Mack Trucks has debuted what it describes as the most powerful truck in the company’s 108-year history — the Titan by Mack, which is designed for heavy transport and heavy construction applications, and is powered by the new Mack MP10 engine, a 16-liter workhorse with a top rating of 605 hp and 2,060 lb-ft of torque.
In addition to having the most powerful engine ever offered by the company, Titan by Mack is described by the truck maker as the boldest-looking Mack model ever. The company — which introduced the truck Wednesday, March 12 — says 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,” says Tom Kelly, vice president of marketing for Lehigh Valley, Pa.-based Mack. “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. 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.”
Mack says the Titan model’s appeal goes deep beneath the skin with transmissions, suspensions, axles and Cornerstone chassis for an integrated, balanced design flagship. “Our research showed customers in these segments expect their truck to have several key characteristics,” says 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.”
A look as big as the truck
The Titan model has high ground clearance to help it power through conditions found in logging, mining and construction sites. Its long hood is designed to give 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 added driver visibility. The higher cab position also is designed to improve airflow for underhood cooling.
The most stunning exterior feature of the Titan by Mack model, according to the truck maker, is its twin cowl-mounted “Growler” air intakes. The bright-finish air intakes are as functional as they are eye-catching, and are built to 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 nonrestrictive piping is optimized for high-volume airflow; and the air filter elements are located under the cab for easier service. The air intakes are standard with integrated LED lamps to facilitate an even bolder and more modern appearance.
The Titan model’s large grille surround is four inches of chromed cast aluminum, complemented by similar 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:
Powered by the new MP10
The heart and soul of the Titan model is the new MP10 engine, which the truck maker calls the most powerful Mack engine ever installed in a Mack vehicle. Certified to the U.S. 2007 emissions 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 lb-ft to 2,060 lb-ft at 1200 rpm.
The truck maker says 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 is designed to protect the MP10 engine, and provide 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 are engineered to 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.
Core strength from Cornerstone chassis
The Titan model’s power has to be matched by strength that begins with Mack’s Cornerstone chassis, which has been tested and refined on the Mack Granite model vocational truck. Mack says it 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 crossmembers. 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 helps increase load capacity while providing added maneuverability in tight jobsite conditions. The combination of the Titan model’s front axle position and high ground clearance also gives drivers a better approach angle for the sharp inclines and uneven terrain frequently found in logging and construction, according to Mack. Front axles and suspensions are available from 12,000 to 20,000 lb. capacity, while rear axles and suspensions are offered from 38,000 lb. to 65,000 lb. capacity.
At the same time, drivers should experience a “highway ride” even when off-road, courtesy of the Titan model’s new air-ride cab mounting. The truck maker says the cab is mounted on twin wide-spaced air bags with shocks to help 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.
Good looks from the inside out
Mack says the Titan truck is impressive on the inside, too, and makes the driver’s day in the cab easy and comfortable. The Titan cab has numerous highly engineered features to help 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, according to the truck maker; 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 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, according to the truck maker.
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.
