ITTES marks first public outing for several new products from truckand trailermanufacturers
The 2014 International Truck Trailer and Equipment Show (ITTES) formally opened in Melbourne today.
On display was a variety of new products from among 15 truck manufacturer exhibitors and more than 40 trailer builders.
When equipment suppliers are included, the value of showcased product is said to be $500 million.
Among the new developments in trucks was a cut-away version of the new ergonomically-designed cab interior for bonneted Kenworths. The new cab also features in all six conventional Kenworths on display.
As ATN revealed recently, these cabs have numerous new features including a smart wheel with fingertip controls, privacy curtain and full-length grab-rails.
Also on display at the Paccar stand were the two models of Kenworth which will be available from July 1 with the Paccar MX-13 engine used only in DAFs until now.
They are the T409 and T409SAR, with a 12.9 litre power choice of 460hp (338kW) or 510hp (375kW).
Speaking of power, Hino launched the eight models of its new high horsepower light duty 300 series trucks, the 920 and 921.
The 921 crew fully automatic now boasts the same 205hp (151kW) five litre J05E engine with 600Nm of torque that propels the medium duty 500 series FC.
Hino says the 921 is now “easily” the most powerful truck in its class.
Meanwhile the light duty Fuso model, the Canter, is now offering a factory-built tradies’ body on its wide-cab variant.
Called the Loadmaster and boasting aluminium sides and stainless steel racks, the uniform body tray will be built in Melbourne before going to dealers.
Fuso is also offering a bonus to Canter buyers this month of extended warranty to five years/200,000km, bumper to bumper.
Completing the Japanese trifecta, Isuzu launched its new “groundbreaking” telematics system, designed in Australia, which the company says is a “revolutionary management tool”.
The higher-level Isuzu Connect Plus offers in-depth engine data monitoring including fuel use, over-revving and vehicle diagnostics. It can be installed in older Isuzus and other brands.
Adding competition in the light duty truck sector is Cummins-powered Chinese brand Foton, which says it is the biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in the world. Ateco Automotive distributes Foton’s vehicles in Australia.
Foton recently snared the services of former Hino stalwart Alex Stewart, and at the show flagged introducing heavier duty trucks to Australia eventually and a small tipper soon. A new range of utes was on display.
Also at the light end of the spectrum were Renault vans, the first time the European leader has displayed in Melbourne.
The French company says this year it will roll out a program it describes as dealer “centres of excellence”.
This will involve a separate area to cars with a full range of light commercial vehicles on display, extended service hours and faster repairs turnaround.
In the vocational segment of the market, Penske Commercial Vehicles brand Dennis Eagle showed off its new compressed natural gas garbage truck, which it says has as much power and torque as a standard diesel, with close to the range.
The 6×4 dual control Elite 2 uses a Cummins Westport engine rated at 300hp (220kW) with an impressive 1,166Nm of torque. Dennis Eagle says the payload penalty is “quite modest”.
On the subject of garbage trucks, Mercedes-Benz showed off its Econic dual control version with Euro 6 engine, which is in Australia for testing.
Meanwhile Volvo displayed pre-production versions of its new FM, FMX and FE models, which when delivered will complete an 18-month “renewal” of the Volvo line-up that began with the top-of-the-range FH last year.
Stablemate UD unveiled a finance deal across the Quon and Condor range lasting only until the end of the financial year, with interest rates as low as 1.95 per cent.