Isuzu has just introduced a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine in Thailand that will find a home in the D-Max pick-up and MU-X SUV. Christened the MaxForce, the RZ4F-TC engine code is a little giveaway that its basic architecture is based on the engine it replaces, the 1.9-litre BluePower mill that was labelled RZ4E-TC.
However, the four-cylinder 2.2-litre engine is essentially all-new, and promises better performance whilst returning improvements on fuel efficiency.
Aside from the larger displacement, the cylinders were redesigned to introduce a high-flow lubrication system as well as a high-swirl head design for cleaner combustion. Adding to that is an electronic variable geometry turbocharger, high pressure direct injectors, low friction pistons and a revised ECU.
Onto the numbers, the MaxForce brings 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque between 1,600 to 2,400 rpm. Against its predecessor, that’s a bump of 13 hp and 50 Nm. Isuzu’s engines are renowned for their fuel efficiency and the real party trick is the claimed 10.7 % drop in extra-urban fuel consumption. Perfectly paring with that figure is a claimed lowest CO2 emission in its segment.
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There’s a new eight-speed automatic introduced to get the most out of the new engine. The Rev Tronic transmission will be available alongside a six-speed manual.
The 2.2-litre MaxForce will replace the 1.9-litre in almost all applications except for the new mild hybrid variant. Seeing that the latter accounted for about 80% of D-Max sales in Thailand, the new mill will now take over as the foundation of the range.
As for the larger 3.0 litre 4JJ3-TCX mill, it will continue to serve as the flagship, now having adopted the MaxForce moniker as well.
As Malaysian units of the D-Max are fully imported (CBU) from Thailand, expect the new launch of the 2.2-litre MaxForce facelift to be imminent.
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