Caterpillar, Navistar finalize alliance

the new navistar maxforce 15 is really a cat c-15 with navistar fuel system

 

If I read this correctly, looks like they will be developing the whole truck together.

 

I was told that the Maxforce was an iron composite engine that was developed and used overseas for the last several years. Its news to me that it is a C-15.
Is Navistar moving their new Maxforce plant in North Alabama to Caterpillar?

 

i believe the smaller ones the mf13 and mf 14 are all international but the mf 15 is the cat

THE MAXXFORCE 15
03/25/2009 As first reported here several weeks ago, the MaxxForce 15 engine from International Truck & Engine will indeed be a modified version of today's Caterpillar C-15. It will be built under licence, likely at the Navistar engine plant in Huntsville, Alabama starting some time in 2011, according to Navistar senior sales operations vice president Jim Hebe. He introduced the engine at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show.

It will not use Cat's ACERT emissions technology, rather a variation on the air and fuel-management systems developed for - and still being tested on - the 2010 MaxxForce 13 engine. Like that one and others in the International lineup, it will also use "advanced" EGR, or exhaust gas recirculation, not the SCR aftertreatment system that all other engine makers will employ. International claims it can deal with nitrogen oxide, the target of EPA 2010 emissions standards, in-cylinder.



Cat, Navistar sign vocational truck venture
04/07/2009 CHICAGO -- As expected, Caterpillar and Navistar International have signed a definitive agreement to produce Caterpillar heavy-duty vocational trucks for North America.

 

I have a feeling that they will not get very good performance out of the 15 liter engine using this technology. I hope that they do make a good engine, but I don't think that is going to be true.

 

I'm starting to question CAT's business plan with this one. I think they're trying to rely on their name more than their engineering. With a total EGR system you waste diesel to reduce your NOx output. That wasted fuel also makes more soot, which means your DPF regens more frequently using even more fuel. On top of that EGR increases the heat load on your cooling system requiring you to up the radiator, water pump, and fan. Which ultimately leaves you with less power per displacement.

Its no wonder that the SCR engines in europe are putting up the same HP/torque numbers with 15-20% less displacement on smaller cooling systems.

Then there is the other aspect, who is CAT/Navistar trying to compete with? They're targeting vocational users with this so... KW/PB/Mack or Oshkosh?

I just don't see customers paying a premium over KW/PB/Mack for a CAT branded International when they already have an option to buy an International.

It sort of would have made sense back years ago when there was a decent amount of commonality between the CAT engines but I just don't see what is going to make their truck something special.

 

Cat must just be trying to get their feet wet & test the waters for now. In time I'm sure they will go after the full class 8 market.

 

International already does OTR trucks. Who is the #1 manufacturer of OTR truck in NA and has been for years?

Freightliner.

Is it because they're the best truck around? Most comfortable? Most reliable?

No. They're affordable/disposable.

Or perhaps that is the "best" truck, a la the goldilocks truck.

 

I think the point of the excercise is to use Cats existing contacts to gain truck sales, that is....if you already have a couple of cat diggers why not buy a truck from cat to tow your float, etc, then you only have to go to one place for service and spares. Not sure bout the US but it should be reasonably sucessful out here in Aus.