Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation recently launched the all-new Fuso Canter range at the 2011 Brisbane Truck show.

Following Japan and North America, Australia is the third major market in which the eighth generation Canter (3.5 to 7.5 tons GVW) is being offered. The truck is to be introduced in Europe in late 2011, and it will be available in more than 40 new markets by the end of 2012.

The Fuso Canter is the first commercial truck to incorporate a dual-clutch transmission, the DUONICTM (6-speed automated dual clutch-type manual transmission). At the same time, the new truck marks the first use of the BlueTec emissions reduction system in the Australian market. The system is incorporated in selected new Canter models with high engine outputs. The BlueTec diesel technology optimizes combustion and treats the exhaust gas in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. In the SCR system, the aqueous carbamide solution AdBlue is added to transform nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water vapour. Because of the optimized combustion process the particulate emissions are also significantly reduced.
Compared to the predecessor models, the Fuso Canter’s vehicle weight has been reduced by more than 150 kilograms. The reductions mainly affect the chassis and allow the truck to carry a higher payload. As a result, a Fuso Canter with 7.5 tons GVW weighs 2,480 kilograms (including the driver and a fuel tank that is 90 percent full), leaving 5,020 kilograms for the vehicle body and freight.

Mitsubishi Motors NZ Limited confirmed that the truck range will be available in New Zealand from July but would not comment nor confirm local pricing or specification at the time of going to press.