ANOTHER CLASS ACT
As the saying goes, ‘timing is everything’ and, if that’s the case, Hino’s introduction of its vastly renewed 700-series heavy-duty range could be a classic case of just the right truck at just the right time.
Time will tell, of course, but right now it appears Hino is in a prime position to capitalise on a range of new models that, on one hand, etch an entirely new line in the sand for the Toyota-owned truck brand and, on the other, have the potential to exploit shortcomings in a couple of its competitive countrymen, namely Isuzu and its lately-acquired corporate collaborator UD.
For its part, and despite unbroken leadership of the overall Australian truck market for more than three decades, Isuzu Australia has been devoid of a genuinely competitive heavy-duty prime mover or higher horsepower rigid model, and for almost as many years the company has been anxious to fill the void.
Of course, its lacklustre Giga heavyweight was available until recently, when it was withdrawn from the market, but it was a model that largely failed to attract more than token attention and, now, further exposes a highly visible hole in Isuzu’s local stable.
Meantime, and despite Isuzu Motors’ acquisition of UD from Volvo, there’s no sign that UD, and its well-equipped Quon, will anytime soon become the saviour for Isuzu Australia’s heavy-duty hopes, particularly with the Japanese brand continuing to be sold through the Volvo Group Australia network.
What’s more, Quon’s performance peak remains limited to
