LOUISVILLE, KY. Navistar International Corp. (NYSE: NAV) announced production availability of its new MaxxForce 15 engine and stated the powerplant was engineered specifically for International’s Class 8 heavy-duty on-highway trucks. According to the OEM, packaging the new engine with its ProStar Plus tractor provides “the ultimate combination in durability and power” to its customers.
“With the addition of our MaxxForce 15, our lineup of MaxxForce Advanced EGR big bore engines truly differentiates us from the competition,” said Jim Hebe, Navistar’s senior vice president, North American sales operations, said at a news conference in the OEM’s booth here at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The MaxxForce 15 is available in ratings up to 500 hp. and 1,850 lbs.-ft. of torque in highway tractors and rated up to 550 hp. in International PayStar heavy-duty vocational trucks. Hebe noted the new engine, the most powerful built by Navistar, is “designed to handle the most extreme demands that customers require.”
Hebe said the engine is “built on a proven block and crankshaft combined with the fuel and air systems of the MaxxForce Advanced EGR system. This combination delivers unprecedented hauling power and unrivaled durability with the convenience of a hassle-free 2010 emissions solution. Peak torque is achieved at 1,000 rpm and holds steady to 1,600 rpm, which reduces gear-shifting needs uphill and allows for shifting at lower speeds when accelerating. Durability is enhanced with a four-bolt connecting rod design. The four-bolt design assures the clamping force and rigidity required for extreme loads and terrain,” he added, “for which the MaxxForce 15 is designed.”
In addition, according to the OEM, a premium cam and rolling element valvetrain system reduces friction and operational load to maintain peak efficiency across the power band while interstage cooling between the turbos increases air density to maintain peak power as speeds increase.
Describing Navistar as the first fully integrated commercial truck and engine manufacturer in North America with its own line of proprietary engines in Class 4-8, Jack Allen, president—North American Truck Group, declared that the OEM has “answered the questions and delivered on our commitments to our customers.” He said the result of that “We’ve secured more than 60,000 orders to date.”
Allen said the company’s commitment to customers went beyond rolling out new products to “transforming” itself in recent years. “We are a different company. We now have a full lineup of proprietary big bore engines and the most comprehensive lineup of fully integrated trucks and engines in the industry. We’ve grown into new markets, new geographies and we have great momentum to continue that growth into the future.”
Hebe also revealed that Navistar, in partnership with Clean Air Power Ltd., has built and tested a prototype International ProStar Plus 122-in. BBC tractor powered by a 430-hp/. 1,550 lbs.-ft. torque rated dual fuel MaxxForce 13L engine. The engine uses diesel pilot injection for combustion on the compression stroke and mixes air and LNG on the intake stroke. The result is an engine that runs on a mixture of 15% diesel and 85% natural gas.
He noted that Navistar is currently working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to define the regulatory requirements of such an EPA-compliant dual fuel engine.
According to Navistar, the dual fuel MaxxForce includes minimal changes to the stock diesel engine other than the addition of a natural gas injection system. Changes to the chassis include adding a 26-in. diameter, 119-gal. LNG tank that provides a 400-mi. range, a coolant heated fuel vaporizer, and an LNG regulator and filter.
“Recognizing the abundant supply of natural gas in the U.S. and Canada, we feel compelled to invest in our products in such a way that enables our customers to expand their usage of very low emissions technologies through our engines,” said Hebe. “The use of natural gas certainly accomplishes this.”
Also announced at the Mid-America show was the rollout of Navistar’s “Drive It to Believe It” sales program. Under this program, purchasers of International TranStar and ProStar Class 8 highway tractors can take advantage of a $3,500 invoice credit towards the purchase of a qualifying Eaton UltraShift Plus automated mechanical transmission or the addition of a complementary Meritor Wabco OnGuard collision-mitigation system.
“With our ‘Drive It To Believe It’ sales program, we’re backing up our words with some unique sales offers that gets new customers behind the wheel [of our trucks] and out on the road to see for themselves,” Hebe pointed out. The sales-incentive program expires Oct. 31.
