Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/726012
C ummins has pulled the curtain back on its next-generation engine family; the 15-liter X15 (available in two configurations) and the 12-liter X12 heavy-duty diesel engines. Both engines build off the legacy of Cummins' ISX platform and offer a variety of design and performance improvements depend- ing on the model. Cummins also said the new en- gines are ready to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2017 greenhouse gas and fuel ef- ficiency standards. Looming regulations aside, the engine launch is perfect tim- ing for Cummins – a company whose dominant grip on market share has slipped in recent years as proprietary, integrated engine- transmission packages from truck OEMs have taken a bite out of the engine maker's business. Cummins answered with its own optimized platform, partnering with Eaton in 2013 to launch the SmartAdvantage powertrain package. With its new X series platform, Cummins introduces its future heavy duty engine lineup aimed at owners who prefer red engines under their hoods, and attempts to woo back those who went the OEM route in their last purchase cycle. Lean or mean While the ISX platform has only one 15-liter starting option, the X series offers two: The fuel-sipping X15 Efficiency Series geared toward line- haul and regional markets, and the X15 Performance Series, built spe- cifically for heavy-haul, vocational and other demanding applications. Cummins made several hardware changes to improve performance on the X15 Performance engine, includ- ing a high-flow EGR cooler, and piston cooling nozzles and exhaust valves to improve reliability. The X15 Performance Series boasts from 485 to 605 horsepower, torque rat- ings up to 2,050 pound-feet, and as much as 600 braking horsepower. "We have increased braking power through the operating speed of the engine, from 1,300 to 1,700 rpm, where you need it the most," said Jim Fier, Cummins' vice president of engineering. "No matter how dif- ficult the job, drivers will have the confidence that they'll be able to get up the mountain and back down with no worries." The X15 Efficiency Series ranges from 400 to 500 horsepower and from 1,450 to 1,850 pound-feet of torque, with 400 braking horse- power at 1,300 rpm. In addition, Cummins has added predictive cruise control to its ADEPT suite of connected vehicle technology (see sidebar). X15 Efficiency "Many have wondered about the role of the big-bore, heavy-duty en- gines in the North American market as compared to more recent medi- um-bore introductions, begging the question whether we'll follow what's happening in Europe," says Lori Thompson, Cummins' vice president of marketing. "With the benefit of several years of market experience, we can answer that question: the big-bore engine is here to stay." Cummins first announced its single module aftertreatment sys- tem concept in 2015, and it is now production-ready with the X series, combining VOC, DPF, and SCR into a single canister – and saving up to EquipmentWorld.com | September 2016 81 heavy trucks | by Jeff Crissey | JCrissey@randallreilly.com Cummins unveils X15, X12 engines, rebrands heavy-duty lineup The Cummins X15 Efficiency Series (left) and the X15 Performance Series (right) highlight Cummins' 2017 engine lineup.