In July 1989, Hino Motors, Ltd. launched a new medium-duty truck series called the Cruising Ranger (Fig. 1), replacing its nine-year-old conventional model.
The Cruising Ranger series has been developed under the concept of a “Stylish, Driver-Friendly, Profitable Truck” with an emphasis on harmonization with the social environment. It features major changes in exterior style and interior design, and improvements in basic performance such as comfort, drivability, safety, and fuel efficiency with careful consideration given to market requirements. The series also meets the 1989 Japanese exhaust emission standards.
To accomplish these design enhancements, a number of new technologies have been introduced in the Cruising Ranger. This paper describes the major characteristics of the Cruising Ranger, focusing on:
and the following new representative technologies:
MAF springs as a vehicle-weight reduction measure
The Cruising Ranger series has been developed under the concept of a “Stylish, Driver-Friendly, Profitable Truck” with an emphasis on harmonization with the social environment. It features major changes in exterior style and interior design, and improvements in basic performance such as comfort, drivability, safety, and fuel efficiency with careful consideration given to market requirements. The series also meets the 1989 Japanese exhaust emission standards.To accomplish these design enhancements, a number of new technologies have been introduced in the Cruising Ranger. This paper describes the major characteristics of the Cruising Ranger, focusing on: