Mack says Titan delivers attitude, performance, power and torque for heaviest hauls

The Trucker News Services

3/12/2008

LAS VEGAS — Mack Trucks Inc. today introduced what it called “the most powerful truck in the 108-year history of the company” — the Titan.

The Titan is designed for heavy transport and heavy construction applications, and is powered by the mighty new MACK MP10 engine, a 16-liter modern-day workhorse with a top rating of 605 hp and a massive 2,060 pound-feet of torque. Mack introduced the Titan model at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008 Exposition in Las Vegas.

In addition to having the most powerful engine ever offered by the company, the Titan is also the boldest-looking Mack model ever, the company said. The Titan model delivers the attitude and torque required for hauling the heavy loads, while incorporating advanced engineering for excellent visibility, productivity and driver comfort. Customers may pre-order Titan trucks with Mack dealers now, with deliveries scheduled to begin late this year.

"The Titan model is an all-out Mack - strong and bold," said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing. "One look at this truck and you know it was engineered to handle the meanest jobs — logging, oil fields, heavy equipment or severe heavy-haul."

"For Mack customers whose requirements demand these extreme loads, the Titan by Mack is exactly the truck they've been looking for," Kelly continued. "This new offering extends our tradition of application excellence, and follows in the Mack heritage of classic big-block, long-hood, high GVWR trucks like the RW Super-Liner."

Looks certainly can't be everything when it comes to a heavyweight vocational truck or tractor. And the Titan model's appeal goes deep beneath the skin with transmissions, suspensions, axles, and Cornerstone chassis for an integrated, balanced design Mack flagship.

"Our research showed customers in these segments expect their truck to have several key characteristics," said Steve Ginter, Mack vocational products marketing manager. "The truck has to haul heavy loads in brutal conditions. It has to be reliable, durable and efficient. It needs the horsepower to pull extremely high GVW and GCW loads, and the Titan by Mack is perfect for this. And it must visually demonstrate its power, durability and quality. The styling team did a fantastic job with the whole 'chrome show' that's going on with the Titan model."

The Titan model is dressed to impress on the job site and the highway. Mack spokesmen said the new model has “a commanding stance, with high ground clearance to power through conditions found in logging, mining and construction sites.

“Its long hood gives the 16-liter Mack MP10 engine plenty of room to breathe, while the cab is moved back and up on the chassis for the classic ‘heavy haul’ position and excellent driver visibility. The higher cab position also improves airflow for underhood cooling.”

According to Mack, the most stunning exterior feature of the Titan is its twin cowl-mounted "Growler" air intakes. The bright-finish air intakes are as functional as they are eye-catching, and provide several advantages over external air cleaner assemblies. The design of the system minimizes moisture and screens debris from reaching the air filter element. The smooth, non-restrictive piping is optimized for high-volume airflow. And the air filter elements are located under the cab for easy service. The air intakes are standard with integrated LED lamps, for an even bolder and more modern appearance.

The Titan model's large grille surround is four inches of chromed cast aluminum, complemented by similar and equally striking headlight bezels. At the same time, the headlights have an impact-resistant Lexan lens and easy-to-replace lamps.

Chrome and bright finish features include:

• Chrome horns

• Chrome "eyebrow" on hood fender wells for added durability

• Stainless steel sunvisor, available in 10- and 13-inch widths (in Rawhide Edition)

• Stainless steel skirt lighting, with an optional personalization feature

• Large 6-inch dual exhaust stacks, outboard mounted behind the cab

• Titan bright-finish metal bumper, with integrated driving lights, and

• Stainless steel cover for the Mack Cap diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The heart and soul of the Titan model is the new MP10 engine, the most powerful Mack engine ever installed in a Mack vehicle, the company said. Certified to the U.S. '07 emission standards, the MP10 is an inline six-cylinder diesel, with single overhead cam and high-pressure fuel injection. It will be available in three ratings, with peak horsepower of 515 hp, 565 hp and 605 hp, all with the MaxiCruise torque rise. Maximum torque ranges from 1,860 pound-feet to 2,060 pound feet at 1200 rpm.

The MP10's huge torque gives Titan by Mack the grunt to pull heavy loads from a dead stop on a jobsite, and the power to get those loads up to speed on the highway. These are typical conditions for applications such as logging, mining and equipment haulers.

The Titan model's long and strong hood protects the MP10 engine, and provides plenty of room to make service easier for technicians. The cooling system is sized to handle the heaviest demands and the harshest conditions found in North America. And the twin Growler air intakes make sure the MP10 breathes easily.

The MP10 engine is matched to the Mack T300ES series 10-, 13- and 18-speed transmissions, to deliver triple countershaft performance for the most demanding vocational applications. Eaton transmissions are an available option.

The Titan model's power has to be matched by strength — strength that begins with Mack's Cornerstone chassis. The Cornerstone chassis has been tested and refined and tested again on the industry leading MACK Granite model vocational truck. Mack has built on the Granite-proven experience to provide Titan model customers with rock-solid performance, durability and reliability.

The Titan by Mack Cornerstone chassis is offered in three frame rail thicknesses — 8mm, 9.5mm and 11mm— with optional full or partial 5mm inside channel reinforcements, and application-specific cross members. Frames are rated at 120,000 PSI, and 2.12 million RBM (lbs. in.) to 4.26 million RBM (lbs. in.).

A short, 41-inch front axle position increases load capacity, while providing outstanding maneuverability in tight jobsite conditions. The combination of the Titan model's front axle position and high ground clearance also gives drivers an excellent approach angle for the sharp inclines and uneven terrain frequently found in logging and construction.

Front axles and suspensions are available from 12,000 to 20,000-pound capacity, while rear axles and suspensions are offered from 38,000- to 65,000-pound capacity.

At the same time, drivers will experience a "highway ride" even when off-road, courtesy of the Titan model's new air-ride cab mounting, stated a company news release. The cab is mounted on twin wide-spaced air bags with shocks to neutralize the harsh bumps found in the vocational world, while stabilizers prevent cab sway. So while the truck soaks up the rough stuff, the driver stays comfortable, rested and productive, stated the release.

The Titan truck is impressive on the inside, too, and makes the driver's day in the cab easy and comfortable. Driver comfort and ergonomics benefit from Mack's vast experience in building trucks. The Titan cab has numerous highly engineered features to dramatically reduce noise and vibration for a smooth, quiet ride. The air assist clutch pedal is positioned low to help drivers work more productively, with less leg effort. And by simply pressing a foot pedal, the steering column can be adjusted to an infinite number of positions, placing the steering wheel for maximum comfort, increased belly room and improved visibility of all gauges for drivers of any size.

The interior is available in three trim levels: Pedigree, Champion and the luxurious button tuck Rawhide Edition. The cab features plenty of convenient overhead storage bins and four-point lighting (two lights for general illumination, one map light and one task light over the steering wheel).

The dash is available in a choice of woodgrain or brushed nickel finishes. The standard instrument cluster features large, easy-to-read displays and gauges to help keep drivers focused on the road.

The standard Mack Co-Pilot display provides drivers with easily accessible screens in the instrument panel to monitor real-time fuel economy with sweet spot indicator and trip data, detailed maintenance and fault summaries, and supplemental sensor readings.

The available Lectronix T7000 navigational radio integrates entertainment, navigation, a blind spot camera display, and vehicle, trip and tire-pressure monitoring systems.

The spirit of the really big dog lives on in the new Titan by Mack — a big-block powerhouse with the good looks to reflect its equally strong pedigree, the company said.