OSAFER CLEANER CONNECTED

In the past, Japanese truck manufacturers have always been a couple of steps behind competitors from Europe, in terms of technological sophistication, but this series of truck releases has seen the Hino brand closely match Europeans in terms of technology toe-to-toe.

offering from Hino bang up to date.

THAT’S ANOTHER HINO

Ostensibly, this release is to introduce the latest low exhaust emissions engines onto the market. However, it does not stop at Euro 6, there is also a suite of electronic safety features which brings the complete

Each time PowerTorque reports on the latest release from Hino, it inevitably leads to a long list of three- and four-letter abbreviations for all of the systems which are now included. Overall, the package is called Hino SmartSafe and now includes Driver Monitor (DM), the Pre-Collision System (PCS), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection (PD), Lane Departure Warning system (LDWS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Reverse Camera, plus more features which do not have simple abbreviations.

The Pre-Collision system uses a radar and video feed which constantly monitors the road in front of the truck. The combination of the two systems will work out what any object in front of the truck is and how fast, and in what direction, it is travelling.

Based on this information, it will react if it calculates there is danger of a collision. Depending on the urgency of the situation it can slow the truck, it can introduce some braking or, in the most dangerous circumstances, apply 100 per cent braking immediately and bring the vehicle to a halt before any collision.

This new model sees the introduction of a new driver monitoring system, a first for Hino in Australia. The Driver Monitor system has a camera monitoring driver behaviour and distraction fitted to the A pillar. This will set off an alarm if serious fatigue or inattention is detected. The camera is monitoring the drivers posture, where they are looking and eyelid movement, it then interprets this data to decide whether it needs to alert the driver. There is a small infrared camera which is embedded in the A-pillar. The SmartSafe system is available in most models as the new 700 Series rolls out, with the twin steer 8x4 models joining the SmartSafe party in 2022.

Broadening The Range

Another major feature of this new 700 Series range is a broadening of the models available. The 700 Series now includes a nine-litre engine option, which opens these models up to a number of new market segments which have not been able to access the 700 Series before.

automatic transmission.

There is also a more powerful 360hp (265kW) 9-litre available, the A09C-BN, which puts out 1569 Nm (1157 ft lb) of torque. With this engine the Allison 4440 auto is included in the driveline. This higher horsepower engine will be powering the new 8x4 models and using this heavier automatic gives the truck a deeper first gear, improving startability, enabling it to be used up to 42.5 tonnes GCM.

Australia.”It puts a comma on the product renewal across our range, it’s stage one of what will be a multi stage 700 Series introduction. It will begin with an expanded model range.”