Launched! The New Hino 300 Series

News

14 Jul

New Hino 300 Harbour Bridge - RGB HR 032A9143.jpg

Hino has today announced the launch of its new and improved 300 Series. The company has really gone to town on what was already a very good truck.

There’s a revised suspension, new interior, a Hybrid, versions that can be driven on a car licence. There’s a range of engines with varying outputs and improved fuel economy.

There’s a range of finance options via Hino’s finance partner, Toyota Financial Services or Toyota Fleet Management – covering the basics, or right up to and including fuel, tyres, windscreens, insurance and the body - all under a monthly investment, whereby at the end you return the vehicle under the FMOL program.

Most importantly however is the addition of a swag of safety enhancements to the 300 Series. From seemingly simple changes such as a thinner A-pillar to aid forward and side vision, to Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, ESC and just about anything else you can think of, the 300 Series will do just about everything except drive itself for you!

There will be many big rig operators out there who need to complement their fleet with smaller vehicles. It’s going to be handy to have a truck that your 18 year old yard worker on P-plates can hop into and do deliveries for you – not to mention him or her getting experience in something bigger than their VZ Commodore.

There’s a lot to cover with the new Hino 300 Series and one article would not do it justice. So each day at midday for the next few days, we’ll post a blog covering the various attributes of this terrific new truck.

Due to COVID-19 the trucking media have been unable to drive the 300 as yet (that will hopefully come in September). Instead, yesterday we were treated to a virtual launch via Zoom, while we munched on the delights delivered by Hino a few days earlier.

I’m sorry that you’ll have to find your own munchies while you read about the 300 over the coming days, but pour yourself a coffee and follow their story. It will be well worth your while if you are in the market for a top-of-the-range light truck. Here’s your virtual snack…

PART 1: INTRODUCTION.

Hino Australia has launched its new 300 Series, which leads the Japanese-manufactured light-duty truck market in Australia on safety, power and efficiency, while also offering customers benchmark levels of on-road performance and superior levels of interior ergonomics and comfort. The latest iteration of the 300 Series continues to be class leading in many ways.

“At Hino, safety is paramount, and the new 300 Series boasts a list of standard safety features that makes it the safest truck ever offered by a Japanese manufacturer in the Australian light-duty truck market,” said Daniel Petrovski, Manager of Product Strategy for Hino Australia.

The new 300 Series features Hino SmartSafe - a comprehensive safety package with advanced driver-assist technology that takes an active focus in protecting the life of drivers, passengers and other road users.

SmartSafe includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection (PD), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Reverse Camera and a suite of other standard safety features.

Over 50 percent of 300 Series models sold are registered on a passenger car-licence. A new 300 Series will provide those drivers with safety features superior to those found in many passenger vehicles, with the added advantage of a greater payload, courtesy of a higher GVM, GCM and towing

The new 300 Series model line-up is extensive and covers GVM ratings from 4.5 tonne to 8.5 tonne. It has a standard towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonne.

The new models are available in Standard Single Cab and Wide Single Cab and Wide Crew Cab configurations.

The 300 Series engine range continues with their proven four litre and five litre common-rail turbo-diesel engines, which are both available with a six-speed true automatic transmission, which is the preferred transmission of most customers.

Hino is the only Japanese truck manufacturer to offer a true automatic across the 4x2 light-duty model range.

Upgrades to Australia’s only light-duty hybrid electric-diesel truck, the Hino Hybrid, include an updated hybrid system; new operational software; a new battery and inverter technology; and a new six-speed automated transmission.

A significant new introduction to the range are the 721 Wide Cab models with the JO5 five litre engine, making them Australia’s most powerful Japanese-built light-duty trucks. The J05 engine delivers up to 205hp and 600Nm of torque, which is the highest torque of any Japanese-built light-duty truck sold in Australia.

The 721 models are available as a Single or Crew Cab with a GVM of either 4.5 tonne for car-licenced operators or 6.5 tonne GVM for those operators holding a light rigid (or higher) driver’s licence.

With a maximum 10 tonne GCM, the new 721 models allow for a full 3.5 tonne towing capability even while fully laden.

Further information can be found at www.hino.com.au