Vehicle Overview 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. For 2008, the RXT will begin using Maxforce 7 and 9 diesel engines. The rest of the truck remains unchanged.
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. At the same time.
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.
Wheels 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 backup camera, and an overhead DVD player. An air horn is also optional, presumably so those who skipped the backup camera can warn any poor souls behind them.
Under the Hood International’s previous offerings under the hood have been replaced by two Maxforce diesel engines: 6.4- and 8.4-liter versions, referred to as Maxforce 7 and 9, respectively. The Maxforce 7, a V-8, develops up to 230 horsepower and 620 pounds-feet of torque, while the inline-six Maxforce 9 develops up to 350 hp and 950 pounds-feet of torque. Both the base and fifth-wheel versions are two-wheel drive.
Safety Safety features include antilock brakes and traction control.
