Nissan deciding on Titan engine variations for late 2011 or 2012

Squid · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2010, 07:24 PM

That's right boyz and girlz the Titan ain't dead just a little behind since the Dodge deal fell through according to Automotive News and explains the Engineering Survey I got to participate in, there may even be a Diesel.

Quote:

NEW YORK -- Nissan engineers and designers are playing catch-up to create the next-generation full-sized Titan pickup, now that the project is back on their plate.

A plan to develop the pickup jointly with Chrysler off the Dodge Ram collapsed last year. Now Nissan must make up for lost time.

"We were going to launch in 2011 with Chrysler," Larry Dominique, Nissan North America's vice president for product planning and the leader of the project to create the original Titan, said during the recent New York auto show. "It's clearly going to take us longer than that to launch our own internal program.

"We are pushing very hard to see what we can do to accelerate development. We're looking at every way we can to pull ahead the start of production. We haven't come close to telling anybody what those dates are."

Dominique declined to describe the homegrown Titan. A key piece of the shelved plan was more engine variations for the Titan. The Ram offers a selection of powertrains, including a diesel engine. Nissan's current Titan offers only one engine: a 5.6-liter V-8.

Dominique said the program has not locked in its engine choices yet, but he is still considering more engine choices on the next Titan.

"I have a broad menu I can look at," he said. "We could do downsized powertrains, we could do an enhanced V-8, and we could look at diesel powertrains."

Nissan took diesel options off the table on all its U.S.-market cars last year. But Dominique said diesel remains under consideration for the pickup -- "if we could find the right partner and the right engine."

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#ixzz0kvnx2LyU

River Rat · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2010, 07:45 PM

we will see what they do hopefully they learned from there mistakes in the truck market over the year and will do something to help them not only continue to have a great truck but also to help them sell more trucks.

Red Alert · #3 (**permalink**) 04-12-2010, 11:27 PM

I feel the current available choices are sufficient if Nissan just wants to maintain a presence in the market.

If they want to move into a more competitive position they need to add at least two additional lines.

One a higher performance sport truck for street markets.

The other is a diesel/gas heavy duty chassis in the 3/4T range. Maybe even a 3/4 Ton Plus truck with integral towing equipment.

I'd like to see a high performance brake option. If it goes faster, it needs to be able to stop quicker... and to go with those powerful brakes I'd like to see an upgraded suspension...these are part and parcel of the high performance street truck.

Red

Ol'Coot · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2010, 12:25 PM

I agree. If Nissan is to remain in the truck market here in the US, it desperately needs to begin a program of planned upgrades and features. (Not to mention advertising). A 3/4 ton with diesel option as well as optional gasoline engine and transmission choices would be a great start. Given the problems of some of their competitors, they could regain market share quickly. After all, in business, "Perception is Reality"

NoGo · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2010, 10:27 AM

All of the above would be great, plus, more cab configurations.

I'm am a little disappointed though, how many times have we heard about a new Titan coming out ?? Not that theres anything wrong with the present Titan, I love Titan the way it is, I'm just in a "I'll believe it when I see it" kind of mood now...

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