Caterpillar hits the jackpot in Las Vegas with the C3.6 and other ICEs
Caterpillar Raised the Bar of the C3.6 Power up to 129 kW and Extended Engine Lifecycles. Spotlights also on C13D and C9.3B Engines
Under the Las Vegas sky at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, the C3.6 shines brightly. The new rating of up to 129 kW (173 hp) has been introduced, completing the top end of this engine family, which already includes 55 kW (75 hp) and 106 kW (144 hp) versions. This power rating elevates the Caterpillar 3.6-liter to the top of the 3.4 to 3.8-liter compact engine class.
Caterpillar choose a twin-turbo for the C3.6
The twin-turbo C3.6 has been designed to deliver higher torque, greater uptime, and lower total operating costs for a range of equipment including wheel excavators, dumper trucks, soil compactors, backhoe loaders, asphalt pavers and telehandlers.
To achieve up to 129 kW and 740 Nm at 1500 rpm of power density from the proven 3.6 liter, 4 cylinder platform, engineers have upgraded the combustion system to achieve maximum power and efficiency and have strengthened many core components.
The new offering, which meets various emissions standards including EU Stage V, U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final and Korea Stage V. It offers end users up to 1000-hour oil and fuel filter intervals and gives customers fuel flexibility, as the engine is compatible with B20 biodiesel, 100% HVO, and other sustainable fuels.
The high horsepower variant has been designed for low fluid consumption while delivering the required power across high, medium and low load operations. With a transparent, maintenance free aftertreatment system with no downtime, the engine is set to deliver serious power in a compact footprint for a wide range of OEMs whose equipment is the bedrock of construction sites around the world.
Diesel Engines are the Dominant Power Solution across Global Jobsites
“The customer requirement for high power density to boost machine capability without increasing engine size or complexity has driven the launch of this new high horsepower C3.6 and the C13D which we unveiled at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023,” said Steve Ferguson, senior vice president of Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems. “Given that internal combustion engines remain the dominant power solution across global jobsites; we continue to strategically invest in advanced diesel engine technologies that help customers tackle their daily challenges.”
About the C13D
Engineered to Caterpillar’s standards for reliability and productivity, the C13D, inline, six-cylinder 13-liter engine platform will offer eight power ratings from 340 to 515 kW (456 to 690 hp) with up to 3,200 Nm of peak torque. Engine mounted aftertreatment and cooling pack will also be available from the factory to reduce installation and validation costs.
The Cat C13D is designed for use in a wide range of off-highway equipment, including rock crushers, screeners, and grinders; trenchers; agriculture tractors, harvesters and self-propelled sprayers; woodchippers; material-handling equipment; and large industrial pumps.
The engine platform offers up to a 20% increase in power2 and up to 25% more low speed torque3 over the previous generation of Cat engines in its power class, while extended service intervals of 1,000 hours oil and fuel filter, will reduce operating costs and downtime.
The Cat C13D engine platform enables the use of recommended renewable liquid fuels such as 100% HVO, up to B20 for models with aftertreatment and B100 for models without aftertreatment1.
And the C9.3B
Finally, for customers considering a range of power solutions for their equipment, the booth features a C9.3B fitted with a diesel-electric power unit. The C9.3B industrial diesel engine is offered in ratings ranging from 250-340 kW (335-456 hp) @ 1800-2200 rpm. With a full list of configurable options and an engine-mounted aftertreatment, the C9.3B is an easy-to-install option that offers the power of larger engine platforms in a smaller engine package.
The diesel-electric power unit is a factory integrated solution simplifying installation for the customer. An ideal solution for many industrial applications requiring robust diesel-electric power, the heavy duty C9.3B engine fitted with a 350/420 kVA alternator is designed to operate in harsh environments and can provide secondary power for mobile machines such as crushers and screeners.
Providing 52-600 kVA across the C3.6 to C13 product range, the diesel-electric power unit will be available from late 2026. The optimized pairing is ingress protection (IP) sealed to both dust and liquids to maximize uptime and low maintenance in harsh conditions and is supported by the Cat global dealer network.
End Notes
2 Power increase based on power output of C13D C-Tier in lab testing environment compared to a C13B C-Tier power output in the same lab testing environment. Power measured through a dynamometer. Testing conducted by Caterpillar at the Technical Center in Mossville, IL in 2024.
3 Low speed torque improvement based on product testing of C13D and C13B in a lab testing environment at speeds between 800 and 1300 engine rpm. Torque output measured through a dynamometer. Testing conducted by Caterpillar at the Technical Center in Mossville, IL in 2024.
