Fuso tweaks heavy-duty range

Fuso Trucks says it has listened to customer feedback in carrying out a number of key changes to its heavy-duty truck range

Drivers of heavy-duty Fuso trucks now benefit from several updates recently rolled out across the range in recent months.

The automatic transmission has been updated to allow a heavy-duty Fuso truck to better maintain momentum during gear changes, with a shortened clutch engagement phase and an altered shift map effectively delivering faster shifts and better performance under certain conditions.

The updated auto also lets the transmission shift down at higher revs when decelerating and selects a lower gear sooner when the truck is climbing.

According to Fuso's Product Planning Engineer, Kevin Johnston, the changes have addressed the customer feedback the company had received relating to the auto's performance.

"We recently updated the transmission program in our Motorcade prime mover and one driver reported that it was like he had been given a new truck," he said.

The improvements can be felt when 'D' mode (drive mode) has been engaged in the automatic transmission.

Fuso says the development program has actually been underway for some time, with the updated transmission now found in rigid models built from November 2013 onwards and prime movers built from May 2014.

Vehicles produced before those dates will require a change of the transmission's ECU, and should speak to their Fuso dealer.

Fuso has also modified the steering system in its heavy-duty 6x4 models, after receiving reports the steering required a greater sense of precision at highway speeds.

"Over a period of time we received feedback from customers saying the steering felt ‘a bit vague’ at highway speeds," said Johnston.

"We have responded by designing more pre-load into the system which now gives a more solid steering feel when driving at or near the speed limit."

The steering change applies to all 4x2 and 6x4 trucks built in Japan on or after March 2014.

"These improvements demonstrate Fuso's commitment to continuously improving our models in line with customer and dealer feedback," said Johnston.

"We are confident these improvements will exceed customer expectations."

Fuso tweaks heavy-duty range

Tags