Perkins says it is addressing evolving industry demands for improved fuel efficiency and performance with a “next-generation” 13-litre diesel engine suitable for off-road applications.

Available in 2026, the Perkins® 2600 Series engine platform is designed for demanding requirements, as well as the realities of moving towards a lower-carbon future.

Perkins says the new 2600 Series achieves best-in-class power density, torque and fuel efficiency for heavy duty off-highway applications, with applications in mining, including excavators, dozers, drills, trucks, feeders, screens and pumps, among others.

It comes with eight power ratings from 340 kW to 515 kW, offering up to 3,200 Nm of peak torque. Industrial open power units configured with engine-mounted aftertreatment and cooling packs will also be available from the factory to reduce installation and validation costs for OEMs, the company said.

Perkins will offer 2600 Series engines configured to meet the emissions standards of higher regulated countries, such as EU Stage V, U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final, China Non-road IV, Korea Stage V, and Japan 2014, as well as versions for lesser regulated countries. The engines are compatible with renewable liquid fuels such as 100% hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), B100 distilled Biodiesel and up to B100 fatty acid methyl ester standard biodiesel.

Additionally, the platform’s core architecture supports the future development of spark-ignited natural-gas and hydrogen fuel capabilities, according to the company.

To date, engineers have completed more than 20,000 hours of design validation on the 13-litre engine platform, with early OEM pilots available in 2025 and commercial production scheduled to begin in 2026.

Speaking at a press event held in London yesterday, Product Marketing Manager, Allen Chen, said prototypes were already out in the field in construction, agriculture and material handling applications, some of which were testing the highest power category.

He also said the new design piggybacked off the development of the smaller 904 Series engine, and was engineered for “tomorrow” with options for a drop-in exhaust gas recirculation system should future regulations require further emission reductions.

Hybrid power options – diesel-electric, among them – were also front of mind when designing this engine, Chen added.

Perkins says it is continuously developing and optimising a large, fast-growing portfolio of advanced power product and service solutions designed to help customers manage the energy transition to a more sustainable, lower-carbon future, including:

• 48-, 300- and 600-volt lithium-ion battery solutions with modular designs and factory-installed telematics that Perkins is developing to optimise performance and packaging in numerous next-generation off-highway applications;
• EU Stage V and U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final industrial diesel engines and industrial open power units that are already available to help OEMs reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their machines;
• A full range of engines that today, without modification, can use a wide range of lower-carbon intensity drop-in fuels such as HVO and biodiesel;
• Highly configurable integrated, end-to-end diesel-electric hybrid powertrains, suitable for a wide range of off-highway applications;
• Connectivity solutions with hardware reading important engine data, displayed to the customer as timely insights; and
• Aftermarket capabilities promoting sustainability through improved fuel efficiency and prolonged machine life cycles, such as Perkins Hypercare packages and overhaul kits to full replacement engine solutions.

At that same press event, Paul Moore, Head of Powertrain System Integration Engineering – Industrial Power Systems division, revealed details of “Project Coeus”, which has been established to come up with a “compact drop-in solution for flexible low carbon intensity power”. Such a solution would leverage hardware and software that allows the use of alternative fuels – ethanol, methanol, bio-methane and hydrogen – to be used within the Perkins engine portfolio.

Moore said a solution could be demonstrated in a machine in three years’ time that allowed such agnostic fuel supply options.

Jaz Gill, Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing, Service and Parts, said of the 2600 Series: “As the off-highway industry advances toward a lower-carbon future, equipment manufacturers still face expectations for long-term productivity and reliability in the world’s most demanding work environments. The new Perkins 2600 Series engine platform demonstrates how we’re leveraging our experience, intelligence and commitment to help OEMs navigate the energy transition with power solutions that deliver exceptional performance on the work site.”

The Perkins 2600 Series showcases the company’s commitment to innovations that support the success of customers by challenging traditional assumptions – which was evidenced by the 82 patents granted to date across the entire engine platform, the company said.

The engines are designed to perform at altitudes of up to 12,000 ft (3,658 m), and in extreme ambient temperatures as high as 60°C and as low as minus 40°C with aids.

The engine supports quality, reliability and easier maintenance through numerous design enhancements, including the integration of components as well as a reduction in the number of leak joints by more than 45%, the company says. Together, the upgrades result in lower fluids consumption and extended oil and fuel filter service intervals as long as 1,000 hours, reducing operating costs and downtime.

Perkins said: “2600 Series engines will offer telematics solutions enabling OEMs to collect, analyse and integrate key engine performance data within a connected intelligent platform. By modularising and eliminating components, its architecture is space-protected to accommodate configuration adjustments anticipated for future tiers of emission standards in the US and EU without relocating customer connection points. All eight power ratings for higher regulated markets will be available on a common core engine, enabling OEMs to reduce their inventory and integration costs.”

It added: “The combination of the all-new rear gear train, stiffer core architecture, and common rail fuel system reduces noise by up to 3 dB when compared with Perkins current 13-, 15- and single-turbo 18-litre engines.”

The launch came at the same time Perkins unveiled a new global strategy to advance sustainable power with a brand refresh – a move, it said, better reflects its commitment to helping customers confidently challenge conventional wisdom and explore new ways to achieve their power and climate-related goals.

A subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. for over 25 years, Perkins says it pioneered diesel engine power in the 1930s and has continuously evolved to help customers navigate technological change and solve complex challenges. Since its founding, the brand has manufactured over 22 million engines – with more than 4.5 million in use in over 5,000 different applications today.

The new Perkins brand strategy communicates a clear promise – “delivering smarter solutions to advance sustainable power” – and a renewed sense of purpose rooted in helping customers build and power a better, more sustainable world, it said.