unveiled, in the form of the Hino 500 Standard Cab range. The new look truck will join the Hino 500 Wide Cab range, launched last year and kicking some goals for the Japanese truck maker.
The sleeker more modern design has been tested on Australian roads already this year, wearing a light disguise to obscure the crisper lines of the new truck. We can also expect a major upgrade under the hood and inside the cabin.
The engine is likely to be an upgrade from the current 6.4 litre engine, but this is one of the areas in which Hino specialise. The upgrade is likely to see an increase in power and torque, or a reduction in the need for emission control technology, resulting from improved fuel management, or both.
Inside the cabin, we can expect to see a step change in the electronic offering from Hino. Now is the time to move to the next generation in on-board telematics and monitoring. The new platform is likely to work its way through the rest of the Hino range as new models get updated.
“As part of our global commitment to Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR), we have undertaken years of development and planning which included thousands of kilometres of testing in Australian conditions,” said Daniel Petrovski, Hino Australia’s Manager of Product Strategy.
“To differentiate ourselves in the competitive medium duty segment, we need a product that delivers the quality, durability and reliability that Hino trucks are renowned for – that’s why our testing is so extensive and is done both at our proving grounds in Japan, and in real-world conditions here in Australia.
“We have quietly been running the new model’s engine and driveline in local conditions, covering thousands of kilometres in a variety of operating conditions”
According to Hino, the Dakar Rally has been a testing ground for some of the new technologies being introduced into the new 500 when it arrives. The company have maintained a run of continuing success in the under 10 litre engined truck class at the rally and used the gruelling event to work on the durability of truck components.
“Nowhere is QDR more apparent than in our Dakar Rally program, where we celebrated our 27th consecutive finish and 9th successive class victory in the 2018 Dakar Rally,” said Daniel. “It’s always great to win but the Dakar program is a platform for developing and proving new mechanical and technical components as part of our technological innovation.”
Look for updates on the new Hino here on Diesel News, with a full report on the new model range and driving experiences in the first issue of Diesel magazine in the new year.
