In 2017, Cat began an overhaul of its nomenclature, the system the company uses for naming machines. The feeling within the company was that model names had gotten too complicated. The long and short of the resulting change to this system is that Cat has stopped using letters at the end of model numbers to designate what generation of a given model the machine belongs to.
This new naming convention extended into Cat’s dozer lineup in 2019 as the company started introducing its next generation dozers. When this happened, Cat took the opportunity to restructure the whole lineup in a way that it hoped made more sense to customers on paper.
Three dozers, one name
A perfect example of the type of confusion Cat was hoping to avoid when restructuring its dozer lineup is what used to be the D6 family of dozers which included the D6K2, D6N, and the D6T. Now, as anyone who has ever used those machines can attest, they’re all very different. However, because their model names all started with D6, customers called each one the same thing: a D6.
And at the point that one model name starts to mean three different machines depending on who you’re talking to, it starts to mean absolutely nothing. A model name should give you a quick idea of how one machine compares to another in the lineup.
What does XE mean on Cat machines?
So, the idea with the way the new dozer lineup and its nomenclature are structured is to offer one model in each size class, denoted by the number in its model name.
There is an exception to this rule, however. On certain models, Cat offers a premium version in addition to the standard machine. This premium version could have a more advanced powertrain, a nicer cab, things like that. These premium machines will have an XE at the end of their name.
Here's how the new lineup shakes out.
The New Cat Dozer Lineup
Small Cat Dozers
At the bottom of the lineup, you’ve got the Cat D1, D2, and D3 small dozers. The D1 is a 17,855-pound machine with 80 horsepower that replaces the old D3K2.
The D2, at 18,382 pounds and 92 hp, replaces the D4K2. Then you have the 104-hp D3 weighing in at 20,640 pounds and replacing the D5K2.
As an aside here, interestingly enough the D1 is an all new model name for a Cat dozer. So if you grab one of these, you’ll be buying a bit of history. The D2, however is a throwback. Cat offered a D2 dozer between 1938 and 1957.
Medium Cat Dozers
Moving along to the medium sized dozers, you’ve got the new D4 which weighs in at 29,259 pounds and boasts 130 horsepower. This model is what Cat used to call the D6K2.
The D5 is a 170-hp machine weighing in at 42,263 pounds and replaces what was the D6N.
The new D6 and D6 XE were launched to replace what the D6T. Remember, just signifies that is the premium D6. Both machines have 215 horsepower and both are right around 50,000-pound machines. What makes the D6 XE premium is its electric drive.
Moving up to the 265-hp D7, this dozer weighs in at 65,644 pounds and replaces both the D7E and the D7R.
Rounding out the Cat medium dozers is the new Cat D8. While most of the medium dozer lineup has a Cat C9.3B engine, the D8 is a significant horsepower bump to 354 hp provided by the Cat C15 engine. It weighs in at 87,600 pounds.
Large Cat Dozers
At the top of the lineup are the big boys: the D9, D10T2 and the D11.
The new D9 has 452 horsepower and weighs in at 110,225 pounds. The D10T2 has not yet been updated to its next generation form, but has 600 hp and weighs in at 154,700 pounds.
Finally, the next generation D11 weighs in at 229,800 pounds and has a massive 850 hp provided by the Cat C32 engine.
So that’s the revamped Cat dozer lineup. Hopefully this provides a bit of clarity on what’s changed and why. If you have any more questions on these machines, let us know in the comments, but also be sure to head over to each dozer's listing pages where you can compare specs and more.
