The first new Kenworth T660 tractor has rolled out of the company's Chillicothe, OH, plant and has hit the road for an 18,000-mi. tour that will take it to some 60 Kenworth dealerships before the end of the year. Kenworth has also announced highlights of its new product introductions for 2007, including a new auxiliary power system and two proprietary engines for its medium-duty trucks.
The touring T660 is a pre-production model equipped with an 86-in. Studio AeroCab sleeper and a Cummins 565-hp. ISX engine meeting the '07 emissions regulations. Full production will begin later this year, with dealer deliveries schedule for the first quarter of '07.
Compared to its predecessor, the T600, the new tractor should offer improved fuel economy even with the '07 engine, according to KW chief engineer Mike Dozier, who credits better aerodynamics for most of the improvement.
Other significant changes include halogen projector low beams and optional high-intensity discharge lights. As part of a redesigned dash display with multiplexed instrumentation, a new Kenworth GPS navigation system will be offered as standard or optional equipment.
The new Kenworth Clean Power System will provide up to 10 hr. of cooling and 110V “hotel” power without idling a vehicle's engine. The system uses a “storage cooler” that freezes liquid inside as a truck drives down the road or if it is connected to shore power. The cooler can provide up to 21,000 BTUs of cooling capacity, or enough to keep the sleeper cool for 10 hr.
For cold days, the system has a diesel-fired heater mounted under the bunk. Electrical power is supplied by four dedicated glass-mat batteries and an inverter/charger.
Cost and weight for the Clean Power System will be comparable to an APU, but without the noise of a diesel generator set, Dozier says. It will be offered first as an option for the T660 with a 72-in. sleeper beginning in the second quarter of next year.
On the medium-duty side, KW will begin offering its new PX-6 and PX-diesels — built by Cummins — in January.
The 6.7L Paccar PX-6 will have ratings ranging from 200 to 325 hp., with peak torques of 520 to 750 lb.-ft. It will be available in both Class 6 and 7 models of the KW conventional truck. The larger 8.3L PX-8 will be offered in the Class 7 and tandem axles KW T300. Power rating range from 240 to 330 hp., with torques of 660 to 1,000 lb.-ft.
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