Cummins poised with big Super E powerplay
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• Cummins could be spurred into producing a 350kW
(470hp) version of its 14-litre Super E Series truck diesel engine following the recent launch of Volvo's 16-litre 342kW (460hp) TD162F power unit and the arrival of the latest electronically-controlled 350kW (470hp) vee-eight engine from Scania (CM 3-9 December).
Although Cummins currently offers a 335kW (450hp) version of its turbocharged and chargecooled 14-litre NTC in-line six, called the Super E450, there have been few takers among European CV manufacturers, with the notable exception of Sisu, the Finnish truck builder. UK manufacturers ERF and Foden have preferred to stick with the 298kW (400hp) Super E400 which has a peak torque of 1,654Nm (1,220Ib ft) at 1,300rpm, for their most powerful artic models.
The advent of the latest engines from Scania, Volvo and MAN, however, could well create a fresh demand for more power among UK operators, and encourage Cummins to go for an even higher rating of around 350kW on the 14litre engine. According to the engine builder this is well within the capacity of the engine.
A twin turbocharged version of the 14-litre in-line six, de veloping 373kW (500hp), has already been produced for industrial use, although Cummins says that for commercial vehicle applications it will be sticking with a single turbocharger.
According to the company, the final output of a higherrated Super E Series will be wholly influenced by the capability of transmissions, with the result that maximum torque from such an engine is not likely to go beyond 1,900Nm (1,4001b ft).
Cummins sees a polarisation of the UK truck market with the majority of operators running at 38-tonnes GVW settling for trucks in the 239-260kW (320-350hp) power output sector. Cummins acknowledges that demand for engines over 335kW will be "very limited" and in the region of 100-200 units a year.
A 350kW Super E Series engine, however, built at Cummins' Shotts engine plant in Scotland, could be available by the second quarter of 1988 according to company sources.
Cummins would also like to get its small B Series engine into more applications. At the moment, the biggest European user of the B Series is Leyland Daf, for which it is built as the 300 Series. ERF also uses the engine in its successful 16/17tonne E6. It is believed that lveco Ford is looking hard at the B Series as a replacement for its Dover engine in the lighter Cargos.
Commercial Motor understands that Cummins is pushing hard to win the contract to supply the newly-formed AWD company with original engines for its resurrected Bedford truck range due out next year. It faces stiff opposition, however, from Perkins which will be hoping that its Phaser range will be chosen in favour of Cummins' B Series. Another AWD contender is Caterpillar with its latest 3114 and 3116 truck engines.