Vehicle Overview For 2007, International will offer a Kentucky Derby edition of its RXT pickup truck. Changes for the rest of the RXT lineup are minimal.
International Truck and Engine Corp. has a history dating back to the early days of the automobile. The company is well known for manufacturing commercial trucks, so it was surprising when it turned up at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show with the RXT. Compared with conventional full-size pickups, the RXT falls into a separate, oversize category. It was International’s first appearance at the Chicago show in 25 years.
International says the RXT manages 10 or 12 mpg. Towing capacity is 22,500 pounds, which means the RXT can haul a Soviet-era T-70 light tank — and a Honda Civic coupe.
To make the RXT appeal to ordinary people, its gross vehicle weight rating was limited to 25,500 pounds. On the highway, the RXT isn’t required to stop at weigh stations.
International says the RXT is “built for business owners who want a truck that promotes themselves as much as their businesses.” It’s available in base or fifth-wheel versions.
Exterior Standing 8 feet tall, the Crew Cab RXT has an 8-foot cargo bed and dual rear wheels. The fifth-wheel version swaps the pickup bed for a flat bed. What International calls sleek and refined styling includes full-body side skirts, a low step-in height and an aerodynamically shaped hood. An air cab suspension is installed.
The Kentucky Derby RXT has custom graphics and a 9-foot-long bed. Wheels on all RXTs measure 22.5 inches in diameter.
Interior Five occupants fit inside the RXT’s crew cab. Standard features include power door locks and power heated mirrors. A center floor console, black leather seats and full-cab carpeting are part of a Prestige Interior option package. Other options include a CD stereo, a navigation system with a back-up camera, and an overhead DVD player. An air horn is also optional, presumably for those who skipped the backup camera to warn any poor souls behind them.
Under the Hood An International VT 365 diesel V-8 develops 230 horsepower and 540 pounds-feet of torque in the RXT. The V-8 teams with an Allison HS five-speed automatic transmission.
In both the fifth-wheel version and the Kentucky Derby edition, a DT570 diesel makes 310 hp and a massive 950 pounds-feet of torque. It teams with an Allison six-speed automatic. In either configuration, the truck is two-wheel drive.
Safety Safety features include antilock brakes and traction control.
