Bidding to stay on top of the red hot market for heavy-duty work trucks, Ford Motor Co. is expected to announce plans May 28 to introduce a new 6-liter V-8 diesel engine and heavy-duty 5-speed automatic transmission in early 2003, according to a Detroit News story by Mark Truby. The new diesel engine -- designed in cooperation with and built by Navistar International Corp. -- is supposed to improve fuel economy 10 percent and reduce harmful emissions 20 percent compared with Ford's current heavy-duty diesel engine. The engine and transmission will be available in F-Series Super Duty pickups and Ford's Excursion sport utility vehicle. The engine will square off in the marketplace with General Motors Corp.'s new 300-horsepower Duramax diesel jointly developed with Japanese partner Isuzu Motors Ltd. DaimlerChrysler AG's Dodge division will join the competitive fray this fall with a redesigned version of its 5.9-liter Cummins turbo-diesel equipped on the Ram pickup.
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