Navistar is gearing up to launch its advanced exhaust gas recirculation MaxxForce engines in the next few months, following current engine testing.


"We are on track with our strategy of 2010 emissions compliance through the use of our EGR-only solution and are ahead of schedule in some cases," said Jack Allen, president of Navistar's North American truck group.

The manufacturer has been busy testing and analyzing the engine during the last 18 months, including cold weather testing in northern Minnesota this past March. Navistar has been working on high-altitude, high-temperature testing in Nevada and the mountainous regions of Colorado and will now go to Arizona and Nevada to complete its 2010 hot weather testing. Navistar has more than 60 test vehicles in operation today, logging thousands of miles a week.

"Completing the validation phase of our test engines is a major milestone, but our work isn't done yet," said Ramin Younessi, group vice president of product development and business strategy. "As with any new engine program, up until the day we build that first truck, we will continue to fine-tune our engines, make the necessary adjustments, test and validate to ensure our customers have the performance and reliability they expect."

MaxxForce EGR engines were designed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board 2010 emissions standards for on-highway diesel engines. The engine uses technologies such as advanced fuel injection, air management, electronic controls and proprietary combustion technology.

Navistar points out that its EGR technology does not require the use of urea or the addition of heavy on-vehicle urea storage tanks, converters, heaters, and the additional electronics needed by selective catalytic reduction systems, which are being used by all other engine manufacturers to meet EPA's 2010 emissions standards.