Caterpillar Announces the Development of New High Performance Diesel Engine for the Pleasure Craft Industry

For Worldwide Release: February 16, 2011 

Release Number: M11PR02

Caterpillar Announces the Development of New High Performance Diesel Engine for the Pleasure Craft Industry
New Cat® C6.4 Marine Engine Features Compact Design for Powerful Performance

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems is pleased to announce the development of the Cat® C6.4, a new marine diesel engine platform for the pleasure craft industry. The C6.4 will provide industry-leading performance in the power range of 335 mhp to 505 mhp with the latest innovations in high technology, including common rail fuel injection. Designed specifically for the pleasure craft industry, the new engine is a compact, powerful and user-friendly solution for customers seeking maximum performance with decreased engine noise and reduced emissions. Featuring a 3400 rpm rated engine speed, the C6.4 is a vee-configuration, 8-cylinder, 4-stroke engine with 98.2 mm bore and 105 mm stroke displacing 6.4 total liters. The C6.4 offers four “E” level ratings, including the highest rating, which is 505 mhp at 3400 rpm. Additional ratings available include 450 mhp at 3400 rpm, 380 mhp at 3400 mhp and 335 mhp at 3400 rpm. Production is targeted for the first half of 2012.

“We’re pleased to introduce a segment-specific marine engine for our pleasure craft customers,” said David Shannon, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems Pleasure Craft Global Sales Manager. “The new C6.4 is designed from the ground up to be reliable with clean, quiet operation and require less maintenance. We’ve taken extra measures to offer a new product capable of pleasing even the most discerning marine customer.”

The C6.4 meets current exhaust emission regulations including U.S. EPA Tier II marine recreational craft limitations, the EU 94/25/EC recreational craft directive and is IMO II compliant. The engine is also capable of meeting future U.S. EPA Tier III marine exhaust emissions requirements. Reduced engine noise is achieved through innovative design in the two-piece CGI cylinder block, combining the bed plate and block casting to provide additional

stiffness and subsequently lower operating noise. The High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system also provides quieter performance through the pilot injection of fuel and integration of Piezo technology to eliminate electro-mechanical control solenoids.

“Vessel owners will immediately notice the quieter performance of the C6.4 due to significant reductions in gear train and valve noise as well as the addition of the HPCR fuel system,” noted Tony Pattle, Marine Products Engineering Manager. Tom Withers, Chief Engineer for the C6.4 project added, “A great deal of focus has been put on incorporating Caterpillar’s many years of pleasure craft marine experience into the overall package design of this product resulting in a very compact design in the always exciting V8 configuration.” Extensive laboratory testing has been completed and will continue along with on the water testing, which has already begun.

The new engine model will be manufactured in the Wimborne Marine Power Center, located in Wimborne, United Kingdom. Standard equipment on the C6.4 includes a built-in oil cooler, centrifugal water pump, self-priming sea water pump, low profile oil pan, top access to service oil level and oil fill locations as well as a single Cat heavy-duty spin-on high efficiency oil filter. The engine is equipped with an automatic fuel priming pump, 12V DC electric accessories and a solid-mounted Cat 70-pin electric plug-in connector for yacht control harness. The new C6.4 is fully compatible with the Cat Multi-Station Control System (MSCS) and MSCS II components for shift and throttle integration and Cat helm displays, including the Color Marine Power Display (CMPD).

For more information about Caterpillar marine engines, please visit MARINE.CAT.COM/pr.

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About Caterpillar Marine Power Systems 

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems, with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, groups all the marketing and service activities for Cat and MaK™ marine engines within Caterpillar Inc. The organisation provides premier power solutions in the medium- and high-speed segments with outputs from 93 to 16,000 kW in main propulsion and 10 to 7,680 kWe in marine generator 

sets. The sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide dedicated to support customers in ocean-going, commercial marine and pleasure craft wherever they are.

More information is available at: MARINE.CAT.COM/pr


About Caterpillar 
For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, clean diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.

More information is available at www.cat.com.