DETROIT DIESEL—IN AN ERF?
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According to Detroit Diesel, the Series 60 is the most successful US heavy truck engine. It still might make an appearance over here with ERE tipped as a possible user. For 1998 in the US there will be some changes to the different ranges, though most are evolutionary. However, there is to be a new generation of the electronic control module, presumably to DDEC IV.
However, Dave Merrion, Detroit Diesel marketing vice-president, says the company is not going to participate in the horsepower race and is content to keep 500hp (373kW) as its top-power offering. There's still plenty of life in the old Series 60 which received boost, not in power but in torque, to 1,650Ibft (2,237Nm). And there's some exciting news to come on Series 60, too.
Detroit Diesel has had its plate Full with the development and introduction of the Series 55, the engine based on a Mercedes-Benz block and using unit-pump injection. And the company is also digesting its acquisition of the Italian VM Motori engine business while divesting itself of the Perkins agreement it has had since 1988. According to Detroit Diesel, 1997 will prove to be the year of consolidation for the company as the engines are reportedly easily certified for US 1998 emissions We shall also see a rationalisation of the many electronic features offered by Detroit as they are brought into a much more marketable package for the end user.
• Series 60
Today's 12.7-litre, 430, 470 and 500hp (320, 350 and 373kW), 1,550Ibft (2,101Nm) Series 60s have been upgraded to 1,650Ibft (2,237Nm) to bring them more in line with the 14-litre engines Series 60 has competed with over the last 10 years.
According to Merrion, there are changes in hand for the Series 60 to fit it within the upcoming emissions envelope. Included are some mechanical refinement and software updates for the DDEC IV electronics. Merrion says the long-term objective is to find ways of increasing torque so that it meets demand for what he refers to as "burst torque" that becomes available when demand dictates.
This is a refinement of the multiple-torque concept and enables the introduction of higher performance engines for greater vehicle productivity without having to extensively modify the structure of the base engine.
More exciting yet, DDC President Koci said in a special interview that Detroit Diesel is investigating separating the bigger 12.7-litre engine into two different model ranges, hinting that there will be an increase in displacement for a higher power model. As yet, no decision has been made on displacement, horsepower ratings or introduction timeframe. A good guess would put it into the 14-litre class (one competitor says it's 13.9 litres). Also, Detroit Diesel has launched a big industrial 4000 Series engine with a common rail injection system. Koci says the company is currently running common-rail systems in prototype VM automotive engines and they are having great results, especially with split injection for noise control. He says that the technology will migrate into the Series 60.
illl Electronics proliferation
Detroit Diesel's director of electronics products business development, Tom Diefenbaker, says the company is heavily involved in consolidating many of the innovative electronics
features it has developed into a more cohesive and understandable product offering. Many of the trend-setting options and features that have been introduced on the c electronic platform such as the battery-voltage sensitive idle control must now be consolidated for easier marketing, he says.
Development of the electronics will still be a major focus at DDC, especially where they interface with on-board communications systems via satellite or cellular phone.
There is talk of changes to come for Detroit's Pro Driver, driver display and Data Hub vehicle management and productivity hardware and software. Pro Driver has been shown with a right-hand-side slot for a "smart card" for vehicle security, driver profile preferences and other features.