
Cummins’ X12 diesel engine has won the annual Jim Winsor Memorial Technical Achievement Award, the Truck Writers of North America Award Committee announced.
The runners up were the Peterson Pulse electronic system for trailers, Stemco’s automatically deploying Trailer Tail, and the Stemco-Webb Trifecta wheel hub.
Weight is always an issue in spec’ing and operating trucks, especially with bulk haulers and in vocational applications, and the X12’s comparatively low weight, along with millions of miles of previous service in Asia and South America, make it a standout among diesel offerings, members of the awards committee said.
The 11.8-liter X12’s dry weight is 2,050 lbs., 150 to 400 lbs/ less than 11- to 13-liter competitors, yet it gets up to 500 HP and 1,700 lb./ft. of torque, according to Cummins. Innovative engineering trims pounds from the cylinder block but maintains high strength for long life, while advanced combustion design and effective air and fuel handling and promises high efficiency.
The engine is now an option from Autocar, Freightliner and Western Star.