Weichai Unveils 840-HP WP17H, Claiming World's Most Powerful Semi-Truck Engine
Updated
Updated · Jalopnik · May 25
Weichai Unveils 840-HP WP17H, Claiming World's Most Powerful Semi-Truck Engine
1 articles · Updated · Jalopnik · May 25
840 horsepower and 2,766 lb-ft of torque make Weichai's new 16.6-liter WP17H the most powerful semi-truck engine now in production, built for Shaanxi Automobile's Delong X6000 hauler.
52.28% thermal efficiency underpins that output, with Weichai citing high-pressure common-rail injection, high-efficiency turbocharging and low-friction internals in a market increasingly focused on power and fuel economy.
5%-8% lower fuel consumption than its predecessor is paired with a 16-speed automated gearbox with manual mode to keep the engine in its optimal band, while Weichai says lifespan exceeds 1.2 million miles.
700 horsepower is also available in the natural-gas WP17NG variant, underscoring Weichai's push beyond diesel as rivals in Europe and North America keep escalating the heavy-truck power race.
As diesel engines reach unprecedented power, is this their final peak before electric and hydrogen trucks dominate?
Can the world's most powerful truck engines survive the world's strictest emission laws after 2027?