Tag Archives: truck

NEWS

This 20 years old Kia Bongo is still updated, receives modern equipment and EV variant

THE Kia Bongo is a small one-ton truck that has been launched since 2005, but it is still being updated for 2025. This fourth-generation model is being refreshed not for the third world market, but in South Korea itself.

Available in two- and four-door variants, the design of this Kia Bongo looks like it’s from the early 2000s, but this is indeed the 2025 version.

Standard equipment has been added, with the truck now equipped with power side mirrors, cruise control, and a fire extinguisher. Higher variants are equipped with chrome door handles and a new parking brake handle.

Specifically designed for small businesses, the Bongo comes with an automatic transmission, previously only available in manual. There are also options for two-wheel and all-wheel drive.

Despite being founded over two decades ago, it has received additional modern features such as heated/ventilated seats, start/stop button, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen.

Safety features include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist and Lane Departure Warning. The engine remains the same, a 2.5-liter unit with an output of 157hp and 294Nm of torque for the automatic transmission.

The manual model has power of 136hp and 254Nm of torque. For those more environmentally friendly, the Kia Bongo is also offered in a fully electric (EV) version with an output of 181hp and 394Nm of torque.

It can be driven up to 210km. Prices start at around RM68,726 in Korea. It would definitely be interesting if it were sold in Malaysia, wouldn’t it?

NEWS

This radio-controlled Volvo FH16 truck will make you drool for its details

1 Comment

TAMIYA is an expert in producing radio-controlled vehicle models (RC) with intricate details like scale models for decoration. The latest model from their 1/14 scale truck series is the Volvo FH16 Globetrotter XL 750 4×2.

The actual truck, which has a 16.1-liter 6-cylinder turbo in-line engine with 750hp, has been recreated as an RC model with a realistic body. The chassis features various iron components and a three-speed gearbox.

The FH16 model measures 462mm in length, 193mm in width, and 309mm in height, weighing approximately 3.5kg. It is also equipped with an aluminum shock absorber with leaf springs.

Details on the cab include an air deflector, stainless steel grille, LED headlights with fog lights, antenna, roof LED light set, side mirrors, battery box, air tank, and a coupler for trailer connection.

For even more realism, you can get the Tamiya Multi-Function Control Unit (sold separately) that offers sound, lights, and vibrations. The digital sound is recorded from the actual truck, including air horn and gear shifting sounds. Furthermore, all light operations, signals, including 3-speed gear shifting, can also be controlled remotely.

The RC model Volvo FH16 Globetrotter can be found at Tamiya stores and official distributors worldwide.

NEWS

MAN: first autonomous truck on the motorway

29 Comments

MAN has become the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to send an autonomous truck onto the German motorway.

On board of the test truck, which drove around 10 km on the A9 between the Allershausen and Fürholzen junctions, were Federal Transport Minister Dr Volker Wissing and MAN CEO Alexander Vlaskamp.

MAN, which has been intensively driving forward the development of autonomous trucks for use in logistics hubs and for hub-to-hub traffic, recently became the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to receive a Level 4 test permit based on the law on autonomous driving on German motorways.

According to the company, there is a steady growth in freight volumes and transport between logistics hubs that include warehouses of large online department stores.

The use of autonomous trucks in this so-called hub-to-hub transport is particularly suitable for this as the trucks are always on the road, extremely efficient in terms of consumption and safe to drive.

There are no driving time breaks, so the vehicles can be perfectly integrated into tightly synchronised logistics processes. In the long term, the efficient use of autonomous trucks can reduce overall operating costs by 10 to 15%.

MAN also claims that the new technology can also alleviate the driver shortage. There is already a shortage of up to 100,000 truck drivers in Germany alone, the company said in a statement.

“Further hub-to-hub projects will follow from 2025, but then in typical customer applications. We are thus taking the next development step towards series production of autonomous trucks towards the end of the decade. The law on autonomous driving gives our industry the necessary planning security,” said Alexander Vlaskamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN Truck & Bus SE.

He added that the company will need to work closely with infrastructure operators such as Autobahn GmbH to realise autonomous driving.

NEWS

Scarbo SV Rover is a lavish 1,100-hp hypertruck

FANS of the late Ken Block will remember his insane Porsche 911 dubbed the Hoonipigasus, which was built to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The company that built the car, Scarbo Vintage, is now back with an equally bonkers truck called the SV Rover.

Claimed to be the world’s first street-legal hypertruck, the SV Rover appears to be a mashup between the classic Land Rover Defender and the Lamborghini LM002. According to Scarbo, the bodywork is made out of aluminium and carbon fibre.

The interior is luxuriously appointed with Alcantara trim, billet aluminum accents, and modern amenities such as a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch infotainment display, paddle shifters, and an engine start button.

Customers can choose between a V8 supercharged engine producing 1,100 hp with an 8-speed automatic transmission or an electric powertrain with a 75-kWh battery generating 1,005 hp.

Regardless of the powertrain chosen, the SV Rover comes with a 4WD system, high and low-range transfer case, and selectable front- and rear-locking differentials.

It is equipped with pushrod suspension at the front and rear, providing an impressive 30 inches of wheel travel.

Additionally, the truck is equipped with 20-inch forged rims wrapped in 40-inch tyres, air ride suspension with user-adjustable height control and valving, as well as adjustable dampers. The braking system comprises 400 mm carbon ceramic rotors and six-piston Brembo calipers.

Needless to say, the SV Rover is only for the truly rich, with each unit costing $1.5 million (RM7.2 million) excluding customisation optins.

NEWS

Isuzu records outstanding sales for 2023, number 1 in the truck segment

2 Comments

ISUZU Malaysia has once again achieved outstanding performance by recording the highest truck sales compared to other brands for the year 2023. This achievement places Isuzu in the number 1 position in the overall truck segment for 10 consecutive years and in the light-duty truck brand segment for 14 consecutive years in Malaysia.

Isuzu’s leading position in the market is reinforced by the overall sales performance of 7,209 units, including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks for the previous year. This represents a 44.9 percent market share in the overall truck segment in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the light-duty truck segment recorded sales of 6,864 units, marking the highest sales in Malaysia for that segment.

Isuzu Malaysia recorded a growth of 2.7 percent compared to the previous financial year, demonstrating continuous positive growth for Isuzu Malaysia.

In terms of sales, Isuzu Malaysia achieved a positive growth of 11 percent in the medium-duty truck, heavy-duty truck, and prime mover segments for 2023.

Shunsuke Okazoe, Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, said, “We are extremely proud to achieve this remarkable success once again and to remain the best-selling truck brand in Malaysia. Maintaining this success for over a decade certainly exceeds our expectations.”

“At the same time, we are very excited to know that our continued market leadership clearly demonstrates Isuzu Malaysia’s commitment to providing the widest and most advanced range of trucks to our customers, despite navigating changing industry landscapes.”

“The stability of the economy and the recovery of the supply chain have contributed to the positive growth in the commercial vehicle market, especially in the light-duty truck segment. This positive performance further highlights our presence in this market,” Okazoe added.