Kubota Corporation has become the first Japanese winner of a prestigious European engine award.
The engine manufacturer’s new V5009 unit, which features a large displacement, was announced as the judges’ pick for the highly-coveted ‘Diesel of the Year’ 2019 prize awarded by Diesel International.
Developed in response to the more stringent emissions regulations appearing in the USA, Europe and Asia, the 5-liter engine relies on a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to help achieve 200hp while staying within the requirements.
Fabio Butturi, the editor in chief of Diesel International, said, “The 5-liter displacement will become strategic in both agricultural and construction diesel engines and could become the ‘right-sized’ internal combustion engine (ICE) of a hybrid package of heavy-duty machines, such as maxi excavators.”
Kubota broke with traditional Japanese reserve to announce the engine at the 2017 Las Vegas ConExpo, three years ahead of serial manufacture, indicating just how significant the new engine is to the firm.
Kubota Business Unit Engine Europe marketing manager Daniel Grant, said, “It is particularly notable to receive this award in a year in which new European Stage V emissions regulations have been introduced. This award recognizes our customer commitment to drive continuous development in new, innovative and highly-efficient industrial engines that meet the market’s needs.”
The award will officially be presented to Kubota at the world’s largest construction exhibition, the upcoming Bauma 2019 event in Munich, Germany.
