2007 International MXT Preview

With the introduction of the 2007 International MXT at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, the Hummer H2 SUT is officially dismissed. The new MXT is a true truck-guy’s kind of truck, boasting a 16,000-pound towing capacity, a chassis payload capacity of 4,000 pounds, and a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds. So keeping drinking that Budweiser and eating those trans-fat laden McDonald’s french fries – the International MXT can handle your widening frame, and those of four of your buddies, with ease, along with all your gear.

Why it matters

International Truck once was a player in the civilian marketplace when it sold the (in)famous Scout and Travelall models from the 1960s to the 1980s, but has been vacant from the segment until recently. With Baby Boomers retiring, personal wealth growing, and households cluttered with more recreational toys than ever, now might be a great time for International to return with its XT-Series of commercial-based pickups for consumers. The 2007 International MXT is a super-heavy-duty pickup for people who need more towing and hauling capacity than is normally found in typical half, three-quarter, and one-ton trucks. With its roomy crew-sized cab, serious payload and towing capacity, standard four-wheel drive, and torquey diesel V8 engine, the MXT is an all-purpose brute. It’s got lots of attitude, too, which might be all some buyers are interested in purchasing.

What’s under the hood

If you’re thinking the 2007 International MXT would be a great ride to use for towing a fifth-wheel trailer, fuhgeddaboudit – that option is not offered, because the diesel V8 engine’s 300 horsepower and 530 lb.-ft. of torque can’t match the International RXT Tow Body model’s 310 hp and stunning 950 lb.-ft. of twist. Rather, think of the 2007 International MXT as the company’s “light-duty” sport truck, equipped with 4WD, an Allison 2200 RDS five-speed automatic transmission, hydraulic brakes with ABS, and a 40-gallon fuel tank. International says, by the way, that the MXT’s diesel engine should deliver between 13 and 15 mpg – about what you get in a Hummer H2 SUT.

What’s inside

Inside, the 2007 International MXT is decked out like a commercial truck, though buyers do get a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, remote keyless entry, power door locks, power windows, and filtered air conditioning. Leather upholstery is standard, too, wrapped around International’s front air suspension seats which are designed to cushion what could be a punishing ride quality. Despite the MXT’s Cab Air Suspension System, passenger’s warning the rear bench might look like bobbleheads on harsh surfaces. Order the Prestige Interior Package and you’ll get ivory-faced sport gauges, metallic interior accents, padded armrests, more comfortable Air Ride front and rear seating, carpeting, and special trim. Other options for the 2007 International MXT include a DVD player, a touch-screen navigation system with a back-up camera, a premium sound system, and Sirius satellite radio.

What it looks like

Incredibly, the 2007 International MXT built more for style than utility. The bed measures seven-feet, and the frame is lowered for a sportier stance. There’s even a Sport Exterior Package that equips the MXT with chrome trim, a carbon-fiber power dome hood with a sporty side vent, and anodized aluminum for the cab steps and rear bumper. International pitches the MXT as its image truck, the one people buy because they want it and not because they need it (though the same argument could be made for the CXT 4WD and RXT 2WD models). Helping to bolster the 2007 International MXT as an “image” vehicle, the U.S. government has ordered a test fleet of the new trucks to serve in a variety of ways, including as a military vehicle and for patrolling the country’s borders.

What we think

International admits the potential buyer for the MXT is yet to be determined, but we think it’s easy enough to paint a prototypical MXT buyer – Larry the Cable Guy with a wad of cash in his pocket. If you think about the number of Hummer H2s that have flooded roadways in the past couple of years, it’s clear there’s a market for the MXT. And with prices starting just $20,000 higher than the Hummer, that’s probably not much of a leap for many people with the to drive something like the MXT on a daily basis.

When you can buy it

The 2007 International MXT goes on sale in the summer of 2006, with a base price of $69,900. Optioned up, a loaded MXT can cost as much as $85,000. If you’ve got a thing for the new MXT and a wad of cash burning a hole in your own pocket, call 1-888-44-TRUCK and place an order for one of the 1,500 units that International plans to build annually. KEY SPECIFICATIONS Engine Size and Type: Diesel V8 Engine Horsepower: 300 Engine Torque: 530 lb.-ft. Transmission: Five-speed automatic Est. Combined Fuel Economy: 12 mpg Length: 248 inches Width: 96 inches Height: 90 inches Curb Weight: 10,000 pounds Max. Seating Capacity: Five Max. Towing Capacity: 16,000 pounds Max. Payload: 4,000 pounds Competitors: Chevrolet Kodiak, Ford F-650 Super Crewzer, GMC TopKick

Photos courtesy of International Truck and Engine, and Ron Perry