The launch of the ESCOT gearbox
The ESCOT-II, the first semi-automatic transmission in Japan, was built into the truck in 1995, giving the driver a choice of either automatic or manual drive, starting a prestigious lineage of ESCOT gearboxes, destined to become an automatic gearbox benchmark in the heavy-duty segment. UD research and development engineers developed the ESCOT-I which needed the clutch to switch gear, but as the robotized clutch ESCOT-II was judged mature and reliable after successfully passing a series of tough tests, the ESCOT-II
was launched directly.
The ESCOT-II was already a big step forward from the rare automatic transmissions on offer at that time. It was not exactly automatic - the driver had to change gears himself - but without the hassle of clutching, he only had to shift the gear stick up and down. It brought palpable benefits on a daily basis, driving pleasure afforded by better control and driving ease in every road situation, whether in heavy rush hour traffic or on a twisty mountain road. In 1998, the GE13 engine was mounted on the Big Thumb. This engine employed an electronically controlled unit injector, the first in Japan, to realize maximum output of 440 horsepower