LAS VEGAS. As the first step in a slow ramp-up to full production, International Truck and Engine Corp. says it is beginning to take orders for heavy-duty trucks powered by its new proprietary MaxxForce 11- and 13-liter diesel engines. Under a joint development agreement announced in 2005, the new engine family is based on an MAN diesel and reengineered with all new fuel and air systems to meet U.S. emissions requirements.
The first engines have already been built in MAN’s Nuremberg, Germany plant and shipped to International’s Huntsville, AL, engine plant for some final assembly work, according to Thomas D. Baughman, vp & gm of the company’s Heavy Vehicle Center.
From Huntsville, the new engines are being shipped to International’s truck plant in Garland, TX, where the first units will be installed in TranStar regional tractor models later this month. Within a month, the plant will also begin building severe-service WorkStar models with the MaxxForce engines. It’s expected that MaxxForce installation on the two truck models will be split evenly between the 11- and 13-liter diesels.
In the second phase of the ramp-up, in mid-March International’s Chatam, ON, truck plant will start building ProStar linehaul tractors with the proprietary engine, according to Baughman. Most will be powered by the higher displacement version.
By the end of April or beginning of May, the Huntsville plant will start production of the MaxxForce diesels, eventually taking over all North American production from the German plant, Baughman said.
“By August, Huntsville will be producing 100% of our [MaxxForce 11- and 13-liter] engines, and we’ll be in full production with all three of our heavy truck models,” Baughman told Fleet Owner.
The MaxxForce 11 is being offered in 330-, 370- and 390-hp. ratings producing peak torques ranging from 1250 to 1400 lbs.ft. The MaxxForce 13 ratings are 410-, 430-, and 475-hp. with peak torques between 1450 and 1700 lbs. ft.
Technical highlights for both include a high-pressure common-rail fuel system, twin-series turbochargers with an inter-stage cooler, and a new heat management system that electronically controls coolant flow.
The two displacements will offer six models with ratings ranging from 330 to 475 hp.
