Mack’s new Titan rolls into MATs with a growl

Mack Trucks' new bold Titan at the Mid-America Trucking Show. The Trucker/Lyndon Finney

The Trucker Staff

3/27/2008

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The big dog of workhorse trucks, Mack’s new Titan, rolled into the Mid-America Trucking Show today with a growl, introducing to the trucking public what vocational customers had glimpsed March 12 at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show in Los Vegas.

Introduced as the “boldest looking Mack ever,” the truck is Mack’s re-entry into the severe heavy-haul and heavy transport market.

“We’re very proud to introduce the new heavyweight champion of the trucking industry to our highway customers here in Louisville, the hometown of Muhammad Ali,” said Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing.

“Vocational customers who saw the Titan by Mack two weeks ago were very enthusiastic about the impact that the Titan model could have on their operations. And we’re confident that our severe heavy-haul and heavy transport highway customers are going to feel the same way,” he added.

Mack also unveiled its new 16-liter MP10 engine, a big-block diesel with up to 605 hp and 2,060 pound-feet of torque.

The MP10 is being offered in the Titan.

“The MP10 offers a perfect balance of low-end power and high-speed horsepower that’s ideal for heavy transport applications,” said David McKenna, Mack powertrain sales and marketing manager. It has more power at 1,500 rpm than at 1,850 rpm. “This encourages drivers to operate at lower rpm with greater power for greater fuel efficiency,” McKenna noted.

Also introduced at MATS today was the Mack Pinnacle Rawhide Edition, which is the “most opulent” of the Mack product line, said Jerry Warmkessel, Mack Trucks’ marketing manager, highway products.

“The Rawhide Edition combines classic styling with all the technology benefits of the Pinnacle model and the next generation of luxury and comfort,” added Warmkessel. He predicted the edition “will be popular with fleets for driver recruitment and retention as well as with discerning owner-operators.”

It’s available in three configurations: 60- and 70-inch midrise sleepers, plus a daycab configuration.

The interior features button tuck Ultraleather and two-tone embroidered seats and a sleek dash housing with a dash panel of brushed nickel and leather-grip steering wheel.