Putting bigger engines in vehicles is a very Australian thing to do. So, it should have come as no surprise that when Fuso Japan received a request to put a bigger engine in the heavy-duty Shogun it came from Australia.
Six years later and the Shogun 510 has finally been launched in Australia and across the ditch in New Zealand.
Previously available with 8-litre and 11-litre engines from the Daimler stable, the Shogun now also boasts a 13-litre six-cylinder powerplant.
With 510hp and 2500Nm on tap, the Shogun 510 goes to the top of the Japanese heavy-duty class with a huge torque advantage over its rivals. It is the most powerful Euro 6 Japanese heavy-duty truck available.
Designed for metro and intrastate transport, the Shogun 510 is rated at 63-tonnes Gross Combination Mass and is capable of hauling a single or double trailer set, or working as a brawny tipper and dog combination.
Daimler Truck and Bus President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, says the idea for the 13-litre Shogun came from customers who wanted a Japanese truck with more power.
“We pushed hard to get the 13-litre engine into the Shogun for our market because our customers made it clear they wanted a Japanese heavy-duty truck with serious performance,” Whitehead said.
He says having access to the Daimler engine family meant a high-performance Shogun was possible because Fuso didn’t have to justify developing an engine from scratch.
The 13-litre engine that made its way into the Shogun is the Euro 6 OM471 six-cylinder, the same engine used in the Mercedes-Benz Actros and similar to the DD13 in the Freightliner Cascadia.
It produces its maximum power at 1600rpm, while its maximum torque of 2500Nm is available from just 1100rpm.
Usable torque is the go here and 86 per cent of maximum torque available from just 800rpm, while 84 per cent of maximum torque is still available at 1700rpm.
It achieves this with an asymmetric turbocharger and the latest generation common rail system with variable pressure boosting, which also helps achieve good fuel consumption.
A 12-speed fully automated transmission (AMT) features the clever EcoRoll fuel saving coasting system, while a powerful three-stage jake brake gives the driver more control without overusing the service brakes.
The Shogun 510 will only be available in Australia and New Zealand to start with, but there is a good chance it will also appear in Japan, where the Shogun is called the Super Great.
The testing program for the Shogun 510 was a global operation with testing carried out in Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Australia also played its part with an early prototype heading out into the outback for heat testing in 2017 and final production unit hitting the east coast last year.
Fuso Truck and Bus Australia Director, Alex Müller, says the arrival of the Shogun 510 represents an important milestone for Fuso in Australia.
“The introduction of the highly anticipated Shogun 510 means Fuso is now an even stronger contender in the Australian heavy-duty segment,” Müller said.
“It is another example of Fuso delivering practical innovations that help our customers get the job done reliably and safely.”
The imposing new Fuso Shogun is now available with 8-litre, 11-litre and 13-litre engines, with 360, 400, 460 and now 510hp. Configurations include 6×4 and 4×2 prime movers and tippers and 8×4, 6×4 and 6×2 rigids, including the recently-introduced 14-pallet Shogun 360. There is a mixture of air and steel spring rear suspension options and Limited Slip Differentials (LSD) are available.
An active safety package that sets a new bar for safety in the Japanese heavy-duty class is standard across the range.
The new Shogun range further raises driver protection levels with new and upgraded safety features that are unique to the class.
The Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) technology and an enhanced Active Attention Assist (AAA) system have been upgraded.
Rigid Shogun models, with a wheelbase of more than 4300mm, come standard with Active Sideguard Assist.
The latest version of this smart safety system uses a radar to detect a vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian or any physical obstruction on the passenger side blind spot when the truck turning left or moving into a lane to the left and issue a warning.
It can now also initiate braking in addition to the warning in order to avoid or mitigate a collision or impact at speeds of up to 15km/h.
All Shogun models benefit from the latest generation of the AEBS that now uses camera and radar camera technology to provide enhanced pedestrian sensing capability, making it able to completely stop for a moving pedestrian in the event the driver does not respond to an audible warning. This system is standard on all Shogun models, as is radar adaptive cruise control.
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), a driver airbag, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Start System (HSS) assistance function continue as standard elements of the Shogun safety package.
Also new across the range is Intelligent Headlight Control, which automatically turns on and off the truck’s highbeam function in response to traffic and is standard. Daytime LED running lamps, positioned below the main headlight assembly are now also standard on all new Shogun models.
The ergonomic Shogun interior, complete with its push button start, 7-inch high resolution touch-screen centre display with easy to reach controls, carry over unchanged, but the range-topping 510 model gains a premium leather-wrap steering wheel.
Fuso says Shogun models feature class-leading servicing intervals across the range. Customers can enjoy increased peace of mind with the option of popular service plans, which ensure their truck is serviced with genuine parts, by factory-trained technicians across the expansive Fuso network.
The Shogun is also backed by a generous Fuso manufacturer warranty that covers the truck for five years or 500,000km, whichever comes first.