2004

Design

Perhaps it goes without saying that the International CXT is a true eye catcher. Its gargantuan proportions demand instant respect and it’s hard to drive around the city without to be notice.

The CXT looks like something that was never seen before and next to it even a full sized Hummer looks like an insignificant toy.

The International CXT features the same modern design language found at all International’s big rigs and comes with a long nose dominated by a shiny grille which is traversed by a series of vertical bars.

Viewed from the front the CXT looks like a common International rig, but the side view reveals its unique character given by the one ton pickup bed.

The truck’s lines are pretty aerodynamic and the hood is slightly raked to lower the truck’s coefficient drag and to offer a proper view of the road ahead.

The front fenders are muscular and enhance the rugged appearance of the vehicle, while up front, you’ll find a set of sharp headlights which are combined with the fluid lines of the bumper to give the truck a touch of dynamism. The cabin’s exterior design is pretty robust and is characterized straight lines and angular shapes.

Interior

Needless to say that once you’ll manage to climb all the way up into the cab, you’ll be rewarded by a spacious and pretty luxurious environment.

The International CXT’s double cab can accommodate in full comfort up to five passengers as it’s fitted with two front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench seat. A unique feature offered by the CXT is that passengers can easily walk between the front bucket seats to the second row.

The driver’s air suspended seat is deep and supportive, offering a very comfortable ride. It’s also comes with a wide range of adjustments, so finding your favorite driving position will be a drama free affair. The two spoke leather wrapped steering wheel features an ergonomic design and comes with integrated controls and both tilt and telescoping adjustments, further enhancing the comfort.

Thanks to the high driving position, you have a commanding view of the road and the angle of visibility is excellent as well.

Standard features include leather seating surfaces, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, and power locks and windows. Options include a navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen and a rearview camera, a DVD entertainment system with a 10-inch screen, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Engines and performance

The International CXT is fitted with a 12NPM DT466 turbocharged engine which churns out 220 hp @ 2200 rpm and 540 lb.ft of torque at 1400 rpm. At its time the engine was pretty advanced and came with four valves per cylinder to offer lower emissions and a better breathing.

The 220 hp unit was also equipped with digitally controlled G-2 Electro-Hydraulic injectors to reduce emissions and further improve the fuel efficiency. The engine offered a fair amount of punch to help you deal well with day by day city driving. As you’d probably expect, the CXT is far from being an environment friendly vehicle and gets 8–10 miles per gallon.

The engine was married with a 13AEG 2500 Series Allison Vocational five-speed automatic transmission. This heavy duty gearbox has a nominal torque capacity of 550 lb-ft, and features a spin-on oil filter and an oil level sensor. Luckily, you won’t have any complains about it, as it offers proper gear changes and it’s also pretty refined.

International CXT Engines specifications

Engine	hp @ rpm	lb.ft @rpm
DT466	220 @ 2200	540 @ 1400

Ride and handling

Between the axles and frame sits International’s IROS suspension, featuring parabolic taper leaf springs with shock absorbers up front and air bags in the rear. This airbag suspension system isolates the cab’s movements from those of the chassis, but don’t expect to any sort of plush ride, as we are talking about a truck.

Thanks to its automatic transmission and the light power steering, the CXT is pretty easy to maneuver. Though, the turning radius isn’t exactly tight as it’s rated at 27.6 ft.

Verdict

The CXT left a big footprint in the history of pickup trucks. It’s sad that its life had to be cut so fast, but everybody knew that even since its inception it was a risky business for International.

Though, leaving apart is its unpractical nature, the truck was a pretty fun toy. It came with a luxurious interior, an imposing look and a pretty strong engine.

It’s true that its ride and handling abilities were far from being sporty and the truck felt more like a wale on wheels, but it’s also true that its opulent buyers were less interested by this aspect.