West Sussex-based Cox Powertrain (www.coxmarine.com), a leading developer of high-powered diesel outboard engines for the global marine industry, has begun the series production of the new CXO300, a purpose-designed 300hp diesel outboard engine. After several years of intensive development and testing, this represents a major milestone for the company which believes it has designed the the only commercially available diesel outboard engine over 200hp.

Cox has designed the CXO300, a patent-protected outboard marine propulsion system, at its headquarters in Shoreham-by-Sea headquarters which has advanced assembly and test facilities.

Designed from first principles using the best of Formula One, automotive and marine technology, the CXO300 incorporates modern emission control technologies to ensure the engine can meet all relevant regulatory standards.

The sophisticated assembly plant has a turnkey production system developed by Worcester-based QM Systems Ltd (qm-systems.com), a leading supplier of ‘state of the art’ manufacturing and test systems across all industries.

Significant investment has been made to introduce a manufacturing plant capable of producing up to one engine per hour to support expected demand.

Highest standards of quality
The production line ‘no faults forward’ design removes the possibility of assembly error, ensuring every outboard meets Cox’s requirement for the highest standards of quality. These are verified on a suite of purpose-built test cells which put every engine through its paces before shipping to the customer.

Cox Powertrain has applied industry best-practice at all stages of the design, manufacture and test process to ensure global success of the engine and the brand. The company has an established policy of patent-protecting innovation and expects the IP portfolio to keep growing.

Throughout its development, the high-powered diesel outboard engine generated substantial interest across all applications of the marine industry, a contributing factor for the company when raising the £92 million of private investment required to reach this point. The company says it is a powerful testament to the credibility of the engine concept and the high-level of expertise behind its development.

Cox chief executive Tim Routsis said: “This is a milestone we have been working towards for several years with a relentless focus on building a no-compromises business. I am enormously proud of the CXO300 and the terrific team who have worked tirelessly to make it a reality.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to the supply chain which has found ways to keep parts flowing to us despite the Covid-19 crisis, and also to our global distributors who have remained loyal throughout. I am delighted that we can now manufacture this ground-breaking marine engine in volume and together with the very encouraging feedback and support we have received.”

Charles Good, chairman of Cox, said: “This brings to fruition a long-held ambition of mine to create a UK-based business to design and manufacture diesel outboard engines to meet a major unfulfilled need in the global marine propulsion market. I am immensely proud of the team in achieving this significant milestone as we launch a truly global British brand underpinned by world-class engineering.

The company believes the CXO300 is the only diesel outboard engine currently available which offers more than 200hp.

The engine offers a significant reduction in the total cost of ownership through fuel consumption savings (CXO300 typically uses 25% less fuel than a gasoline outboard engine of equivalent power) and improved engine longevity; improved safety through the reduction of the risk of fire; greater availability of diesel in marine environments; and much improved environmental credentials when compared with existing marine gasoline engines.

Cox will manufacture just under 1,000 CX0300 outboard engines in 2020 with volumes expected to more than double next year.