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2007 International CXT Pickup Road Test

Living Large

It seems that with each new generation athletes get bigger, stronger and faster. Similarly it seems that each new generation of bikini models are taller, more voluptuous and sexier. Um, um, sorry... I lost my train of thought. Lets try this again. And manufacturers seem to build each succeeding generation of full-size trucks bigger and stronger than the one that came before.

Full size trucks have grown tremendously over the past few decades. For example, in 2000 a Ford F150 4x2 standard cab had an overall length of 207.3 inches and a height of 72.5 inches. Just five years later the 2004 Ford F150 4x2 standard cabs length has grown to 211.2 inches long and 73.3 inches high. So you can imagine how much full-size trucks have grown

This is just about as big as consumer vehicles get. It certainly one-ups the Hummer H1 on size, no question. (Photo: International)

since the 70s. Today every full-size truck manufacturer proclaims that their trucks are the biggest, toughest and most powerful. But now its reality check time, because there is a new undisputable King of the hill, top-of-the-food-chain full-size truck on the market.

If you work for one of the mainstream brands, namely Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan or Toyota, and "believe" that your trucks are the biggest, toughest and most powerful--you need to make like R.E.M. and

Super Size Me? No sir, thats not big enough. Industrial Size Me! (Photo: International)

loose your religion. This new top dawg is so big that neither full-size nor heavy-duty are adequate descriptions. The best way to describe the 2007 International CXT is INDUSTRIAL size!

The 2007 International CXT is not only the biggest pickup in the full-size category, but its the biggest production pickup in the world. Check out these numbers. Wait, you might want to be seated for this--so are you seated? No seriously, you need to be seated. The CXT is just over 21 feet long, 258 inches to be exact. Its cab height is a staggering 9 feet or 108 inches tall. Think about that a little longer, because even if you were a 7-foot,

Cabin is about as big, and as plush as a luxury apartment block. (Photo: International)

3-inch, 420 pound giant like the Great Khali from World Wrestling Entertainment, the CXT would still tower 7 inches above your head. Its bed height alone is just under 5 feet high at 58 inches. Oh by the way the CXT has an 8-foot dualie bed, and last but not least it has a Sumo wrestler-like curb weight of 14,500 lbs.

There are three engine choices available for the CXT, two of which are variants of the DT466 I-6 diesel. The least powerful DT466 I-6 diesel produces 245 horsepower while the more powerful DT466 I-6 diesel that produces 300 horsepower. Then there is the DT570 I-6 diesel, which produces 310 horsepower. As any serious tower knows, horsepower is only half of the equation when it comes to engine capability. Without enough stump-pulling

But the CXT does have a purpose: (Photo: International)

torque, you might as well drive a high-revving, highly annoying insect sounding Japanese sport compact.

Alright this is my last warring, if the first statistics did not knock you off on your @$$ these will. The CXTs entry level engine, the 245 horsepower DT466, also generates 600 pounds feet of torque, and its bigger brother, the 300 horsepower DT466, pumps out 860 pounds feet of torque. Oh, and the 310 horsepower DT570? It cranks up an amazing 950 pound feet of torque! The latter enormously high number allows the CXT to tow up to 17,000 lbs.
The CXTs overwhelming size and power may lead one to ask one important question: How much does all of this cost? Slow down Tex, that question will be answered later. The question that I was thinking of concerns drivers licenses. International made sure that the CXTs GVWR was light enough, at 25,900

Love the impression the CXT makes, but cant fathom pole vaulting into it every time you need to go somewhere? Try the down-sized MXT. (Photo: International)

lbs, that no commercial drivers license is needed.

Some of the big trucks features include four-wheel or all-wheel drive, a drivetrain controlled by an Allison 2500 HS five-speed transmission and a two-speed, hi-low transfer case. There are four-channel ABS equipped air brakes behind each polished aluminum wheel. And the five-passenger, four-door crew-cab rides on an air suspension with each seat having its very own air suspended base.

Then there are the bright-finished heated mirrors, exterior sunshade, keyless entry, air horn, tilting steering wheel, bright-finish stack tailpipe, 70-gallon fuel tank, polished front and rear bumper and a 9,000-lb hitch. The CXT even has an available tilting bed. Thats right a tilting bed which makes the big pickup a life-sized Tonka toy dump truck! Some of the other extras include custom paint, leather interior, burled Walnut trim, a fold-down bench that doubles as a bed, DVD player, flat screen TVs, rear-mounted

If 17,000 lbs of towing capacity isnt nearly enough, try going to the RXT. (Photo: International)

camera and XM satellite radio. Oh by the way, if you have not tried satellite radio it will change the way you listen to radio once you have.

In fact, when I towed a racecar from California to North Carolina my most valued tool was my XM satellite radio. The system in the CTX can be permanently installed or moved from car to car as I do mine. As you know, XM has 100s of channels, most commercial free. But the best thing of all is that this particular system allows you to rewind, and pause songs.

Alright, its bottom line time. If you already have a heavyweight Toy-hauler or are looking to buy one, and are having a tough time picking a tow vehicle, check out the International CXT. Whether its for work or play, it just might fit the bill. It might not fit in your driveway, mind you, but no-ones going to tow it if you leave it on the street.

Oh, and that price I teased about earlier? Lets just say that its far from entry level at $115,000, base, stretching up to $135,000. Yeah, thats a bit more than your average F-150, but then again, the CTX is worlds more exclusive too.

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