Caterpillar Shows Long-Hood CT680; 15-Liter Diesel on the Way

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking / May 14, 2015

Caterpillar this week unveiled its CT680 on/off-road truck and tractor, the third model in a line of Cat Trucks first introduced about four years ago for vocational customers.

The CT680 has a long hood and set-forward steer axle designed to tackle heavy vocational applications, executives said at an event at Cat’s Tinaja Hills demonstration center southwest of Tucson, Ariz.

While describing the new model, executives acknowledged that there would be a 15-liter diesel offered in the CT series, with an announcement coming later this year. They also said they began offering glider-kit versions of the existing CT660 about a year ago.

The new CT680 joins the CT681 medium-hood set-forward-axle truck introduced last November and the CT660, a medium- and long-hood truck and tractor with setback steer axle, that came out in 2011.

The CT680 features rugged automotive exterior styling, a spacious aluminum cab with ergonomic gauges and controls, and vocational-specific 12.4-liter diesel and automatic, automated and manual transmission options.

Its set-forward axle sits on a parabolic taper leaf suspension, tuned cab air suspension, and premium sound insulation and interior trim.

“The CT680 sets new standards in comfort and style,” said Dave Schmitz, vocational truck product manager. “Customers said, ‘We want options,’ so we offer two exterior trim packages."

The L level trim offers polished stainless steel grille trim, a three-piece Metton hood, three-piece chromed steel bumper, and composite halogen headlamps with incandescent parking-turn signal lights. The LG trim features an unadorned single-piece fiberglass hood, sealed-beam halogen headlamps and LED parking-turn signal lights.

‘Bold design’

“Its bold design will set our customers apart from the crowd,” Schmitz said of the CT680L and LG.

For ease of servicing, the CT680’s modular components — including the grille, grille surround, bumper and fender extensions — can be replaced individually. Key service points such as coolant, washer reservoirs and air filters are easy to access, and customers can quickly replace headlight bulbs and windshield wiper blades without tools. A high-capacity dual external air cleaner option is newly available.

Customers can choose from multiple seat options, including the Cat Comfort Seat, he said. A tilting, telescoping steering column with a leather-wrapped steering wheel comes standard. There’s plenty of room for paperwork and log books in easy-to-reach side compartments, back-panel storage and oversized side pockets. Map lights are plentiful to help drivers with paperwork. HVAC controls and vents are easy to access, and hoses and vents are round for maxium air flow.

Vocational-specific engine

Like other CT series vehicles, the CT680 uses a CT13 diesel equipped with selective catalytic reduction and vocational-specific ratings from 410 to 475 hp and peak torque from 1,450 to 1,700 lb-ft. Ratings can be matched to individual applications. The engine and truck are built by Navistar to Caterpillar’s specifications.

Like current models, the 680 can be ordered with Caterpillar’s CX31 6-speed automatic transmission, vocational versions of Eaton’s UltraShift Plus automated mechanical gearbox, and Eaton Fuller manual transmissions.

The 15-liter diesel due out later this year might or might not be a reintroduction of the Cat-Navistar engine built in small numbers in 2011. It will handle higher gross combination weights, though the current 13-liter engine is quite capable, customers have found.

“It’s a powerhouse,” James Williams, owner of J&L Contracting in Springfield, Mo., said of the CT13. He tested one of the two CT13-powered tractors shown at the Cat CT680 event on Thursday, and was pleased with its performance.

Cat began selling engineless glider-kit versions of the CT660 last year, said Ron Schultz, sales and product support manager. They are set up to take Cat 3406E diesels with EPA 1998 and 2004 emissions equipment.

The new CT680 comes standard with Caterpillar’s asset and fleet management tool, Product Link. Customers can use this tool and the accompanying VisionLink web interface to track fuel use and costs, location, working versus idle time, preventive maintenance schedules, among other things. Fault code or suspicious movement alerts can be sent via email or text message to help keep downtime to a minimum.

CT680 production will begin by the middle of this year, Schmitz said. Like the current models, it will be assembled at Navistar’s plant in Escobedo, Mexico.

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[kscarbel2]

Caterpillar unveils new CT680 model

Fleet Owner / May 14, 2015

Caterpillar introduced the third model of its CT vocational truck line – the CT680 – here at its training and proving grounds just outside of Tucson, AZ; a 124-in. BBC vehicle that will be available in both truck and tractor configuration when it goes into full production this July.

David Schmitz, vocational truck product manager for Caterpillar, said the CT680 is a Class 8 set-forward-axle model that will be offered with the 13 liter C13 engine and a range of transmission options, including Caterpillar’s CX31 six-speed automatic, Eaton UltraShift Plus automated mechanical transmission (AMT), and several Eaton manual gearboxes as well, from 8- up to 18-speed configurations.

Schmitz noted that, to date, over half of the orders for the CT660 introduced in 2011 and the CT681 rolled out late last year are being spec’d with the CX31 automatic gearbox, largely as that allows the entire truck to be warrantied and serviced at one of Caterpillar’s 400 dealerships across the U.S. – offering “one stop shop” appeal, he added.

Schmitz also pointed out that Caterpillar plans to introduce a 15 liter engine option for the CT680 and for the 122-in. BBC configuration of the CT660 later this year.

Ron Schultz, Caterpillar’s sales and product support manager, noted that the company introduced glider kits for the CT660 a year ago for 1998 and 2004 C15 engines and that similar glider kits will be available for the CT680 once it goes into full production this summer.

Schmitz highlighted several other features of the new CT680 model during the press briefing, including:

• Two exterior trim levels – L and LG – are available address different style and serviceability needs, with both “comparable in pricing,” said Schultz.
• The CT680L features a three-piece Metton hood, three-piece chrome bumper and three-piece chrome stainless grille surround, as well as composite halogen headlights and incandescent park/turn lights.
• The CT680LG comes with a one-piece fiberglass hood, three-piece black bumper and integrated fiberglass grille surround, along with sealed-beam halogen headlights and LED [light emitting diode] park/turn lights.
• A dual external air cleaner option for more efficient air management in dirty, dusty applications will be available for both the CT680 truck and tractor configurations.
• Key service points such as coolant, washer reservoirs and air filters are now easier to access due to C680 design upgrades, with customers able to quickly replace headlight bulbs and windshield wiper blades without tools.
• Ratings on the C13 engine range from 410 to 475 hp, with peak torque ranging from 1,450 to 1,700 lb.-ft.
• A right-side mounted selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system with upgraded in-cylinder technology allows all three CT models to meet meets emission reduction requirements.
• The CX31 automatic, which offers six forward speeds and one reverse, comes with two side PTO [power take off locations] and an exclusive rear PTO slot.
• Drivers can choose from multiple seat options – including the Cat Comfort Seat – with the tilting, telescoping steering column and leather-wrapped steering wheel a standard feature.
• The CT680 features a curved, sloped, wraparound windshield in either a one- or two-piece design.

Schmitz noted that all the CT line trucks feature an aluminum cab that reduces chassis weight by some 200 to 400 lbs. depending on configuration while improving corrosion resistance.

He added that all the CT trucks are being built at a manufacturing facility in Escobedo, Mexico.

Schmitz also pointed out that Caterpillar “continues to monitor” the opportunity to provide natural gas power for its entire CT vocational truck line.

“Some of our customers definitely want that,” he said. “We see it as an option that we will consider in the future.”

Photo gallery: http://fleetowner.com/equipment/test-driving-new-ct680#slide-0-field_images-160111

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[kscarbel2]

Cat expands vocational truck line; will add 15-litre engine

Truck News / May 14, 2015

Caterpillar’s line of vocational trucks has received a significant boost, with the introduction of a new model and the addition of more options and features for existing trucks.

New to the market, with production set to begin later this year, is the CT680. It’s a set-forward axle (SFA) Class 8 truck available in truck or tractor configuration, complementing Cat’s existing SFA model CT681, introduced late last year.

The CT680 comes standard with parabolic taper leaf springs for a smooth ride, and is available in two exterior designs. The CT680L features a stylish, serviceable design with three-piece Metton hood, chrome bumper and stainless steel grille surround as well as composite halogen headlights and incandescent park/turn signals. This model was designed for maximum serviceability and ease of replacing damaged parts.

The CT680LG features a one-piece fiberglass hood, three-piece black bumper, integrated grille surround, sealed-beam halogen headlights and LED park/turn lights.

“Our customers told us they want options on how they style the truck,” said Dave Schmitz, vocational truck product manager with Caterpillar. “The feedback we got from customer was ‘We want options. Give us options on that exterior trim’.”

Cat used common components where possible, to simplify the stocking of inventory for dealers. About 90% of components used on the CT680 are the same as those found on the CT660, Cat’s first vocational truck introduced in 2011.

The new CT680 is Cat’s longest truck, with a 124-inch BBC (bumper-to-back-of-cab). That’s 10 inches longer than the CT681 and slightly longer than the CT660. It features an aluminum alloy cab that reduces the weight of the truck by 200-400 lbs, allowing for more payload when compared to a truck with a steel cab.

The new truck is being offered with the CT-series 13-litre vocational truck engine, but a 15-litre is coming, officials announced. The details of that engine will be released later this year, but both the CT660 and CT680 were built to accommodate a 15-litre engine. No further details about the 15-litre engine were shared today.

For now, customers can spec’ the CT13 engine with the following ratings: 410 hp/1,450 lb.-ft.; 430 hp/1,550 lb.-ft.; and 475 hp/1,700 lb.-ft. The engine, based on the Navistar N-13, has been programmed for vocational applications.

The engine can be coupled with Cat’s own CX31 torque converter-style automatic transmission. About 50% of Cat vocational truck customers are choosing this option. Manual and automated manual transmissions from Eaton are also available.

The truck can be serviced across Caterpillar’s North American dealer network, which boasts 400 locations. These trucks are being built in Escobedo, Mexico. Truck News will have more information on the new CT680, including a drive report, soon.

New options for CT660

Caterpillar also announced it has added 40 new features to its CT660 vocational truck within the past 20 months. The most popular of these are the parabolic taper leaf springs, which are standard on the new CT680.

Factory-installed lift axles, a lower ride with air suspension and paver brakes are among the other options that have been well received by the market, according to the company.

Cat also announced it’s bringing its vocational trucks to new markets in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

[41180]

I gotta say that's a nice looking rig.

[other dog]

I gotta say that's a nice looking rig.

Yup.

[MackMann85]

Just buy one of these and save ten or 15 grand, its the same thing

[41180]

I always liked cornbinders especially the 9300 and the 5900i . the thing I like about the new cat is the square fenders .

[kscarbel2]

Just buy one of these and save ten or 15 grand, its the same thing

Let me get this straight............

When Volvo Group offers two truck models on the same platform, the Volvo brand VNX and Mack brand Titan.......that’s okay and good.

However, when CAT and Navistar offer two truck models on the same platform, the CAT brand CT680 and International brand 5900i..........that’s bad (in the minds of you Volvo people).

Interesting...........

[Dirtymilkman]

At least Volvo and Mack do not share cabs.......yet

[kscarbel2]

At least Volvo and Mack do not share cabs.......yet

The CT680's cab is groomed entirely different from the 9900i. And of course, the hood is unique to the CT680 as well. The VNX is essentially no different from a Titan than a Chevrolet pickup is from a GMC......different flavors of the same truck.

[41180]

The titan and vnx are more different than this new cat and a international. Different cabs . different front axle spacing .if you park a titan and a vnx side by side on the outside there's no similarities. This cat and a 5900 international look almost the same

[gearhead204]

is it just me, or does that CAT look like a redesigned SUPERLINER ?

[jackb61sx]

I thought the same thing when I looked at it, the big grill with the trim package.

[Dirtymilkman]

My titan is nothing like the Volvo. Just the engine. Different axles, tranny, cab, sits way higher. The mack titan has more Australian influence

[james j neiweem]

From what I've read you can get a Cat Glider with a C-15.

[fxfymn]

I find it interesting that they are focusing exclusively on the vocational market. Do you think some marketing whiz realized that the company that used to lead this segment seems to be indifferent to it now?

[41180]

Makes sense for cat to make vocational trucks. They make construction, mining,and logging equipment so It makes sense to try to sell trucks to their equipment customers.

I assume your saying mack doesn't care about vocational trucks anymore ? Not true at all mack still is a leader in vocational trucks. There current product line fat out does caterpillar trucks .

[kscarbel2]

It was confirmed to me by engineers in Greensboro that the VNX is based on Titan, i.e. they share the same platform, Volvo engines, I-Shift transmissions, Sifco steer axles with ConMet unitized hubs and vendor drive axles from Dana Spicer, Meritor or Sisu. The Titan is also available with legacy Mack transmissions and drive axles.

The Australian market Titan is a winner, a superb truck in form and function. However I don’t care for the styling cues of the US market variant.

Today’s Mack brand Titan brochure on the website is 6 years old, the same one from the 2009 product launch.

http://www.macktrucks.com/~/media/files/brochures/mack_titan_brochure.ashx?as=1&sc=1

Volvo’s VNX brochures, following Volvo sales marketing policy, do not list specs in any detail.

http://www.volvotrucks.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/VTNA_Tree/ILF/Products/VNX/2015_VNX_Brochure.pdf

http://www.volvotrucks.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/VTNA_Tree/ILF/Products/VNX/VNX%20Heavy%20Haul.pdf

Note that neither of these North American market Mack and Volvo brand brochures mention frame specs, a key aspect that heavy hauling customers would want to know.

Only Mack Australia offers a proper list of specs. Mack Australia still impresses, though Volvo no longer allows a Cummins option, fearing competition with their D16.

https://www.macktrucks.com.au/~/media/files%20au/brochures/titan_brochure.ashx?as=1&sc=1

[DailyDiesel]

I'm seeing some Volvo VHD in this design.

[fxfymn]

I assume your saying mack doesn't care about vocational trucks anymore ? Not true at all mack still is a leader in vocational trucks. There current product line fat out does caterpillar trucks .

I think they care, but they have diluted their marketing and customer care in that segment to the point where they have lost leadership. There was a time in the not so distant past where the majority of the vocational trucks were all toting a bull dog. In the past few years Western Star seems to have been the truck of choice. Now that Freightliner is doing WS you have to believe the market will be open for Mack to seize again.

This falls in the "what hell do I know" category, but it seems to me the perfect synergy between Volvo and Mack would be for Volvo to concentrate on the OTR market and to let Mack concentrate on the vocational market.

Would Mack sell as many units as they do now? Probably not, but they could still be very profitable.

[kscarbel2]

Driving the new Cat CT680 vocational truck

Truck News / May 19, 2015

It felt counterintuitive, even ill-advised, but I put my faith in the Cat guy sitting in the passenger seat and stopped the CT680 halfway up a long 18% grade topped with loose gravel.

Brad Zingre told me to transition from brake pedal to throttle and slowly depress the accelerator – don’t mash it. I did as he instructed and the truck eased effortlessly up the grade, as though it were flat and as though there weren’t 28 tons of boulders inside the side-dump Trail King trailer we were pulling.

“This engine’s stout!” he beamed.

This demonstration, conducted at Caterpillar’s sprawling 6,500-acre Tinaja Hills test centre and proving grounds south of Tucson, Az. was the grand finale in a day-long demonstration of the CT680, the newest addition to Cat’s line of Class 8 vocational trucks. Cat got into the truck business in 2011 with the introduction of the sleek, set-back axle (SBA) CT660.

It followed that truck up late last year with the pug-faced CT681, a set-forward axle (SFA) no-frills truck designed to be functional, if not beautiful. The brand new CT680 rounds out the line and features the longest cab of the family, with a 124-inch BBC (bumper-to-back-of-cab) measurement, just slightly longer than the CT660 and a full 10 inches longer than the CT681.

This time, Cat is smartly offering the new truck in two exterior styling configurations – one for image-conscious customers who care about ease of repairs and another for those who are resigned to the fact their truck’s going to get banged up and probably aren’t too worried about it.

The CT680L is the truck you’d bring to the show’n’shine. It features a three-piece Metton hood, three-piece chrome bumper and three-piece stainless grille surround. These give the truck a distinctive look and damaged sections can be easily replaced so the truck can be kept looking good throughout its life.

The CT680LG comes with a one-piece fiberglass hood, three-piece black bumper and integrated fiberglass grille surround. It’s a plain Jane CT680 but every bit as capable of getting the job done. Both can be had with dual external air cleaners, for easier serviceability in dirty environments and for that classic-styled look befitting a truck with a long, square hood. The other key difference between the two offerings is in the lighting: The L features composite halogen headlights and incandescent park/turn signals, while the LG comes with sealed-beam halogen headlights and LED park/turn lights.

Naturally, Caterpillar chose to make the sexier CT680L available for rides and drives in mid-May. I was awfully happy to get one in Viper Red, because what could be more appropriate for a drive in the Arizona desert?

For the on-road portion of the drive we hooked on to a side-dump trailer loaded up with 28 tons (about 62,000 lbs) of boulders. The ‘stout’ engine under the hood was Cat’s CT 13 rated at 475 hp and 1,700 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s well known this engine is a Navistar N-13, re-programmed and re-rated by Cat for vocational applications. It’s available in three power ratings: 410 hp/1,450 lb.-ft.; 430 hp/1,550 lb.-ft.; and 475 hp/1,700 lb.-ft.

Cat officials revealed at the CT680 launch that a 15-litre is coming later this year. Both the CT660 and CT680 were designed to accommodate it and Cat’s CX31 automatic transmission, rated at 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, can too. While they were tight-lipped about who their engine partner will be, there’s really only one possibility and the bigger question would be: will it be painted red or yellow? We’ll have to wait to find out, but the 15-litre engine will be a welcomed addition, especially here in Canada.

Even before climbing inside the CT680, it’s clear Caterpillar engineers have had their way with this truck and where appropriate, they haven’t been shy about straying from industry norms. The hood opens differently. Instead of mounting a grab handle to the front of the hood and requiring drivers to plant their foot on the bumper and heave it open, they’ve placed two handholds along the side, allowing for easier lifting.

The exterior grab handles are textured for a better grip when climbing into the truck, though the external air cleaners on the one I drove seemed to limit the door opening. Even so, climbing in was no problem.

The interior of the cab is where Cat really went to town with this truck and evidence of this can be seen everywhere. Round vents are said to deliver more efficient heating and cooling and on my drive in the Arizona desert the A/C kept the cab comfortably chilled.

The gauge cluster has been carefully arranged to ensure the most important gauges are always visible through the steering wheel. This includes consolidating the speedometer and tach so that both road and engine speed can be determined with one, quick glance.

Extra wide rocker switches snap authoritatively into position, making them easier to activate with gloves on. “They’re nice and wide and you get a nice tactile feel with those switches, so you can tell you’ve engaged that switch and you can keep your eyes on the road,” Zingre explained. They’ve also been logically placed on the centre stack, with the most frequently used of those switches located closest to the driver. And the centre stack itself is angled towards the driver, providing a cockpit feel with everything within easy reach.

The CT680 I drove featured a one-piece windshield but if you’re worried about chips and cracks, a two-piece is available. A long, flattish hood extends in front of that windshield but all-around visibility isn’t bad. The cowl-mounted sideview mirrors have been positioned far enough back to afford a good left-right view at intersections and also excellent visibility of the space around the truck and trailer. Those mirrors are heated and also feature an integrated turn signal.

One small detail I didn’t like is that the signal light stalk was a bit of a reach from the steering wheel; you pretty much have to take your hand off the steering wheel to activate the turn signals, rather than flicking them on with one finger while keeping both hands on the wheel.

The CT680 was comfortable to drive. It seemed everything was just right in terms of driver comfort – the positioning of the elbow rests, the angle of the dead pedal, etc. The seat was comfortable and the ride was smooth.

The interior has an automotive-type feel to it, with soft-touch materials that look and feel nice but are also easy to wipe clean. The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel is just one example of this, but other examples can be seen throughout the cab. Even the flooring has extra matting to provide better insulation from ambient sound and noise. The CT 13 is a quiet engine and combined with the well-insulated cab, this is a quiet truck to operate.

As for drivability, I really enjoyed the CX31 transmission produced by Cat itself. It’s a six-speed torque converter-style automatic transmission that communicates well with the CT 13 engine and provides seamless powershifting. Cat claims this transmission boasts the industry’s best power-to-weight ratio.

The shift console is located fairly far back on the driver’s seat, so that you have to turn your head a full 90 degrees from the road if you want to confirm the gear you’re in, but there’s little need to fret about gear selection with this transmission; it’s on the mark, all the time.

About 50% of Cat trucks are being ordered with the CX31, but Eaton automated and manual transmissions are also available as options. The engine, with its graphite iron block, weighs up to 200 lbs less than other 13Ls on the market and coupled with the aluminum alloy cab provides a total weight savings of 400-600 lbs. That can be converted straight into revenue-generating payload.

The Jake brake on this truck was incredible – and incredibly quiet, at least from inside the well-insulated cab. The route we drove was fairly hilly and we were heavily loaded but I seldom required the maximum engine brake setting. Off-road, it kept the truck reined in down an 11% grade, no problem.

The ride quality was also exceptional. Cat guys attribute this to the parabolic taper leaf spring suspension that’s standard on this truck and now an option on the CT660.

Any lingering perceptions that this is an International truck with a Cat logo on the hood are grievously inaccurate. Yes, Navistar provided the donor chassis upon which the CT-series trucks were built but it’s a true, genuine Caterpillar piece of equipment. As such, it can be serviced through Cat’s network of 400 dealers in the US and Canada.

Back at Tinaja Hills is where Zingre saved the best for last – a demonstration of the CT 13’s pulling power. As already mentioned, the engine easily passed this test. Zingre, who comes from a trucking family where horsepower was always king, said many customers are surprised by the power put out by this 13-litre engine. The truck I drove was rated to 120,000 lbs GCW.

However, he also acknowledged there’s a time and place for 15-litre power and that is especially true in Canada.

The new CT680 rounds out Cat’s vocational truck line and gives it more complete coverage of the segment. Offering it in two exterior stylings also gives this model broader appeal to what is a diverse customer mix. Add to that a proven 15-litre engine and it seems Cat is poised to become a bigger player in the vocational truck segment.

The spec’s:

• Truck: 2016 Cat CT680L 6×4
• Engine: CT 13 475 hp, 1,700 lb.-ft. torque
• Transmission: CX31 automatic, first-generation controls, six-speed, includes oil level sensor
• Front axle: Meritor MFS-13-143A wide track, I-beam type, 13,200-lb capacity
• Rear axles: Meritor MT-40-14X-5DCR-P, single reduction, 40,000-lb capacity
• Rear suspension: Hendrickson HAS-402-55, 40,000-lb capacity, 9.5” ride height

Related pictures: http://www.trucknews.com/transportation/driving-the-new-cat-ct680-vocational-truck/1003065685/