When the next-generation Nissan Titan gets its version of the new Cummins V8 diesel, Titan will instantly become one the most torque-endowed (and talked about)1500 series (or light-duty) pickups available on the market.
New light-duty V8 diesels coming from Cummins. One version is destined for next-generation Nissan Titan.
Diesels have always been available on 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups, but we’re finally getting some diesel action in the light-duty pickup segments.
Ram 1500 gets a diesel option for 2014 – a 3.0-litre V6 made by Chrysler’s Italian partner, VM Motori – and GM is heavily rumoured to be contemplating a diesel option for its next-generation mid-size Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups.
Nissan + Cummins
And this summer, Nissan announced it would offer a newly developed Cummins 5.0-litre V8 turbo-diesel in its next-generation Titan full-size pickup. This could certainly shake things up in the light-duty full-size pickup segment, where it will be the only contender with a V8 diesel. With this V8 reported to make 300+ hp and mid-500s lbs-ft of torque, Titan should be more powerful and capable than a 1500 (but not quite at the level of a 2500), giving it a unique market position.
Cummins will also build a version of this engine for commercial applications, such as school buses, RVs and delivery vans. This version, called the ISV5.0, will go into production first, during the fourth quarter of 2014. Over the phone, from the Cummins head office in Columbus, Indiana, CarCare Business was able to reach Jim Katzenmeyer, Executive Engineer, V8 Program, and Mike Taylor, Director, Customer Engineering and Business Development, to talk about some of the technologies of their new V8 diesel program.
Something different
“We needed an engine considerably shorter than our 6.7-litre I6,” noted Katzenmeyer. With the primary objective of this new engine to physically fit where V8 gasoline engines currently exist, Katzenmeyer says engineering choices were driven by the philosophy to give customers a diesel engine that sounded like – and drove like – the gasoline V8 engines drivers were accustomed to.
In other words, low NVH and sound levels (particularly at idle and low load conditions), higher speed ranges, low overall engine weight, and quick throttle response.Towards those ends, both the ISV5.0 and the Nissan powerplant will feature a foundation comprised of a graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block, forged steel crankshaft, aluminum alloy heads, chain driven dual overhead camshafts, and composite value covers.
Additional specifications have only been released so far for the ISV5.0. While the engines are obviously similar, there will be differences. For example, the power output of the ISV5.0 is skewed more towards torque – 560 lbs-ft, and a possible peak power of 275 horsepower.
Sophisticated fuel system
Katzenmeyer says the ISV50’s sophisticated fuel system can complete “…multiple injector events” for each combustion cycle, to achieve
the optimum mix of performance, fuel economy, emissions and noise reduction. “We can have up to seven (separate) injections of fuel… in short, discrete, sequenced pulses. In this way we basically shape how the fuel goes in the cylinder, for optimum control.”
The company’s Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) and numerous emission and filtration systems will reduce NOx and particulate matter to the EPA’s “near-zero” levels. At launch, it will meet greenhouse gas requirements through 2016, and 2015 Air Resources Board (ARB) standards, including on-board diagnostics.
Mike Taylor notes that some commercial customers have already test driven vehicles equipped with this engine, and their predominant feedback concerned the low noise levels: “What we heard from them, loud and clear, was that they were astounded at the quietness of this engine.”
wrote by: Mike Goetz