Brisbane Truck Show News

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DAF launches new lift-up axle model at Brisbane Truck Show

Prime Mover Magazine  /  June 6, 2017

PACCAR Australia has used the Brisbane Truck Show to give industry a sneak peek at the new DAF FAP LF 280 model, touted for release later in 2017.

Showcased alongside the newly launched 510hp version of the DAF CF85, the new LF variant comes with a lift-up axle to ensure it can handle heavier loads while still providing fuel and tyre wear benefits when running with lesser loads. The ‘pusher’ design is said to be especially useful when negotiating uneven surfaces, such as spoon drains.

Also on the technology front, the 280HP PACCAR engine is backed by a ZF nine-speed manual transmission. The LF also has a comprehensive suite of braking and stability controls on board, including EBS, ABS and ASR.

With its modern European styling and “optimal manoeuvrability”, PACCAR Australia said the new model was ideal for regional and city distribution work.

The unit’s low chassis weight is meant to provide additional payloads, while DAF also placed value on easy cab access and car-like driving characteristics in a move to align the LF 280 with the current e-commerce and parcel delivery boom.

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Brisbane Truck Show 2017

 

Brisbane Truck Show

Visit the only truck manufacturer based in Brisbane

Once again Volvo Group Australia will be exhibiting at the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show this May.

Volvo Group Australia has been proudly based in Brisbane for over 40 years. All our trucks are designed for Australia conditions with Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks assembled at our Wacol Factory.

Join Mack Trucks, UD Trucks and Volvo Trucks to find out about the latest innovations in trucking and transport.

Our team will be at stand 72 ready to talk to you about our total offer solutions and to take you through our product and service range.

Mack Trucks:

• See the Mack fashion parade, running daily
• Hear from John Walsh, VP Brand and Marketing from Mack HQ in the States, talking about what it means to be Mack
• See the iconic Super-Liner, powered by the MP10 and mDrive transmission

UD Trucks:

• Could this be the best Japanese Truck yet? Be there for the unveiling of the all new Quon
• Hear from Nobuhiko Kishi, Senior Vice President of Brand and Products

Volvo Trucks:

• Knowledge is power – discover the latest in Volvo Truck innovations, designed to power your bottom line
• Hear from Volvo Truck global experts in safety, automation and uptime – presenting daily

Brisbane Truck Show is on at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre between 25 and 28 May, 2017.

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Hino wins at Bris truck show

Big Rigs  /  June 27, 2017

This year has been a big one for Hino, with the release of the Wide Cab 500 series followed up by a win at the Brisbane Truck Show.

In its first public outing, the Hino 500 Series Wide Cab won its first award, one judged by a panel of leading trucking journalists.

Hino Motor Sales Australia chairman and CEO Steve Lotter said: "We are delighted and honoured to be recognised as the Best Light or Medium Duty Truck at the country's premier truck show.

"The Hino 500 Series Wide Cab boasts the most comprehensive active safety package of any Japanese truck in the medium duty truck category including Vehicle Stability Control as standard - an Australian first for this class of Japanese built trucks.

"As a result of customer feedback, we have expanded our transmission range offerings including three different six-speed automatic variants with fuel efficient Allison units with a push button shift selector.”

All 500 Series Wide Cabs are supported by Hino Advantage, a suite of business building solutions and more than 60 dealerships and service centres across the country.

Judging criteria at the show included technical innovation, safety and customer support measures such as the delivery time, distribution network and value for money.

One of the judges said:

"The Hino 500 Series Wide Cab has a strong package of vehicle safety and reduction in driver fatigue through the matching of attractive engine and automatic driveline options.”

When talking about the Hino stand, Mr Lotter said the show was more than just an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of the company's range - it was also about the evolution of the brand and business.

"Two years ago, we celebrated our 50th anniversary in Australia at the show.

"This year's stand focused on our evolution as a trusted business partner that provides our customers with high quality products and business building solutions such as Hino Advantage - all of which were on display at the show.”

A prototype of the new Hino 300 Series 4x4 - on display for the first time in the world (covered in the previous issue of Big Rigs) opening the off-road market for Hino, was one of the more popular attractions on the manufacturer's stand.

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Snapshots of 2017 Brisbane Truck Show

Steve Brooks, Trade Trucks AU  /  June 29, 2017

BORN AGAIN

Previewed in Australia for the first time at the 2015 Brisbane Truck Show where it won the Truck of the Show award, International ProStar has finally found a home Down Under.

After long-winded negotiations with Navistar in the US, Iveco is now the distributor of the versatile American truck which was showcased alongside Iveco’s Stralis flagship.

Under ProStar’s sloping snout is an industry-standard driveline punched by a 15 litre X15 Cummins coupled to manual or automated versions of Eaton’s ever-reliable 18-speeder, feeding through a Dana driveline into Meritor diffs mounted on Hendrickson Primaax air suspension. Cabs come in three forms – day cab, extended cab and full-size integrated sleeper.

Word has it that Iveco dealers are excited to again have International on the books but the big hope is that this relationship between the two entities survives longer than the last.

From what we’ve found after several stints behind the wheel of ProStar – admittedly, some time back – the truck has what it takes to forge a sound future in our part of the world.

GROUP TACTICS

UD may be the baby of the Volvo Group triumvirate but it certainly had the biggest news at Brisbane with its vastly revamped Quon flagship.

Even a quick squiz reveals a strong Volvo influence inside and out but there are significant changes underneath as well. For starters, the Volvo-designed GH11 engine has been pushed up to 460 hp to cope with a gross mass increase to 60 tonnes.

The standard shifter is what UD strangely calls ‘Escot VI’, essentially Volvo’s slick I-shift automated 12-speeder. We hear it’ll soon be rebranded ‘U-drive’ but the important thing is that it’s just as advanced and intuitive as its Swedish counterpart.

Many opinions – including this one – rate Quon the best Japanese prime mover on the market and from what we’ve already seen, it’s an opinion set to grow even stronger.

Standing alongside the new UD, an upbeat Volvo was obviously intent on reminding everyone of its Swedish heritage with ‘Performance Edition’ versions of its supremely popular FH and FM models dressed in national colours.

Whatever the colour though, there’s no question Volvo is enjoying the most successful era in its Australian history. And it’s an era likely to grow even stronger with news at the truck show of the overdue return of the significantly larger XXL sleeper cab for the flagship FH.

BABY BENZ

Following on from the successful introduction of its new generation prime mover range, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the second phase of its complete model makeover with the launch of a dedicated rigid line-up.

The newcomers will go on sale within the next few months and predictably, come in 4x2, 6x2, 6x4 and eight-wheeler configurations for both distribution and specialist vocational work.

There’s a mix of cab sizes in slimline and sleeper layout while power comes from either a lively 7.7 litre in-line six rated at 299 or 354 hp, or an 11 litre six available at 394, 428 or 455 hp.

All models stir through Mercedes-Benz’s PowerShift automated transmission, an eight-speed in 4x2 and 6x2 models, and 12-speed in 6x4 and 8x4 versions.

The third and final phase of the new Benz breed will come towards the end of this year with the introduction of purpose-designed construction and all-wheel-drive rigids.

BEST YET

So what’s there left to say about Kenworth’s new T610 and T610 SAR models that hasn’t been already said?

With a completely new and wider cab, these are without doubt the most exciting new conventionals to come out of the Kenworth camp in decades and after more than $20 million spent on development, there’s little wonder Kenworth Australia is hailing the new models ‘Our Best Truck Yet’.

This year’s Brisbane show was the first public appearance of these classy conventionals and for the vast majority of the show crowd, this was their first close-up look at Kenworth’s latest and potentially greatest trucks.

"Like bees to honey," was how one observer put the constant stream of visitors to the Kenworth stand.

X FACTOR

On the engine front, none had bigger news than Cummins and there were plenty of willing listeners when Mike Fowler, Cummins South Pacific director of engine business, announced that both the 15 litre X15 and 12 litre X12 engines will meet the proposed Euro 6 emissions standard WITHOUT any EGR input.

While the Euro 6 standard may be still several years away from being mandated in Australia, Cummins used the Brisbane show to ease customer fears of increased complexity.

"We are giving customers confidence that the X15 they have now will be very similar to the X15 they will have for Euro 6," Mike Fowler explained, citing SCR (AdBlue) technology and a new single module after-treatment system as the keys to Cummins’ strategy for Euro 6.

As for the X12, formerly known as the ISG12 and said by Cummins to have the best power-to-weight ratio of any engine in the 10 to 16 litre class, it will also rely on SCR and advanced after-treatment to counter the need for any EGR input.

Rated up to 500 hp and 1700 lb ft, the X12 is a highly promising engine which has yet to find a chassis to call home in Australia. However, the quiet word at Brisbane was that one truck brand is close to signing up.

Meantime, there’s much to be gained by the announcement of closer technological ties between Cummins and transmission giant Eaton. In a smart move for the two brands, it’s an arrangement which mirrors the successful European strategy of looking at engine and automated transmission development as a collective exercise rather than separate functions.

FIRST PEEK

It won’t officially join Hino’s ranks until later this year but the ‘world first’ preview of a 300-series 817 4x4 model at the Brisbane Truck Show left no doubt that much will be expected of this off-road specialist.

For the moment, Hino is keeping the full specification close to the chest but the 817 numerals at least indicate that gross vehicle weight will be around eight tonnes and maximum power up to 170 hp.

According to a statement issued immediately prior to the show, selected Hino customers have been evaluating prototype versions on and off-road since 2014, from Australia’s interior to Cape York.

"It’s a model customers and dealers have been asking for," said Hino product manager Daniel Petrovski, indicating the truck’s potential to tackle the success of Isuzu and Fuso in a wide range of off-road applications.

The new model will follow in the wake of Hino’s impressively revamped 500-series wide cab range launched earlier this year and will similarly offer a formidable array of standard features including vehicle stability control and reversing camera.

HELLO GOODBYE

In truck terms, the standout attraction on the Scania stand was the first Australian preview of the Swedish brand’s ‘New Truck Generation’, recently crowned Europe’s ‘International Truck of the Year’.

Known as the S 500 model, the righthand-drive Pommie spec 6x2 was shipped from the UK to Australia specifically for the Brisbane Truck Show and according to Scania, was headed straight back to the UK after the show.

Also heading back to the UK, however, is Scania Australia managing director Roger McCarthy (pictured).

After an eight-year stint guiding Scania to its best performances in the brand’s history here, it will be imperative for his (Swedish) successor to maintain the considerable momentum produced by McCarthy’s extensive experience and commercial initiatives.

As for the new truck, even Roger McCarthy concedes its Australian introduction is "still some considerable way off" but of all the attributes that separate it from Scania’s current range there are possibly none more positive than the driver’s layout. A cut-way cab highlighted a vastly improved and far more stylish interior design.

PACK ‘n’ GO

With Penske Commercial Vehicles (Western Star, MAN and Dennis Eagle) strangely opting out of this year’s truck show, market leader Isuzu wasted no time securing the site and filling it with examples of its hugely diverse model range.

In fact, if anyone ever wanted visual proof of why Isuzu has commanded leadership of the total Australian truck market for almost three decades on the trot, they wouldn’t need to have looked any further than the Brisbane Truck Show where there seemed to be something for almost everyone.

Isuzu’s inherent ability to fill almost every niche with a purpose-built truck is no more evident than in the much publicised ‘Ready to Work’ range which continues to carve an extraordinary following. From the Traypack to the Tradepack, Servicepack and now Vanpack, it seems there’s no end to Isuzu’s determination to fill every void.

Continuing the theme is a new tri-tipper NLR model fitted with a factory-built three-way tipper body. And it’s not as if it’s a basic spec, either. Standard features include electronic stability control, ABS anti-lock braking, ASR anti-skid function and hill-start assist.

Meanwhile, at the heavier end of the Isuzu stable, the F-series eight-wheeler agitator continues to win business from more traditional brands. Even so, it’s the heavy end where Isuzu seems to suffer its only void with the lack of an acceptable and efficient prime mover model. In our estimation it won’t happen anytime soon, but there’s little doubt it WILL happen, eventually!

As for Isuzu giving up its newfound premier position if and when Penske chooses to come back to the Brisbane show, one Isuzu insider summed it up succinctly. "No chance!"

CLEANIN’ UP

Arguably the biggest revelation from Iveco was the surprisingly brief mention of plans to later this year start building some Stralis models at Iveco’s Dandenong (Vic) plant. Strangely, that’s as much as Iveco had to say on a crucial development concerning the factory’s ongoing viability.

There was, however, certainly no lack of diversity on the stand, from the flagship Stralis cab-over to the evergreen ACCO and of course, the arrival of International ProStar as part of the Iveco stable.

Down the weight scale, there were new Euro 6 versions of its medium-duty EuroCargo 4x2 and a high-volume Daily van making their first public appearance.

The van is particularly interesting, not least because it comes with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating of seven tonnes on a long 4100 mm wheelbase, and is available with load volumes ranging from 16 to 18 and a cavernous 19.6 cubic metres. With such expansive credentials, Iveco is in no doubt the van provides a viable alternative to pantech-bodied light trucks.

On the completely restyled Euro 6 version of EuroCargo, it’s a truck which comes with GVM ratings from 12 to 18 tonnes and cabs in slimline, low and hi-roof sleeper, and crew cab forms.

Underneath is Iveco’s responsive ‘Tector 7’ engine in outputs ranging from 185 kW (250 hp) to 206 kW (280 hp) coupled to the choice of either a nine-speed ZF manual transmission or a five-speed Allison automatic.

As Iveco likes to point out though, the Tector achieves Euro 6 compliance without any EGR input, relying instead on a system comprising what it calls Hi-SCR and a single diesel particulate filter.

No matter where you look these days, EGR seems to be increasingly on the nose with suppliers and customers alike.

LONE VOICE

With most truck and engine suppliers these days distancing themselves from EGR technology for one reason or another, Detroit seems to be something of a lone voice as it continues to promote the efficiency and reliability credentials of its DD15 EGR engine.

The time is sure to come, however, when Detroit’s Australian distributor Penske Power Systems will employ the same BlueTec SCR technology used by its US counterparts. In the meantime, DD15 continues to be the only Detroit engine making headway in Australia as its smaller and larger siblings continue to sit in the shadows.

On a brighter note, at least Penske Power Systems chose to be at Brisbane, unlike its Penske Commercial Vehicles partner, and enjoyed the patronage of what seemed a small army of Detroit devotees.

Equally bright, Penske Power Systems is now headed by Sean McLean, the former Cummins executive widely regarded for both his technical and professional prowess.

LEGENDS

Of all the displays at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, none drew greater passion or emotion than the first of Kenworth’s T900 Legend series.

Scrolled on the back wall of the sleeper is the single word ‘Steady’, a simple yet fitting epitaph to Allan Stead, a mentor to many and true legend of Kenworth’s Australian history.

Retired since 2004 and passing away recently, ‘Steady’ spent 39 years of relentless, indomitable devotion to Kenworth and its customers across the length and breadth of Australia and beyond.

Meantime, Kenworth announced it would open its books for just one day for operators to order a limited run of ‘Legend’ specials, marking the venerable T900’s remarkable resilience and appeal since its launch in 1991.

Yet while there are perhaps many among the Kenworth faithful who would pay handsomely for this first T900 Legend, the likelihood is that the show truck will be put on permanent display in Kenworth’s edifice at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.

EVOLUTION on SHOW

Trucks have certainly come a long way since Freightliner founder Leland James first designed a cab-over model for the US market and nowhere was the evolution more starkly evident than Freightliner’s stand where a rare 1950 ‘Bubblenose’ model stood alongside the latest Argosy.

To mark Freightliner’s 75^th anniversary, the beautifully restored ‘Bubblenose’ was flown in from the US specifically for the Brisbane show. Yet as fascinating as this old classic was, it took only a quick look around the old and new to be grateful for the passage of time and engineering evolution.

Argosy has certainly come a long way since its first arrival on the Australian market and Freightliner was intent on showcasing the recent addition of the Cummins X15 engine as a powerful addition to the cab-over’s list of assets.

The other notable player in the Freightliner family is the Coronado conventional and there appeared no shortage of interest in a 122 model built for gross weights up to 140 tonnes, and highlighting the addition of dual exhaust stacks as standard equipment on the long-nose Coronada.

DOG BITES

In the modern history of Mack trucks in this country, there are two indisputable facts.

One, Mack has undergone a life-saving cultural revolution since Volvo rescued the famous bulldog from the edge of extinction.

And two, the resurgence of the iconic Super-Liner is the greatest success story of all Mack models.

Yet as Mack’s display at the Brisbane show highlighted, it is Super-Liner’s ability to be many things to many people which today consistently makes it one of the most popular models in the Mack range.

Pride of place, for instance, was given to a heavy-duty spec reflecting the model’s heritage as a roadtrain and heavy haulage specialist. Right behind, however, was a slimline Super-Liner designed for 36-pallet B-double work with regular Mack buyer, Followmont Transport.

This is a dog which has walked the comeback trail better than most.

SMART SHIFTER

When it comes to automated transmission technology, ZF has been at the cutting edge from the outset and with its new Traxon transmission, the German giant appears to have taken a further step down the evolutionary path.

A cut-away display of the Traxon shifter certainly had some people wondering what it was all about but according to ZF it’s simply lighter, stronger and more intelligent than anything that has gone before it.

The fundamentals are that it comes in 12 and 16-speed versions and will cope with input torque capacities up to 3400 Nm, or 2500 lb ft, which means it’ll handle the outputs of the most powerful truck engines on the market today.

Along with a broad range of modern features and claims for being substantially quieter and smoother, one of the stand-out attractions is what ZF calls ‘Prevision GPS’. Simply explained, Traxon has the capacity to use satellite information to track any changes in topography and continually determine the best operating mode for the truck.

Beam me up Scotty.

GOIN’ DUTCH

Predictably, the centre-piece of DAF’s display was the CF85 model now available with a 510 hp MX-13 engine.

We’ve spent some time in this truck recently and in our estimation, it’s definitely the truck DAF needs to help raise awareness and lift the brand out of the doldrums. The star attraction was a six-wheeler sleeper version sitting alongside DAF’s XF flagship but in the background was a CF eight-wheeler also available with the 510 rating.

Somewhat tucked away, however, was the newest member of DAF’s expanding stable, a 6x2 version of the LF280 rigid.

Competing in a market where Japanese brands are fiercely dominant, the three-axle LF won’t find it easy to crack big numbers but with reported benefits in tare weight and driver comfort, it at least provides another much needed string to the DAF bow.

VIRTUALLY FUSO

Whether Daimler’s local leaders like to admit it or not, Fuso continues to be the star performer in the group when it comes to overall sales.

The ever-popular Canter, for example, ranks second only to Isuzu in the light-duty category and recently underwent a significant update across the range.

Adding to Canter’s coverage is a new low-roof model which made its debut at the Brisbane show. With an unladen height of just 2.01 metres, Fuso says it is the only Japanese truck in the Australian market that can safely move under a 2.1 metre ceiling. Clever!

Also clever was an innovative, high-tech Virtual Reality experience for show-goers. Much more than just another marketing gimmick, eight virtual reality booths allowed visitors to don the special goggles and as Fuso put it, ‘immerse themselves in a virtual Fuso showroom, sit inside a range of virtual Fuso trucks, or experience a thrill-ride, all of which showcase the lifelike nature of cutting edge virtual reality technology.’

Fuso Australia chief Justin Whitford reckons virtual reality could well be part of truck showrooms of the future and after donning the goggles and being suitably awestruck by the ‘virtual trip’, it’s hard to argue.

AIR CRAFT

Suspension specialist Hendrickson has been promoting the operational virtues of its Airtek steer axle air suspension for a long time but the stakes appeared to go up a notch in Brisbane with pride of place on the Hendrickon stand going to its Airtek HCS assembly.

Airtek HCS is, according to Hendrickson, the industry’s first integrated front air suspension and steer axle system.

Quoting from the Hendrickson spec sheet, the superior design of the Airtek HCS layout improves roll stability over standard spring suspensions while the airbags provide notably better ride quality. It’s also lighter, with Hendrickson saying the combination of the Airtek suspension and its Steertek fabricated axle saves up to 30 kg over a traditional forged axle and steel spring assembly.

Another thing about the fabricated (rather than forged) axle is a two-piece knuckle assembly allowing removal of the knuckle without having to remove the kingpin.

BIG RED

Tatra’s eight-wheel-drive tipper was certainly an imposing exhibit and attracted plenty of wide-eyed visitors. But who is Tatra and what exactly was that truck at the Brisbane Truck Show?

Tatra hails from the Czech Republic, has been producing trucks in one form or another for over 100 years, and for the majority of those years has specialised in heavy-duty off-road models. At the core of the design is a unique single tube chassis from which sprout independently suspended, swinging driven half-axles.

The Australian distributor for 20 years is the family-owned Offroad Trucks Australia, based in Perth and which has obviously enough found plenty of opportunities for Tatra in the Western Australia mining industry and beyond.

There are three distinct models in the range and as the flagship Phoenix model in Brisbane showed, the specification has a strong connection to Paccar. Power, for example, comes from an MX 13 engine rated up to 510 hp and the cab which comes in day, sleeper and crew-cab forms is derived from DAF.

The Phoenix ranges from 4x4 right up to 12x12 configurations driving through ZF or Allison transmissions. Impressive, from any angle.

Photo gallery and VIDEO - https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/product-news/1706/snapshots-of-2017-brisbane-truck-show