The 2017 Mack MP engine lineup will see fuel economy jump between 2.1 and 8.8% compared to today’s models, while the new ‘Predictive Cruise’ feature will effectively memorize terrain and enhance shifts when routes are repeated.

Mack’s 11-liter MP7 and 13-liter MP8 engines will get advancements for 2017 that simplify maintenance while improving efficiency. Both engines feature an updated wave piston design that raises the compression ratio and enables more complete combustion of fuel, while a common-rail fuel system more precisely injects fuel. Combined with a two-speed coolant pump, these features help increase MP7 fuel efficiency by up to 5.1% and MP8 fuel efficiency by up to 5%.

A number of additional improvements were made to both engines, including a new two-piece valve cover, shimless rockers, and a low-pressure fuel system with an enhanced, integrated aftertreatment dosing module to reduce maintenance needs. An updated, double-walled EGR flow sensor helps reduce condensation and soot buildup in cold weather, while a new intake throttle enables a faster warmup when the engine is started.

“With a new 425-hp rating, the 2017 MP7 offers 13-liter power in a lightweight, efficient 11-liter package ideal for weight sensitive applications, says Mack.

For long-haul applications, Mack will offer the 2017 MP8 engine with a turbo compounding system engineered to give an increase in both power and efficiency. Turbo compounding converts waste energy from the exhaust into mechanical energy that’s fed back to the engine. The system adds up to 50 additional horsepower, enabling a substantial increase of fuel efficiency of up to 8.8%.

The Mack MP8 with turbo compounding will be available exclusively with Mack’s Super Econodyne downspeeding package. The additional power generated by the turbo compounding system allows the engine to maintain full torque as low as 900 rpm. This not only enables a broader operating range in top gear, but also allows a truck to hold top gear longer when meeting a hill, even with falling engine rpm.

With the current MP8, Super Econodyne applications required a minimum top speed of around 63 mph in order to stay in top gear.

The 2017 MP8 can be ordered now, while the MP7 and MP10 engines will be ready to order in July. The MP8 with turbo compounding will be offered beginning in October 2016.

The 16-liter Mack MP10 engine carries over unchanged. With up to 605 hp and 2060 lb ft of torque, it comes standard in the Titan model.

Unlike systems that rely on maps, Mack’s new predictive cruise control memorizes up to 4500 ‘events’ along the terrain that a truck drives, tracking speed, engine load, weight, and road grades. If you go back to that place again, it will get you better fuel economy, says Mack, bringing gains of about 1%. When the underlying GPS recognizes the truck’s location, it can adjust speed when heading into a hill or coast over the crest. Drivers will receive a warning when the system is taking over, so nobody is surprised by an unexpected change in speed.

The company is exploring options with semi-autonomous vehicles, too.