New U.S. Military Vehicle Reports for Duty with Duramax V-8 Diesel

The U.S. military's new light tactical vehicle will be powered by General Motors Co.'s 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 diesel engine. Allison Transmission LLC will provide the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Last week Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. won the contract to build the vehicle dubbed the L-ATV (light combat tactical all-terrain vehicle) that will begin replacing the aging Humvee next year. AM General builds the current Humvee, which went into service in 1985 and also is powered by a GM diesel.

GM developed the Duramax V-8 with Isuzu Motors Ltd. The partners began making the engine in 2001. Generating 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque, the powerplant currently is used in heavy-duty versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

Performance specifications for the new L-ATV haven't been announced. But it is expected to be more fuel efficient than its mainstream civilian counterpart.

The 32-valve Duramax oil burner has received several upgrades over the years, with cumulative production surpassing more than 1.5 million units. As many as 17,000 of the new Duramax-powered L-ATVs could be produced over the life of Oshkosh's eight-year contract.

The L-ATV, which will be used by the Army and Marines, is expected to combine the Humvee's mobility with the superior blast-resistance of the military's newer and more heavily armored mine-resistant ambush-protected variant. The new vehicle will come in two and four-seat configurations as either a general purpose vehicle or close combat weapons carrier with a companion trailer.