Cummins Westport Announces New Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine

~ISX12 G Natural Gas Engine Targets Regional Trucking, Vocational and Refuse Markets in North America~

VANCOUVER, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Cummins Westport Inc., announced today the ISX12 G, a 12 litre heavy-duty, factory built dedicated natural gas engine for regional haul truck / tractor, vocational and refuse applications.  The new ISX12 G is currently in field trials with full production expected to commence in early 2013.

The ISX12 G natural gas engine is based on the Cummins ISX12 diesel engine platform, the newest member of Cummins heavy duty engine family.  The ISX12 G will operate exclusively on natural gas (CNG or LNG) utilizing Cummins Westport's proprietary spark-ignited, stoichiometric combustion with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR)  technology, first introduced with the 8.9 litre ISL G.

The ISX12 G features three-way catalyst aftertreatment, which is packaged as a muffler and is maintenance free.  No diesel particulate filter or selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment will be required.  Preliminary specifications include a range of ratings to 400 hp and 1,450 lb-ft torque, optional engine brake, and manual and automatic transmission capability to meet customer and original equipment manufacturer requirements.  The ISX12 G will be manufactured in Cummins' heavy-duty engine plant in Jamestown, New York.

"This is an important product development for Cummins Westport given the increasing demand for natural gas vehicles in the heavy-duty market," said Roe East, President of Cummins Westport.  "The ISX12 G will offer customers heavy-duty performance, reliability, and durability and a choice of either compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas as a fuel."

The ISX12 G target markets at launch are North American regional haul and vocational truck/tractor, and refuse applications, where demand for natural gas vehicles is growing.  Anticipated end-use applications in the regional haul market segment include intermodal and distribution operation, pickup and delivery.  Potential post-launch market opportunities include motor coach and specialty vocational applications.

The ISX12 G is expected to be certified at launch to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission standards of 0.20 g/bhp-hr NOx and 0.01 g/bhp-hr PM.  The engine is additionally expected to be capable of meeting EURO VI and pending U.S. greenhouse gas and fuel economy regulations.

Partial funding in support of the ISX12 G engine development has been received from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the California Energy Commission in conjunction with the Gas Technology Institute.

About Cummins Westport Inc.

Cummins Westport Inc. designs, engineers and markets spark-ignited natural gas engines for North American commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses.  Cummins Westport is a joint venture of Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems, and Westport Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ: WPRT) (TSX: WPT), a global leader in alternative fuel, low-emissions technologies that allow engines to operate on clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and biofuels such as landfill gas. www.cumminswestport.com

Note: This document contains forward-looking statements about Cummins Westport's business, operations, markets, technology development, timing for launch of the ISX12 G and its certifications and uses and  to the environment in which Cummins Westport operates, which are based on Cummins Westport's estimates, forecasts and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, or are beyond Cummins Westport's control and are based on assumptions that may cause our actual results, levels of performance, activity or achievement to be materially different from that implied by these forward looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include those relating to our industry and products, technological development, demand for natural gas vehicles as well as other risk factors and assumptions. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. Cummins Westport disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The contents of any website referenced in this press release are not incorporated herein by reference.

SOURCE Cummins Westport Inc.