The introduction of the Condor range of medium duty trucks from UD marks a significant milestone in the development of the Japanese truck importer. With the complete redesign of its MK and PK models, the company has transformed its image from a brand supplying well built but old-fashioned trucks to one which reflects contemporary design and taste while retaining the engineering robustness for which they are known.
Since 2000, there has been a complete change in the nature of Japanese trucks on the Australian market. In the past, they were seen as cheap, basic but reliable trucks. Now, the level of sophisticated design in the trucks has multiplied with every model change. Sophisticated electronics, state-of-the-art safety features, smart electronic engine management systems, auto transmissions and safe ergonomic cabins have become a market requirement and the Japanese manufacturers have stepped up to the mark.
At the same time, there has been a transformation in the situation of UD Trucks. It is no longer a standalone Japanese truck manufacturer in a market dominated by its three large Japanese competitors. UD is now part of the global Volvo Group and as such has attracted significant development dollars to bring their technology up to the state-of-the-art levels required by the modern truck customer.
Here in Australia, the company has been transformed with the global parent company taking the brand back from a local distributor and making the organisation part of the Australian Volvo Group. This has led to an accelerating development of the organisation on the ground, appearing refreshed in new dealerships with new models coming along to refresh the image of what was once seen as a staid brand.
The new Condor range is a manifestation of the culmination of the first phase of the Japanese manufacturer’s transformation into a modern truck organisation. The technology and design is all Japanese and much of it was being developed, in an embryonic form, when the Volvo involvement with the company began. The next phase for the company will be its technological integration with the rest of the global group. New engines and vehicle designs in the future will have been developed with a global perspective, looking for commonality around the world, whether developed in Japan, Europe or the US.
At first sight, the new Condor design for the UD medium duty range looks contemporary and distinctive. There is clearly a better use of space than in the old MK and PK models and this is coupled with the use of modern technology throughout the cabin and the driveline. The company has retained some of the technological developments introduced in the last two years which were part of the process of bringing the UD model range up-to-date.
Inside the cabin the renewal process is clear. This design picks up on cues developed for the GK, CW and GW heavy-duty models a few years ago. The clean lines with modern instruments and ergonomically placed controls brings a model bang up-to-date. The technology included in the cab is also a game changer for UD.
UD has answered the criticism of its driver’s seats with the introduction of an all-new design from CVG. There is now plenty of adjustment to ensure drivers of all shapes and sizes will be able to travel in improved comfort and better survive Australia’s poorly maintained road network.
SRS driver’s airbags are now standard throughout the UD truck range. This represents a considerable step up in safety standards. Seatbelt pre-tensioners are also now included as standard. Future development of the models is expected to include integrated seatbelts in the driver’s seat.
One aspect of the cabin interior exemplifies the company’s decision to meet contemporary demand and taste. The new entertainment system fitted as standard in the new trucks takes up two DIN radio spaces on the dash and gives the driver access to the latest in electronic entertainment and information. The system is very similar to that fitted in the current Isuzu range with the additional benefit of having the navigation system from NAVTEQ installed and available as standard.
The system includes all of the things expected from a modern entertainment system, touchscreen, radio/CD, USB, Bluetooth, iPod connection and the capability of connecting up to three cameras viewable both through split screen or single screen configuration. This is a quantum leap forward for the UD brand and is being used by them to illustrate their determination to keep up with the forefront of development in vehicle technology.
All Condor models get the new 7L turbocharged, common rail six cylinder engine which will be available at two power ratings of 24hp (180kW) and 276hp (206kW) with maximum power being achieved at 2500rpm. These engines generate 716Nm (521 ft lb) and 883Nm (651 ft lb) of torque respectively. This specification represents a sizeable increase in both power and torque over their predecessors.
In terms of exhaust emissions control UD has decided to go down the SCR route and is introducing, what it is calling, the ECO Fleet emissions control system. This means the engine does not need either EGR or a diesel particulate filter of any kind to meet the stringent exhaust emission requirements of Euro 5. Adblue comes from a 50L tank which is expected to give the trucks a range of 2500km for MK and 2000km for PK.
Gearbox options have been increased on the new models with a five-speed Allison 2500 Series automatic transmission available in both MK and PK alongside the six speed UD gearbox and an Eaton nine speed transmission. At the top end of the PK range there will also be an option to fit the Allison 3000 Series automatic up to a maximum GCM of 28.5 tonnes.
These new developments for UD come along as part of the complete renewal of the UD brand in recent years and the introduction of a new model name, the Condor, is to be complemented with the heavy duty range from UD now being known as the Quon. The heavy duty model will retain its normal nomenclature as GW, GK etc. but will now have the new Quon name included on the cab. Since the introduction of the new range several years ago, the Quon name has been used by the company in Japan but not included when the models were initially released here.
The company has also decided to go with a new way of classifying its vehicles in the badging it uses on the doors. From now on the model denomination will be followed by the vehicle’s GVM and then their horsepower rating. As a result a typical model would be called something like MK 11 250 or GW 26 470. This would seem to be quite a rational classification system, unlikely to confuse potential customers.
With this modernisation of the UD brand and truck offering, the company is coming to the Australian truck market with a completely new face, from new dealer locations and with trucks which look like they belong in the second decade of the 21st century.
One of the major players to bring the UD organisation from the 20th into the 21st century, President of UD Trucks Region Oceania, John Bushell, will not be part of the new face of the refreshed company. He has decided to step down, for family reasons, having consistently served the truck industry well over a long career. He will be leaving his role able to see this latest model release as the culmination and justification of many years of hard work to make the UD brand what it has become today.