Nearly a decade after introducing the fuel-efficient but underpowered 1.9-liter RZ4E-TC engine, Isuzu has opted to bump up its displacement to answer critics who clamored for more power and torque. Enter the RZ4F-TC.
Marketed as the “MaxForce” engine, this new powertrain displaces a more respectable 2.2 liters thanks to new cylinder heads, pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft.
It’s also quite high-tech with the 2.2-liter MaxForce adopting a high-swirl combustion chamber for improved combustion efficiency, pistons coated with ultra-low-friction material, an electronically controlled variable geometry turbo, higher pressure direct injectors (250 MPa from 180 MPa), and a multi-core engine control module.
All in all, these upgrades has helped the RZ4F-TC make 163 horsepower at 3,600 rpm and 400 Nm of torque from 1,600 to 2,400 rpm. These are an increase of 13 horsepower and 50 Nm compared to the 1.9-liter unit. More importantly, its off-the-line performance is way better with a 56 percent increase in torque from near idle. The carmaker also claims a 10.7 percent reduction in fuel consumption and the lowest CO2 emissions in its class.
Together with the new engine, Isuzu is offering a new 8-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual is also available. Also, units using the MaxForce engine drops the hydraulic power steering for an all-electric set-up.
Isuzu says that the new MaxForce engine has been tested over 2.2 million kilometers to ensure it meets to their famed durability and reliability standards.
Now, what’s going to happen to the old RZ4E-TC you ask? In Thailand, except for the recently launched mild-hybrid variant, the Japanese commercial vehicle specialist will phase it out in favor of this new RZ4F-TC engine. The larger 3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX will be retained with the same 190 horsepower, 450 Nm outputs.
When it comes to the Philippine market, however, things are slightly vaguer. The RZ4F-TC MaxForce engine requires a diet of Euro 5 diesel. It’s a big question whether the engine can be de-tuned to meet our dirtier Euro 4 fuels. It’s going to be a wait-and-see whether Isuzu will be able to do that, or if Isuzu Philippines will simply take a gamble and release this Euro 5 engine. It’s something Mitsubishi did with the Triton Athlete, although in that case, some owners are starting to report random “Check Engine” lights switching on whenever the truck is used in light engine load at high speed (aka cruising on the highway).
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