Mitsubishi Fuso Unveils
New Aero Queen and Aero Ace Tourist Buses

Kawasaki – Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today introduced its new Aero Queen and Aero Ace heavy-duty tourist buses for Japan. Beginning Wednesday, September 1, the clean, efficient, and safe buses will be available at Mitsubishi Fuso dealerships and regional sales centers across Japan.

The new Aero Queen and Aero Ace large tourist bus lines incorporate the 6R10 heavy-duty diesel engine and BlueTec® emissions system, which are installed in new Super Great heavy-duty truck launched on April 22. The engine is based on a joint development of Daimler Truck units in the United States, Europe and Japan.

The new buses have successfully achieved significant reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, and also CO2 reduction thanks to fuel efficiency improvements. The buses meet Japan’s 2009 Japan New Long-Term Emission Regulations (JP09).

In addition, all models are compliant with Japan’s 2015 fuel efficiency standard for heavy-duty vehicles, exceeding the standard by 10%. This means the buses have achieved fuel economy of 4.50 km/L1, in the top level of its class.

In addition to the environmental advances, the new Aero Queen and Aero Ace include technology to further enhance safety. MFTBC’s safety technology MDAS-III (Mitsubishi Driver’s Attention monitoring System) is equipped as standard to further improve safety.

JP09 achievement
The new buses adopt the 6R10 engine developed jointly by Daimler Trucks units in the United States, Europe and Japan. Thanks to optimal combustion efficiency of this new engine and the advanced emissions reduction system BlueTec®, the new buses comply with JP09 emissions regulations. JP09 is the world’s most stringent emission qualification, requiring a 65% reduction in NOx and 63% reduction in PM over the JP05 emission regulations.

All models compliant with Japan 2015 fuel efficiency standard for heavy-duty vehicles, qualifying for Eco-car Tax incentives in Japan.
Fuel efficiency has been enhanced due to the new engine, so all models meet Japan’s 2015 fuel efficiency standard. Therefore, all models are in the scope of Japan’s Eco-car Tax incentives in which the vehicle weight tax and acquisition tax are cut 75% for qualifying vehicles.

The buses incorporate the 6R10 engine, which leverages the know-how of Daimler Trucks business units around the world to achieve superb fuel efficiency, dynamic performance, clean emissions and greater reliability. The 6R10 is based on a heavy-duty engine concept developed jointly by Daimler Trucks business units in the United States, Europe and Japan. In development since 2002, the engine concept represents a US$1.5 billion investment in R&D and production. About 80% of parts are commonly shared among the group with the engine concept customized to meet the needs of local markets. A new heavy-duty engine from Detroit Diesel, also based on the joint development concept, was introduced in Freightliner-brand vehicles in the U.S. in 2008.

For the 6R10 engine’s fuel injection system, the newly developed X-Pulse – an intensified pressure common rail system - is adopted. Also for its exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a high capacity EGR cooler and continuous control EGR valve are adopted. A double overhead cam (DOHC) with four valves and a water-cooled variable geometry (VG) turbo charger are adopted, contributing to both cleaner exhaust emissions and improved fuel economy.

To protect environment, MFTBC has adopted BlueTec® technology to overcome the traditional fuel economy penalty associated with NOx reduction, and achieve both fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.

The system collects PM to be burnt for elimination through ‘regeneration DPF’ combining an oxidation catalyst and silicone carbide (SiC) ceramic filter. The BlueTec® urea SCR system - comprised of SCR catalytic muffler and a urea water dozing nozzle - decomposes the remaining NOx into harmless nitrogen (N2) and water (H2O) through the chemical reaction of the ammonia which is generated from the urea water.

With this BlueTec® system, the engine unit focuses on achieving high combustion efficiency, realizing both CO2 reduction due to fuel economy improvement and at the same time PM and NOx reductions. BlueTec® is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.

The MDAS-III driver’s attention monitor has been adopted as an option since 2007; this time it is equipped as standard to further enhance active safety performance.

MFTBC has developed safety technologies with emphasis on active safety devices which work to prevent accidents at an earlier stage. A principal concept is MDAS (Mitsubishi Driver Attention monitoring System), first installed in the Super Great heavy-duty truck line in 1996. This is an active safety technology to reduce the possibility of accidents by giving a driver various warnings with alarms and meter displays when his or her attention is waning.

In 2007 this innovation evolved into the current MDAS-III set-up for large trucks and buses.  MDAS-III is MFTBC’s own preventive safety technology, which newly incorporates white-line recognition by means of a camera with a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor and shortens the attention measurement cycle to 15 seconds from the previous 60 seconds, thus enabling the driver to be alerted earlier to prevent possible accidents.

The capacity of the service/utility box has been enlarged for ease of use to offer better services for passengers. Also the lower shape of the partition between the service/utility box and driver’s seat has been re-designed so the foot space in the front row of passenger seat has been extended about 100 mm (about 50 mm for driver’s seat side).

Secure same passenger capacity as before: By significantly reducing the vehicle weight through body improvement and lighter suspension, the weight increase due to new emissions technologies is compensated. Therefore, the passenger capacity of 62 people remains consistent.

The ISO-method wheel is adopted as standard to enhance maintenance efficiency: ISO method is the international standard for wheel-nut-tightening method adopted by 95% of heavy-duty trucks and buses in the world. Its simple structure makes it easier to implement inspections and maintenance operations like tire replacement on daily basis.

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2009, the company sold a total of about 99,500 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 85% of MFTBC shares and various Mitsubishi group companies own 15% of MFTBC shares. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.

1Value notified to Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Infrastructure and Transport.
Models 14 tons to below 16 tons: Achieve fuel economy of 4.50km/L; the target value in Japan 2015 fuel efficiency standard for heavy-duty vehicles is set to 4.06km/L.
Models 16 tons or over: Achieve fuel economy of 3.95km/L; the target value in Japan 2015 fuel efficiency standard for heavy-duty vehicles is set to 3.57km/L.