Almost a year after debuting its new diesel outboard at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Cox Powertrain will begin manufacturing the CXO300 in October.
The British firm anticipates that the initial deliveries of the outboard will occur by the year’s end, as announced by officials this week at the Seawork International marine and workboat exhibition in Southampton, U.K.
This much-anticipated diesel outboard will be produced at Cox Powertrain’s manufacturing facility in Shoreham, England. Once fully operational, the production line will function two shifts daily to satisfy demand.
Production of Cox Powertrain’s CXO300 will commence in October, with the first units expected to be shipped by the end of the year.
“This is a thrilling time for everyone at Cox Powertrain,” stated Jerry Attridge, Operations Director of Cox Powertrain, in a press release. “Not only is the CXO300 an exceptional, innovative product, but we are also establishing a sophisticated, high-precision manufacturing facility employing state-of-the-art technology to deliver what can truly be deemed a transformative product in the marine outboard market. Fortunately, we have assembled a remarkable team that I am confident will provide a revolutionary product.”
The outboard features a 4.4-liter V8 engine equipped with high-pressure common rail fuel injection and twin turbochargers, generating 338 horsepower at the crankshaft and 300 horsepower at the propeller. The CXO300 boasts a peak torque output of 479 foot-pounds.
While Cox Powertrain has yet to finalize the CXO300’s price, it’s anticipated to retail around $50,000. The company claims that the CXO300 has lower fuel expenses, requires less maintenance, and possesses three times the lifespan of a gasoline outboard. Company representatives consider government agencies to be the primary target buyers but also see significant opportunities within the recreational marine sector.
Cox Powertrain’s manufacturing facility in Shoreham, England.
Cox Powertrain characterizes its state-of-the-art production facility as a “smart technology-driven assembly line,” which was developed in collaboration with QM Systems, an engineering firm specializing in automation solutions. Cox Powertrain invested $8.4 million into creating these new production capabilities.
Some of the advanced features of this assembly line include a camera system for verifying the consistency and correct sizing of each sealant bead applied by the specialized plotter to ensure a perfect seal. The Wi-Fi-enabled DC tools will communicate directly with the MES system to log all assembly torque data; an automated ‘Spin rig’ will be used to test each gearbox, and a thorough end-of-line ‘Hot test’ area will confirm that every powerhead meets exacting standards, according to officials.
The CXO300 weighs 826 pounds dry, approximately 200 pounds more than its gasoline-powered 300-horsepower equivalent. As production increases, Cox Powertrain aims to achieve further weight reductions.