Top rig releases of Brisbane Truck Show

THE return to form of global automotive shows continues, the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show setting a new attendance record against a backdrop of manufacturers showing off more new products and technologies than ever before.

Show organiser Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) announced that more than 40,000 punters attended across the four-day event, making it the largest automotive show in the Southern Hemisphere.

The commercial value of the show was clear to see, with manufacturers investing tremendous amounts to showcase their latest and greatest product developments for Australia’s vital transport industry that is responsible for putting food and toilet paper on the shelves but increasingly conscious of its contribution to the nation's carbon footprint.

Brisbane Truck Show brings in around $40 million for the city’s Southbank precinct, making it one of the largest events on the Queensland event calendar. 

Here are the top trucks from the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, in no particular order, from heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell models to light-duty battery electric solutions and advancements in diesel tech.

Paccar innovates

Crowd favourite at the show, Paccar Australia, offered arguably the biggest show of new models and emerging technology at its enormous multi-brand display.

Paccar encompasses the ever-popular Kenworth marque and leading European brand DAF, with huge innovations on show from across the company’s stable. 

Although Kenworth is a brand that has traditionally offered ‘big banger’ bonneted diesels, famed for their heavy-duty ability and blinged-up appearance, the brand has clearly turned its attention to the future by displaying its latest hydrogen fuel cell test truck in Brisbane.

The Kenworth T680 fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) was developed alongside Toyota and trialled at the Pikes Peak hillclimb, where it scaled the famed Colorado mountain. The left-hand-drive example at the show, one of just ten produced so far, has already been put to work with real-world mileage on the clock. 

Kenworth’s T680 FCEV features a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell and electric powertrain producing 630hp, with a range of up to 480km and quick 15-minute refuel time, although GoAuto was told it does weigh more than its diesel T680 counterpart. 

Alongside the hydrogen fuel cell Kenworth, was a battery-electric DAF LF 19-tonner with 348hp and a range of up to 280km. 

While not displayed at the show, DAF also recently showcased a hydrogen internal combustion engine model in the DAF XF H2.

Arguably the biggest release at the show, particularly for the power-hungry Australian transport market, was the new DAF XG+ 660 with road-train suitable 660hp 15-litre powertrain and set to take the fight to its stablemate Kenworth K220.

The flagship cabover model – described as combining “the best of Europe with a 15-litre engine” – was shown for the first time at Brisbane and builds on the success of the existing XG+ range, due for local release in 2024 and set to be built locally at Paccar Australia’s Bayswater factory.

Star of the show

Iconic truck brand Western Star, celebrating 40 years in Australia this year, officially opened the order books for its all-new X-Series truck range at the Brisbane Truck Show. 

The X-Series is the first new Western Star in 20 years, but despite its ultra-modern architecture it still retains the aesthetic that put the marque on the map, with plenty of flashy chrome. 

Across the 47X, 48X and 49X models, the range covers all transport bases for the brand, with the flagship 49X offering a GCM beyond 200 tonnes. 

“Designed from the ground up, our Western Star team has worked closely with Daimler Truck North America to ensure we have the ideal solution for our Australian market, including the exclusive 48X, which was developed specifically for us,” said Penske Australia general manager of on-highway, Craig Lee.

Available with Cummins L9 (330-380hp), Detroit DD13 (450-525hp), or big Detroit DD16 (500-600hp) engines, the X-Series has a choice of Detroit DT12 Allison fully automatic or Eaton Fuller 18-speed manual transmissions. 

The new X-Series features the latest Daimler-inspired European cab design, with a range of sleeper cab options, as well as the latest safety technology, to create what is claimed to be the safest, comfiest and most technologically advanced Western Star to date while still honouring the much-loved look customers of ‘the Star’ have come to expect. 

“Lighter, safer, stronger and more spacious than any Western Star before, the X-Series builds upon its legendary heritage of being seriously tough and now takes that to the next level,” said Penske Australia head of Western Star Trucks, Kurt Dein. 

Isuzu buzz

The future of Isuzu’s light-duty dominance, now leaders for more than three decades, relies on an electric model for the Australian market, which will take the fight to the Fuso eCanter and SEA 300 models.

After launching the N Series EV in Japan in March this year, Isuzu Australia has confirmed it is working on an Australian model line-up with around 150km of driving range. 

The Japanese manufacturer shipped its pint-sized N Series EV to the Brisbane event, with 3500kg GVM, to give customers and show-goers a taste of what is to come. 

Depending on GVM and application, Isuzu will fit either three or five 20kWh batteries to the modular platform, with the electric motor producing 110-150kW of power and 370Nm of twist.

Representatives from Isuzu Ute Australia – a separate entity to Isuzu Australia – appeared interested in the N Series EV and joked that the N-Series and D-Max/MU-X share a 4J-series diesel engine, suggesting potentially similar compatibility of the electric driveline.

At the Isuzu MU-X launch in July 2021, Isuzu Ute Australia sales and marketing director Koichiro Yoshida confirmed that “Isuzu basically has technology especially in the small truck for the electric vehicle and also some of the hybrids”.

“So we are looking for the demand in Australia of when or how, if there is demand, and whether it’s hybrid or not, and depending on that demand we need to study to introduce such a model."

Isuzu Australia confirmed that it will also import larger standard cab and optional wide-cab variants of the N Series EV, with GVM options ranging from a car licence suitable 4500kg up to 7500kg.

Although no definite launch date has been given, Isuzu Australia told GoAuto customers can expect the models by the end of 2024 with local trials set to begin later this year.  

“In Australia, we are undertaking customer pilots with last-mile logistics and council fleets commencing in the fourth quarter of this year,” said Isuzu Australia chief of strategy, Grant Cooper. 

“We’ll be following this shortly after, with the start of sales for the first EV models in Australia, anticipating late 2024 into 2025.

“We are 100 per cent committed to delivering the right product to market with the right applications.”

German e-ngineering

The Daimler stand at Brisbane Truck Show offered a vast array of conventional and electric models, highlighting its clear zero-emissions focus into the future, including Mercedes-Benz eActros eEconic models that were released in Europe last year and made their Australian debut at the event.

Available in Europe with three- or four-battery configurations, the e-Actros has a claimed range of up to 400km and its maximum power output of 400kW approaches that of the most powerful diesel Actros variant. 

Focused on the refuse market, the eEconic features the same powertrain as the eActros, which given the early operating hours disruptive noise pollution associated with rubbish collection trucks, quiet models like the eEconic could quickly prove popular.

Both models are set for Australia, with evaluation trials set to take place this year, but a specific launch date has not yet been revealed. 

Complementing the electric Benz duo was Fuso’s next-generation eCanter, also shown in Australia for the first time at the Brisbane Truck Show. 

The eCanter has been running around Australian cities since its launch in 2021 and has clocked up six million kilometres globally, but the upcoming model offers more range, additional safety tech and a refreshed design. 

Fuso opted for an e-axle, integrating the electric motor with the rear axle, eliminating the need for a driveshaft for a simplified driveline. 

Power is ever so slightly down on the outgoing model at 129kW but torque is up considerably with 430Nm on tap, as well as four stages of regenerative braking, and the top-spec three-battery model has a range of up to 200km.

Around 80 eCanter variants should enable the new model to cover a wider array of applications.

Sea to believe

Australian-founded outfit Sea Electric was early to the zero-emission party, with battery electric conversions of existing light- and medium-duty models clocking up “over than two million miles” across key markets, with constant system refinements aiming to stay ahead of the pack.

Sea Electric founder Tony Fairweather told GoAuto the company’s next step is incorporating a 45kW hydrogen fuel cell to its new SEA-Drive 250 powertrain, extending driving range in heavier duty-cycle applications.

Mr Fairweather also confirmed it is likely that one of these hydrogen hybrids will be at the next Brisbane Truck Show in 2025.

On show this year, Sea Electric had its popular Australian-built models on display – now classified as fully manufactured owing to the use of Hino knock-down kits rather than converting existing models – allowing punters to walk around and look at the unique electric drivetrain up close, as well as an example of the electric-converted Toyota HiLux that is being offered to mining fleets via systems integrator Mevco..

Slippery Swede

Volvo Group Australia is already selling two of its medium-duty electric truck models, the FL and FE, Down Under but show-goers also scored a first glimpse of Volvo’s heavy-duty models at Brisbane.

The heavy-duty FH and FM are destined for Australia, but current truck width regulations are holding the Swedes back from progressing beyond local trials.

Volvo’s first FM in the country was on display in Brisbane, a zero-emission haul truck with 490kW of grunt and a range of up to 300km. 

Also on the Volvo exhibit was a smaller FE model configured for refuse collection and representing an example of Volvo’s electric offerings already being put to work on Australia’s roads. 

Beyond electric models, Volvo also showed off its environmental commitment by fuelling up its on-show diesel models on HVO ‘renewable diesel’, made from recycled cooking oil.

The brand had its flagship FH 16 Double XL Cab on display as well, painted in a unique ‘airflow’ livery designed to showcase the aerodynamic improvements resulting from wind tunnel development to reduce fuel consumption. 

Italian showcase

Iveco showcased two new models at the Brisbane Truck Show, with a cab-chassis example of its all-electric E-Daily large van and S-Way heavy-duty truck touching down for the first time in Australia.

The S-Way officially launched in March last year, but this is the first time Aussies have seen it up close as the Italian brand chases down a slice of the heavy market. 

Its Euro-6 compliant range of Cursor 9, Cursor 11 and Cursor 13 engines offer power ranging from 360hp to 550hp in what Iveco says is one of the most fuel-efficient trucks it has ever produced. 

The S-Way’s European looks make sense, given it was designed in Italy and Germany, further refined for the Australian market with added durability engineered into the truck for our harsh operating conditions. 

As the van market continues to propel into the electric future, Iveco premiered its eDaily at the Brisbane show which it hopes will hit local roads within a couple of years and Australian trials set to commence this year.

The manufacturer shipped one of the first right-hand drive eDaily validation units from Italy to exhibit Down Under and confirmed a range of up to 300km out of the 140kW/400Nm electric van, powered by a one-, two-, or three-battery setup with maximum capacity of up to 111kWh. 

Iveco customers are already running the eDaily in Europe and an Australian launch will position the Italian brand against existing electric vans from Ford, Mercedes-Benz and LDV.