Isuzu brings in mu-X, D-Max with 1.9L RZ4E Blue Power diesel engine
JUST a few weeks after Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) launched its upscale mu-X Luxe and D-Max X-Series variants, the Japanese company this time revealed its new RZ4E Blue Power Diesel Engine during a press conference held at the Makati ShangriLa hotel. This newgeneration diesel engine is lighter, and promises more power alongside reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emissions – making it a more favorable alternative for the environment, compared to its predecessor.
“It is our pleasure to bring the new RZ4E Blue Power Diesel Engine to the Philippines,” exclaimed a very excited IPC EVP Takashi Tomita during his opening remarks at the press conference held last Thursday. “The Philippines is indeed an extremely important market for Isuzu,” he explained.
The RZ4E Blue Power Engine is the product of four years of meticulous study and thousands of rigorous tests. Among its delightful new features are a redesigned combustion system; a new, variable geometry turbocharger; a hydraulic valve lash adjuster (HVLA); and a single engine accessory drive belt for the alternator. It will now be available in the smart and functional variants —the variants that look like upscale SUVs, but are more affordable to acquire—of the D-Max and the mu-X models.
“The global trend of producing smaller capacity engines that have the output of larger engines has come to Isuzu,” pointed out IPC President Hajime Koso while speaking to the Press. “The new RZ4E Blue Power engine, carries with it our years of experience as a diesel engine manufacturer. Carefully developed to provide optimized power and torque; this engine performs efficiently, with much care for the environment, running with less noise and vibrations, and is very easy to maintain,” he added.
The RZ4E is a 1.898L-displacement engine that can spit out 150hp at 3,600 rpm and provide a maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1,8002600 rpm. It is now also Euro 4 compliant.
In recent tests conducted using the Department of Energy’s (DOE) testing parameters, the Isuzu mu-X RZ4E LS-A Manual registered a fuel consumption reading of 37.27 km/L—an improvement of up to 14.32 percent from the 2.5-liter variant; while the Isuzu mu-X RZ4E LS-A Automatic reflected an even bigger difference, at 35.80 km/L—a reading that is up to 48.36-percent higher than the 2.5-liter, outgoing engine’s.
“Our 2.5-liter engine as it is, is already fuel efficient, but with the introduction of the new Isuzu RZ4E engine, our Isuzu mu-X model is now made smarter by performing at a higher capacity under lower fuel consumption,” emphasized Koso.
The new variants of the Isuzu mu-X that will carry the RZ4E engine will be sold in the colors of: Havana Brown, Cosmic Black, Obsidian Gray, Titanium Silver, and Silky Pearl White. The Isuzu mu-X RZ4E 4x2 LS MT will be priced at P1,395,000; the mu-X RZ4E 4x2 LS-A MT at P1,570,000; and the Isuzu mu-X RZ4E 4x2 LS-AAT at P1,595,000. Pricing for the D-Max variants with the RZ4E engine will be announced at a later time.