Detroit Diesel debuts heavy-duty engine
Engine platform features improved fuel economy, enhanced performance.
After nearly five years and $1.5 billion in development, Detroit Diesel unveiled its new DD15 engine. The heavy-duty DD15 displaces 14.8 liters, and is a 6-cylinder, in-line design. It offers enhanced performance, as well as improved fuel economy for all North American truck and coach applications.
The new engine achieves its goals through the application of a new Amplified Common Rail System (ACRS), as well as innovative turbo compounding technology.
This engine is the first in a series of new heavy-duty engines from Detroit Diesel which eventually will cover three displacement categories: 12.8 liters, 14.8 liters and 15.6 liters. With its combination of exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter for reduced emissions, the DD15 is tailored to North America’s EPA ’07 emissions regulations. Its advanced design will also make it ready for the upcoming EPA 2010 standards with a simple downstream selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device that optimizes fuel efficiency while reducing harmful NOx emissions.
Designed for the rigors of North American roads, the DD15 will be offered in output and torque variants from 455 hp to 560 hp and 1,550 lb/ft to 1,850 lb/ft, including dual torque ratings for special applications.
The DD15 will be produced at the Detroit Diesel plant in Redford, Mich., which has been completely refurbished and retooled at a cost of $275 million.
More Management

ABAF Study Reveals Growing Insurance Crisis for Motorcoach Operators
Preliminary findings show 98% of operators faced premium increases over the past five years, while shrinking insurer participation is putting added pressure on businesses and customers.
Read More →
PSTA Modernizes Workforce Management with Digital Bidding System
The award-winning Workforce Transit Modernization project replaced paper bidding with a transparent digital platform, cutting administrative effort while improving access for operators.
Read More →
Chicago to Host Public Transportation's Biggest Gathering at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
North America’s largest public transportation gathering returns to Chicago, connecting transit decision-makers with the technologies, ideas, and partnerships driving the industry forward.
Read More →
New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick
Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.
Read More →
Washington's Community Transit Sets Six-Year Roadmap for Growth, Expansion
Approved TDP targets more bus service, new mobility options, Swift BRT expansion, and a potential Everett Transit annexation.
Read More →
OKC Streetcar Makes Zero-Fare Service Permanent
Ridership increased an average of 71% compared with the same period a year earlier during the fare-free pilot.
Read More →
DART Customer Satisfaction Reaches Six-Year High
Overall satisfaction rose to 74.9%, while the agency’s Net Promoter Score reached a record 33.7.
Read More →
House Surface Transportation Bill Advances as Transit Funding Debate Intensifies
A bipartisan transportation package moving through Congress could redefine how the U.S. funds highways, transit, and motorcoach travel, while igniting new fights over electrification, regulation, and federal priorities.
Read More →
How Data, Strategy, and Community Engagement Are Reshaping Transit
In this edition of METROspectives, strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can better align planning with operations, leverage data to improve decision-making, and build public trust as they prepare for the future of mobility.
Read More →
Amtrak Board Advances Plan to Restructure Organization, Seeks Public Input
The proposal, developed by Amtrak management and approved by the board for further consideration, is intended to modernize the organization's structure while improving accountability, operational efficiency, and customer service.
Read More →