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Cummins to produce high-performance, light-duty diesel engines
Cummins Inc ^ | 7/26/2006 | Cummins, Inc.

Posted on 7/26/2006, 5:48:18 PM by eraser2005

Company to partner with major automotive manufacturer

COLUMBUS, IND. - Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI) today announced it has reached agreement with a major automotive manufacturer serving the North American market to produce and market a light-duty, diesel-powered engine. For competitive reasons, Cummins original equipment manufacturer partner in the venture has asked to remain confidential.

As part of the agreement, Cummins will develop and manufacture a family of high-performance, light-duty diesel engines for a variety of automotive applications in vehicles below 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight, including standard pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Certain bus, marine and industrial applications also will be served by this engine family.

The first vehicles with this engine are expected to be ready for market by the end of the decade. Cummins anticipates that this diesel engine will provide an average of 30 percent fuel savings, depending on the drive cycle, over gasoline-powered engines for comparable vehicles.

(Excerpt) Read more at cummins.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; US: Indiana; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: auto; car; chrysler; daimlerchrysler; diesel; energy; ford; gm; honda; toyota
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Any bets on the partner? DaimlerChrysler has been working with Cummins for years and is an obvious pick.. But Ford has had trouble with their diesel partner Navistar, and may be looking for a new partner....
1 posted on 7/26/2006, 5:48:21 PM by eraser2005
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To: eraser2005
I understood that Chrysler was getting all it's diesel technology from Mercedes...

Was Cummins the origin of that?

2 posted on 7/26/2006, 5:52:52 PM by Mariner
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To: eraser2005

Well, the DCX partnership runs out in 2007, and they've been making noises about using the Mercedes truck diesels in the Ram instead. However, it'd be a stupid marketing move in the North American market.

I don't think it's DCX. They'd have no reason to not trumpet the relationship.

The Ford/Navistar deal has many years to run, so I don't see that happening. GM is too deep in bed with Isuzu for them to change either.

My guess? Nissan or Toyota, with the edge to Nissan since Nissan has announced a Titan 2500 for 08/09. I'd heard they were in discussions with Caterpillar, but DCX might have pissed off Cummins.


3 posted on 7/26/2006, 5:54:53 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: eraser2005

My brother has a Dodge pickup with a Cummings diesel engine.

Pulls like a mule.


4 posted on 7/26/2006, 5:55:28 PM by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Mariner

No, Mercedes has its own tech. All the diesels in the DCX lineup, with one glaring exception, are Mercedes units, or Mercedes derived.

That one exception is the Cummins Turbo Diesel in the 2500/3500-class Dodge Rams. My guess is that Mercedes is going to replace that, too.


5 posted on 7/26/2006, 5:56:44 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr

That's a reasonable assumption - Mercedes has plenty of light-duty diesel experience... and why go outside the company if you don't need to...


6 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:00:03 PM by eraser2005
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To: eraser2005

Yeah, it makes sense that way, but in terms of marketing it doesn't. They've spent twenty years in building up the Dodge Ram/Cummins Turbo Diesel relationship in everyone's minds, and now they're going to throw it away.

That said, Nissan getting the Cummins is exactly what they need to break the HD pickup market wide open. A Nissan's percieved quality and design advantages with a Cummins powertrain that everyone trusts is going to be a hard, hard combination to beat - especially since Ford won't use the International or Navistar branding on *their* engines, due to corporate pride (and perhaps a couple of agreements).


7 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:07:28 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Spktyr

I think you're probably right with DCX.

Ford's Navistar contract runs through 2012, but they've already cancelled half their contracts (the V6s) with Navistar due to warranty complaints on the Navistar V8s. Reports are $50 million in warranty claims in two years on those Navistars. Ford may be willing to cough up another chunk of cash to get out of their current deal, especially as it is delaying the release of new models.

Toyota doesn't seem to be in a race to build diesels - Nissan or Honda may be a better bet, IMO...


8 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:08:39 PM by eraser2005
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To: eraser2005
When Cummins comes up with something like this \/ I'll be more interested. :D


All aluminum 5.5 liter Audi TDI V12. 650 horsepower, 811 lb-ft. of torque

9 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:10:53 PM by BritExPatInFla
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To: Spktyr
Wasn't GM supposed to be divesting itself of Isuzu, or something like that?

"This line of diesel engines also will fuel the growth of an exciting new market in which Cummins does not currently participate"

This line from the article makes it sound like Cummins is going to be supplying engines for cars - they're already in the light-truck market via Dodge pickups.

This would be a smart move by GM, if they were the OEM. Diesels would get them more fuel-efficient, but torquey vehicles, and sourcing them from Cummins would help the public look past the debacle that was GM's last foray into diesel automobiles.
10 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:11:36 PM by CertainInalienableRights
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To: eraser2005

Ford owns a substantial stake in Cummins


11 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:13:07 PM by Ouderkirk (Don't you think it's interesting how death and destruction seems to happen wherever Muslims gather?)
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To: CertainInalienableRights

I couldn't tell what market segment they're intending to go after. You're right that the idea of a "new market in which Cummins does not currently participate" implies something other than trucks. But other references I've seen seem to imply that they'll still be in the V6/V8 engines intended for large vehicles (ie, trucks)...

It would be far more interesting if they were doing diesels for cars... :)


12 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:15:07 PM by eraser2005
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To: CertainInalienableRights

GM and Isuzu have contracts going far into the future. Most of the "GM" medium trucks are Isuzus.

Nissan could also take advantage of Cummins diesels in cars, but it's far more likely that Cummins is going to make a diesel for a small pickup, like the Frontier, IMHO.


13 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:18:22 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: eraser2005

It's not likely to be DCX. They already have some of the best light duty diesel tech around on the Mercedes side.

Ford has some pretty decent diesel tech in Europe, and they're already working on bringing some of that here, for use in the F-150 and SUVs.

It could well be GM. They have Isuzu, and some Opel diesels, but they seem to be the most lacking in the diesel area of the domestic manufacturers.

Or, it could be Toyota. They need help on the diesel side.


14 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:19:21 PM by B Knotts (Newt '08!)
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To: eraser2005

Thanks. I've a friend who swears by cummins engines. This person will be interested in this info.


15 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:21:28 PM by lilylangtree
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To: Ouderkirk

No, they don't. That POS urban legend keeps going around.

http://www.cummins.com/cmi/content.jsp?siteId=1&langId=1033&menuId=6&overviewId=29&anchorId=30&menuIndex=4&index=0#Q27


16 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:21:31 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: B Knotts

My guess is one of the Japanese makers currently manufacturing here.

Will be nice to have some smaller diesels in a wider cross section of cars and lighter trucks.

What's the deal with emissions hurdles to overcome?


17 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:22:45 PM by headstamp (Nothing lasts forever, Unless it does.)
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To: eraser2005
I personally would love to have a great diesel engine in a car.

With the arrival of low sulfur fuel throughout the country this fall, the European diesels can now be used.

Diesel engines now have less noise, but have excellent fuel mileage, durability, and torque (allowing low-end "seat-of-the-pants" acceleration).

Diesel generally requires less processing and is abundantly available, unlike hydrogen or E85. It also has a higher BTU per gallon than normal gasoline, helping with the efficiency numbers.
18 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:23:20 PM by ConservativeMind
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To: eraser2005
I'm glad to see this. We have a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup with a Cummins turbo diesel engine and it gets 20 MPG. Pretty good for a full size pickup with the Quad Cab and a full length bed. Even pulling a 24 foot fifth wheel trailer up into the mountains we get 15 MPG, and that is about the same as I get in my gas powered SUV when it isn't pulling anything.

The engine has also been reliable. We have had to replace other things on the truck but with basic maintenance, it works like a charm year after year.
19 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:23:55 PM by passionfruit ("...I think the left wing is turning into a cult... If you disagree you're a traitor")
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To: eraser2005

Which is ironic, since most of the warranty complaints on the Navistars are due to the Ford engine management gear grafted onto it.

The 6L International diesel does just fine in medium trucks and doesn't have the problems that the Powerstroke version does. The only real difference is that Ford doesn't use the International controls, they use their own.


20 posted on 7/26/2006, 6:24:19 PM by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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