HINOAIMSHIGHER

IT WAS no surprise that a major upgrade of the Hino 700-series heavy-duty range would follow much earlier updates to its 300-series light-duty and 500-series medium-duty models.

What did surprise, however, during a recent preview of the latest heavy-duty hopefuls was just how far Hino has gone in its bid to make the 700-series a far more competitive and appealing line-up and, in the process, provide a platform entirely capable of challenging European competitors as well as its Japanese rivals.

Have no doubt, on first impression this is a heavy-duty line-up far beyond anything Hino has ever offered before in any weight class. Moreover, while company insiders say it’ll be three or four months until we get the chance to climb behind the wheel, there was enough to see and hear at a static display in Sydney to predict a bold new appreciation for the Toyota-owned brand’s heavy-duty credentials.

Similarly surprising, though, was Hino’s somewhat strange decision to retain peak power of the 700’s reliable 13-litre engine at the current peak of 480hp (358kW). Strange indeed!

Consequently, Hino will remain the