Fiat Power Train Industrial’s 12.9-litre engine offers 560hp of power
Global power train innovator FPT Industrial’s class-leading Cursor 13 engines are equipping fire fighting vehicles with outstanding performance and reliability.
Benefiting from the Italian company’s history of innovation, which dates back to 1903 and now includes six Research & Development centres, the 12.9-litre, six-cylinder Cursor 13 Euro V and Cursor 13 Euro III engines offer power and torque up to 560hp and 2,500Nm, combined with low fuel consumption and running costs.
With a lean design and a focus on efficiency in heavy duty vehicles, the diesel in-line units, with four valves per cylinder, offer fast load response and class-leading oil change intervals of up to 150,000km.
Produced at a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bourbon Lancy, France, the engines offer the largest capacity within the Cursor Series, developed to offer high power density in a robust and reliable package.
With five sizes ranging from 7.8-litres to 12.9-litres, Cursor Series engines are also available in off-road and marine configuration, and for power generation.
FPT Industrial engines, including the Cursor 13, power a variety of fire fighting vehicles, such as the SuperDragon 2 from fire and emergency vehicle market leader Iveco Magirus. Founded in 1864, Magirus is synonymous with the field, having invented the turntable ladder, and is now owned by Iveco as part of the Fiat Industrial group.
A pair of Cursor 13 engines form a Twin Engine Power Pack producing in excess of 1,000hp, giving the SuperDragon 2 impressive performance, capable of a top speed of 135km/h and accelerating from 0-80km/h in under 25 seconds.
The rear-mounted engines combine with a newly-developed Crash-Fire-Rescue truck body to enable Pump & Roll functionality from upwards of 900rpm, with a maximum pump output of 10,000-litres/minute from the 17,000-litre water tank and 2,100-litre foam tank.
Cursor 13 engines feature total electronic management and innovative technology such as the Electronic Unit Injector system, Variable Geometry Turbo with a waste gate valve, and Selective Catalytic Reduction after treatment system for Euro V versions, to minimise Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions.
“Reliability is everything when fire and emergency vehicles are called into action, and that is a focus across the entire FPT Industrial range of engines,” said Massimo Siracusa, FPT Industrial’s Vice President of Product Engineering.
“The Cursor 13 offers outstanding dependability in heavy duty vehicles, along with high power output and density as well as plenty of torque. Fuel consumption is low and the service intervals are the best in its class.
“The engine is incredibly robust, however its light weight ensures fire fighting vehicles have more capacity to carry important equipment and extinguishing liquid to handle the job at hand.”
The heart of the engine features state-of-the-art technology and a sophisticated design, delivering high performance and crisp throttle response, despite impressive fuel efficiency and low emissions.
With a bore and stroke of 135mm x 150mm, for a ratio of 1.11, the 1,320kg Cursor 13 boasts a compression ratio of 16.5:1.
FPT Industrial’s Electronic Unit Injector (EUI) system uses an electro-injector on each cylinder, pressuring fuel mechanically up to 1,800 bar, ensuring extreme precision in the quantity of the fuel delivered through a dedicated cam system. The injection system’s timing is managed by the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), while the EUI avoids the need for periodical recalibration.
With an aftercooler, the electronic Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) optimises air delivery into the turbo based on engine speed, turbocharger speed, boost pressure, accelerator pedal position and engine brake control position. The system maximises torque throughout the rev range, enhancing outright performance and drivability, while reducing lag.
The ECU also controls the decompression engine brake system, which delivers superior engine braking performance, lower running costs and improved driving comfort and safety.
Born at FPT Industrial’s R&D facility in Switzerland in 1991 and proven in over 350,000 units, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) was selected as the company’s after treatment system to address the Euro IV and Euro V emission regulations introduced in 2005.
Beyond treating NOx compounds formed during the combustion process through the use of the additive AdBlue in the exhaust system, SCR technology also improves fuel consumption and running costs, and increases specific power output. The compact packaging of the SCR system minimises installation space and overall weight, increasing the vehicle’s payload.
Similarly, overall engine dimensions of 1,359mm (length), 1,008mm (width) and 1,171mm (height) have been enabled through a focus on practical packaging, including an integrated Closed Crankcase Ventilation (CCV) system while the water-oil heat exchanger and water pumps are contained within the cylinder block.
The design also diminishes the risk of leakage to enhance reliability and efficiency, in conjunction with the use of solutions such as high precision scraper rings, an advanced lubrication system to minimise engine blow-by and engine oil degradation, and a finely-tuned oil filter system incorporating a filtration membrane with micro-pores.
Through refined parts such as the overhead camshaft, timing system with super-finished helical gears and an additional mating plate on the cylinder block, the structural strength of the powerplant is high, reducing engine noise and vibration.
The Cursor 13 offers a range of customisation options to suit the end user’s requirements. These include air compressor, air filter, hydraulic pump and radiator solutions and interfaces, and aluminium or pressed steel oil pumps.
Like the entire FPT Industrial range, the Cursor 13 is backed by a worldwide technical support network all designed to minimise downtime, starting with maintenance updates, monitoring and diagnosis through the ECU.
The technology used in the engines has been proven in extreme environments, with the Cursor 13 conquering the notoriously-demanding Dakar Rally with fellow member of the Fiat Industrial family, Iveco. On water, a pair of Cursor 90 650 engines powered a new speedboat world record between New York and Bermuda in October 2012, breaking the old mark by over four hours, with an average speed of 39.49 knots.
FPT Industrial is a company of Fiat Industrial, dedicated to the design, production and sale of powertrains for on and off-road vehicles, marine and power generation applications.
The company sits within the Fiat Industrial group alongside Iveco Magirus, Case Construction, New Holland and Steyr, has strategic agreements with the likes of Mitsubishi Fuso, Perkins and SAIC, and supplies major customers such as Caterpillar, Ford, Hyundai, Komatsu and Tata.
