Autoblog

Nissan's Ghosn directly confirms next-generation Titan pickup

Chris Paukert — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Nissan

This afternoon at a Detroit Auto Show media roundtable event, Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn unequivocally confirmed that Nissan will build a next-generation Titan pickup. "We are going to replace it. We are going to present in every segment in the market in the United States." Previous news stories indicated that Nissan was pursuing a new Titan, but persistent reports indicated that the automaker would pursue an outside partner for the vehicle's development.

A subsequent Autoblog discussion with a Nissan official revealed that not only is the company developing the next-generation Titan right now - internally and without another automaker as a partner - it's not that far off. Our source confirms that Nissan will first show the truck "in about a year's time" and the vehicle will likely go on sale as a 2014 model, consistent with earlier reports.

One of the chief issues the current Titan has faced, according to our source, has been its limited configurability versus competitors' offerings. But the next-generation Titan won't make this same mistake - it will offer multiple engines and cab configurations.

Nissan first introduced the Canton, Mississippi-built Titan in 2004, but it's suffered from slow sales and limited updates. More recently, The Japanese marque entered the North American commercial truck market with its NV van line, but in 2011, it only managed to sell around 6,500 units.

Nissan's Ghosn directly confirms next-generation Titan pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Titan successor pushed back to 2014

Zach Bowman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Nissan

It may be a while before buyers get their hands on the next-generation Nissan Titan. Automotive News reports that the vehicle has encountered engineering delays brought about by this year's earthquake and tsunami tragedies in Japan, and now the next-gen pickup may not debut until the 2014 model year. The news comes courtesy of Andy Palmer, executive vice president for vehicle planning and program management at Nissan, who said that he made the decision to delay the vehicle's development.

As you may recall, Nissan originally planned to co-develop a successor with Chrysler. Unfortunately, the American automaker entered bankruptcy before that plan could come to fruition. The next-generation full-size pickup from Nissan was slated to debut this year.

The current Titan debuted in 2004, making the truck one of the oldest platforms in a fiercely competitive segment. Here's hoping that the delay won't cause any issues with turbo diesel four-cylinder engine Nissan is currently developing with Cummins.

Nissan Titan successor pushed back to 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan to remain "patient" with Titan full-size truck

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

The Nissan Titan is being redesigned for 2014, and if we're to take the Nissan America's chairman at his word, another new one will be in the pipeline after that. Colin Dodge tells Automotive News, "We're going to need two or three cycles to be as professional as the people who have been doing it for 50 or 60 years."

By that, Dodge is referring to, well, Ram, Chevrolet and Ford. Indeed, domestic manufacturers have been far less impacted by the arrival of Japanese full-size pickups than many had speculated. Nissan's Titan was introduced for the 2004 model year, but annual sales topped out at 86,945 in 2005, according to AN. This year, Nissan has moved just over 15,000 of the trucks, but is apparently undeterred by slow sales.

On tap for the next-gen Titan will most certainly be some different engine options, as the Nissan spokesman thinks the 5.6-liter V8 that's been offered since launch has held the Titan back. While nothing definitive is mentioned in the interview, he does say "very efficient powertrains" will be part of the mix. At the very least ,we might expect a variation of Nissan's VQ-series V6 to finally find a home behind the Titan's grille.

Nissan to remain "patient" with Titan full-size truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Frontier and Titan dash in with new appearance packages for 2012

Zach Bowman — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan has announced new appearance packages for the 2012 Frontier and Titan. The smaller of the two workhorses will jump into the new model year with a Sport Appearance Package on King Cab and Crew Cab SV iterations. The kit packs 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, as well as a front grille with a Dark Hyper Silver, body-color front and rear bumpers and the Frontier graphic on the vehicle's flanks seen above. The interior gets its fair share of kit as well, with the addition of cloth sport seats, white-faced gauges and a Bluetooth hands-free calling system.

Meanwhile, the full-size Titan will receive a Sport Appearance Package of its own, complete with 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a grille dipped in the same finish as the aforementioned Frontier, body-color bumpers all around and a set of black step rails. A handy lockable storage compartment resides inside the bed, and Titan graphics are also part of the party. Inside, the appearance package brings along many of the same tricks as found in the Frontier with captain's chairs embroidered with the Titan logo and white-face gauges.

If you like the sound of this dance, you can expect to pay $1,190 for the Sport Appearance Package on the Frontier and $2,490 for the garb on the Titan. Hit the jump for the press releases.

Continue reading Nissan Frontier and Titan dash in with new appearance packages for 2012

Nissan Frontier and Titan dash in with new appearance packages for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickup makers reach pact with SAE on tow rating standards

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc.

The pickup truck towing capacity wars have been in full-blown Mortal Kombat-style battle mode for as long as we can remember. For years, it's gone something like this: Automaker A claims that its rig can tow 10,000 pounds, then Automaker B increases their truck's stated capacities to 10,500 pounds without changing a single component. And if you've ever wondered if all automakers test towing capacities in the same manner, well... they don't.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Society of Automotive Engineers will change practice that by the 2013 model year by implementing a new a standardized testing methodology. General Motors engineer Robert Krause, who chaired the SAE committee that set the new standard, said that the automakers involved "wanted our customers to know that 10,000 pounds of towing capacity means the same thing for all trucks."

This sounds like a plan that should have been hatched and executed long ago, but at least the deed is finally getting done. Toyota is already using the new standard with its Tundra (resulting in slightly lower tow ratings), while other major truckmakers will comply to the voluntary standard sometime in 2012. Nissan has stated that it will utilize the standard sometime in the future, but hasn't gotten specific with any details.

Pickup makers reach pact with SAE on tow rating standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Certain Chevrolet, Nissan owners most likely to die in a car crash?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Chevrolet, Nissan

We've got some sour news for you if you've got a Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Cobalt, Nissan 350Z or Nissan Titan in your driveway. According to a new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, owners of those particular vehicles are more likely to die in an auto accident than those who own other vehicles. That's thanks in part to the fact that those models aren't equipped with traction control. Automotive News reports that the IIHS study found that of the 26 lowest-rated vehicles in the study, none had the technology.

In the past, SUV drivers were the ones most likely to die due to the threat of rollovers, but new safety systems have changed that trend. The IIHS report now says that SUV drivers are among those who are most likely to survive an accident.

So, which vehicles came out on top? The Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Toyota Sienna, Ford Edge, Nissan Armada and Land Rover Range Rover Sport and LR3 were among the winners of the survey. That settles it, Aveo owners; time to trade it in for Range Rover.

Certain Chevrolet, Nissan owners most likely to die in a car crash? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports: Nissan to repair 2.14 million vehicles in its 3rd biggest recall ever

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:52:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Infiniti, Nissan

The line at the door for the recall party is getting longer. Nissan has just showed up and it needs to bring in 2.14 million vehicles around the world, making it the automaker's third largest recall of all-time. The issue lies with a faulty ignition relay that could cause the engine to stall or fail to restart. The fix is reported to take less than 25 minutes, and involves swapping out the faulty ignition relay for a new one.

This recall affects vehicles built around the world, from August 2003 to July 2006. Japan serves up the bulk of the recalled vehicles, with 835,000 units needing to come back in. The U.S. and Canada are not far behind, recalling 762,000 cars between them. The vehicles include a wide gamut of Nissan product, from subcompacts like the Micra and Cube up to larger cars and trucks such as the Titan and Infiniti QX.

Nissan joins an ever expanding list of automakers reporting recent recalls. BMW recently took the first step in admitting they have a problem, by recalling N54-equipped vehicles. Chrysler and Volvo vehicles have had power steering issues. Some Ram trucks went out with incorrectly labeled weight and seating stickers. Honda and Toyota used a parts supplier who was dealing in faulty brake master cylinders. The list goes on and on.

[Sources: AOL Autos]

Reports: Nissan to repair 2.14 million vehicles in its 3rd biggest recall ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Titan and Armada get new prices and model designations for 2011

Zach Bowman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Nissan

2011 Nissan Titan - Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like the 2011 Nissan Murano was the harbinger of names to come for the rest of the Nissan fleet. The company just released pricing details on the 2011 Titan and Armada, and it looks like the two heavy-breathing bruisers will carry new badges when they hit dealer lots. Starting next year, the Armada will shed its SE and Titanium designations in favor of SV and SL trims, respectively. Those looking to land themselves in the big Japanese SUV can expect to pay $37,910 for a two-wheel drive in SV garb. Things top out with the $52,890 Armada 4x4 Platinum.

On the truck side of things, XE, SE and LE trims have been scrapped in favor of S, SV and SL designations. Oh what a difference a consonant makes. Pricing for the full-size pickup starts at $26,820 for the short-wheelbase version in two-wheel drive, S trim and goes up from there. The priciest of the lot is the $39,620 Titan SL Crew Cab four-wheel drive. Hit the jump to check out the full press release, complete with pricing information.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Titan

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan Titan and Armada get new prices and model designations for 2011

Nissan Titan and Armada get new prices and model designations for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan Titan and Frontier pickups to get new model designations for 2011, little else

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

While Nissan refines its pickup truck plans and gets ready for an all new Titan in 2014, it is doing only a little bit of tweaking to the 2011 Titan and Frontier. The Titan swaps three of its four trim level names, with XE becoming S, SE becoming SV and LE becoming SL, and any four-wheel drive model will get a "4x4" badge. More substantively, captain's chairs will be fitted as standard on the top-level SL trim. The 317-horsepower, 5.6 liter V8 remains unchanged.

The name swap carries over to the Frontier, however, with the PRO-4X model keeping its name on the Frontier and Titan. The smaller pickup loses the six-speed manual on the long wheelbase SL King Cab and SV Crew Cab, but gains a six-speed manual option for the lowest trim S model and the PRO-4X short wheelbases. The top line SV trim adds a Luxury Package to its option sheet, and with a little mix-n-match you can get LATCH child safety seats.

The 2011 Titan goes on sale in August, the V6 Frontiers hit showrooms in September, the four cylinder Frontiers in October.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Nissan Titan and Frontier pickups to get new model designations for 2011, little else originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AP: Nissan to recall 48k trucks, SUVs over potential suspension issue

Chris Shunk — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Infiniti, Nissan

The Associated Press is reporting that Nissan will recall 48,700 trucks and SUVs for a suspension problem that could lead to an unforgiving ride. The recall, which could officially begin as early as this week, involves the 2010 Nissan Titan, Pathfinder, Armada and Xterra, along with the Infiniti QX56. The recall is related to a suspension control link that may not have been welded properly. If the weld is insufficient, the bushing collar could crack, leading to the kind of ride that bruises kidneys and rattles fillings.

Nissan spokesman Colin Price reported to the AP that the company is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to get the recall processed as quickly as possible. Once a recall is officially announced, Nissan will provide a fix at no cost to the customer. No accidents have been reported as a result of this potential issue.

[Source: The Associated Press]

AP: Nissan to recall 48k trucks, SUVs over potential suspension issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan recalls 540,000 vehicles for brake pedal pin, fuel gauge problems

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:23:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, SUV, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Nissan

Another day, another recall. This time Nissan is the automaker in question, recalling a total of 539,864 vehicles due to faulty brake pedal pins and fuel gauge components.

Nissan reports that three instances have been reported where brake pedal pins have partially disengaged, resulting in a loss of normal braking ability. Additionally, the fuel gauges in certain higher-mileage vehicles may incorrectly indicate the amount of fuel in the tank. The automaker sites that no accidents or injuries have been reported with either issue, and that all of its new vehicles currently on sale are not affected by these problems.

Vehicles affected by the brake pedal pins are the 2008-2010 Nissan Titan, Armada, Quest and Infiniti QX56. Of those recalled brake pins, 178,916 are in the United States and 25,869 in other markets. As for the fuel gauge inaccuracies, this affects 2005-2008 Nissan Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56, as well as any Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra models produced between January and March of 2006 or between October 2007 and January 2008. This accounts for 418,865 vehicles in the U.S. and 53,253 elsewhere in the world.

Beginning this month, Nissan will be notifying all owners of the vehicles in question, and they will be able to bring the vehicles to any Nissan or Infiniti dealer to have the problems repaired at no charge. For vehicles affected by the fuel gauge issues, Nissan recommends that in the mean time owners maintain a fuel level of no less than a half-tank. Hit the jump for the full details in Nissan's press release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan recalls 540,000 vehicles for brake pedal pin, fuel gauge problems

Nissan recalls 540,000 vehicles for brake pedal pin, fuel gauge problems originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: New Nissan Titan coming in 2014

Michael Harley — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Nissan, Earnings/Financials, Off-Road

2008 Nissan Titan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Originally launched in late 2003 as a 2004 model, the Nissan Titan light-duty pickup may not see its replacement until 2014 - a painfully long time in the full-size pickup market, and the Titan is already the oldest half-ton pickup in the segment. Titan sales in 2009 fell 44.1 percent from 2008. However, according to Larry Dominique, Nissan's Vice President of Product Planning, things may be turning around.

Improved traffic in Nissan showrooms, new "value packaging" that bundle popular options together, and an effort by dealers to target existing owners to replace or upgrade their Titans seems to be working. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Titan sold 5,337 units compared to 4,153 during the same period in 2008. However, Dominique appears to understand that even the most loyal customers eventually lose interest in an outdated vehicles.

"My team is working on the best overall scenario for doing the next Titan internally," Dominique said. "Given the environment, given the economy and that Nissan's global resources are constrained, we can't do everything we want as fast as we want. We had a plan that was humming along with Chrysler to deliver the truck by 2011 but that deal went away. It's a few years away. We're looking at short term enhancements we can make until 2014."

In the meantime, Nissan's pickup team will ask headquarters to approve building a heavy-duty Titan. Pushing for development of a light commercial truck (2500- or 3500-series) to increase sales volume will help spread engineering costs across more models. However, it's clear that this process isn't a short road. Once Japanese executives approve the development of a new Titan, the Nissan light-truck still figures to be another two years from production.

Gallery: 2008 Nissan Titan

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: New Nissan Titan coming in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan doggedly pursuing Titan replacement, "pretty much going it alone"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

2008 Nissan Titan - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you want to be a full-line automaker here in the United States, your dealership lots must be stocked with fullsize pickup trucks. Apparently, despite meager sales of its current Titan pickup, Nissan is committed to doing battle on a level playing field with Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota. That means remaining in the truck business here in our pickup-loving country, which in turn means a replacement for the stagnant Titan is sorely needed.

Unfortunately for the Japanese automaker, Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings allowed the company to divorce itself from its previous agreement to provide Nissan with a Ram-based truck platform for the next-gen Titan. As such, Nissan spokesman Scott Vazin tells USA Today that the automaker is "pretty much going it alone" on its fullsize truck replacement.

Until that next-gen truck is ready - at the moment, no production date has been announced - Nissan will continue to build the current Titan at its factory in Canton, Mississippi.

Gallery: 2008 Nissan Titan

[Source: USA Today]

Report: Nissan doggedly pursuing Titan replacement, "pretty much going it alone" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Titan trailer celebrates the glory that is the Nürburgring

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

Titan movie teaser - Click above to watch video

As any parent knows, when a child finds a video he likes he can watch it a kabillion jillion times with undiminished joy. That's exactly the kid we turn into any time you cut up race footage and set it to classical music and exhaust notes. This time it's the preview of the movie Titan, by French director Stephane Benini, which strings together action from the 1000 KM of the Nürburgring and features modern and vintage racers and motorcycles.

The movie has its own Facebook page if you really want to declare your love, or you can do the secret admirer thing and just enjoy the 6-minute HD clip from YouTube after the jump. The sound of the GT2 Corvette and DB9R is nothing short of knee-trembling. Follow the jump for the clip, and try not to spill your pureed peas...

[Source: Clash Productions]

Continue reading VIDEO: Titan trailer celebrates the glory that is the Nürburgring

VIDEO: Titan trailer celebrates the glory that is the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Even without Dodge Ram, Ghosn says Nissan Titan will survive

Chris Shunk — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:51:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

When Dodge announced that it wouldn't be sharing its Ram platform with Nissan, we just kind of assumed that the Titan was going to go the way of the Do Do. Why? Because Titan sales are the suck. Nissan has only sold 15,393 copies of its largest truck through the first 10 months of the year. For perspective, Ford sold more F-150s in the first two weeks of October than Nissan has sold in 43 weeks. Last year wasn't much better either, as only 30,000 customers walked out of a Nissan dealer with a new Titan.

But if a report from Inside Line is to be believed, the Titan will live on. Renault/Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn reportedly told IL that "Titan will have a replacement, we are staying in the large pickup truck market." It makes a bit of sense that there will be another Titan given the fact that Nissan also uses the basic platform for the Infiniti QX56 and the Nissan Armada. But then again those portly SUVs aren't exactly flying off the shelf, either.

Speculation is that Nissan could be looking for an outside partner (or already have one) to collaborate on a new pickup. We're thinking one candidate could be Toyota. The only other Japanese automaker competing directly with the domestics in the U.S. half-ton pickup truck market, Toyota was expecting to produce 200,000 units per year of the Tundra when the it launched, but has sold only 66,000 through October. Teaming up with Nissan would help bring costs down, soak up extra production capacity and mitigate the risk inherent in competing against Ford, GM and Chrysler at what they do best.

Gallery: 2008 Nissan Titan

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Even without Dodge Ram, Ghosn says Nissan Titan will survive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Nissan and Chrysler end collaboration, Ram-based Titan dead

John Neff — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:07:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Chrysler, Nissan

It's been a year of ups and mostly downs for Chrysler, and you just can't expect every partner to hang on for the ride. As such, Nissan and Chrysler released a joint statement today announcing a mutual end to their agreement to jointly produce three vehicles. The vehicles were to include a new Titan full-size pickup truck for Nissan based on the Dodge Ram, a new small car for Chrysler based on the Nissan Tiida (Versa in the U.S.), and another compact sedan from Nissan for Chrysler to sell in South American markets. The joint release blames "significant changes in business conditions" as the reason for the breakup, though we suspect it has more to do with the condition of Chrysler than anything else.

[Source: Nissan, Chrysler]

Continue reading BREAKING: Nissan and Chrysler end collaboration, Ram-based Titan dead

BREAKING: Nissan and Chrysler end collaboration, Ram-based Titan dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickuptrucks.com picks best truck in 2008 Half-Ton Shootout

John Neff — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck

When Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com sets his mind to something, it gets done in a big way. Witness last year's 2007 Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Shootout. This year he's back with a comparison test that bests his previous effort not only in size and scope, but also in relevance. For 2008 he has assembled every player in the half-ton truck segment, including brand new 2009 models of the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan and a 2008 Toyota Tundra. Despite the sagging economy, Americans still love us some trucks, and we've never encountered a more thorough comparison of their performance, towing abilities and fuel economy than what Mike has published at Pickuptrucks.com. Consider it the bible of half-ton pickup comparison shopping and have it pre-loaded on your iPhone when you start visiting dealerships.

We're not going to tell you which pickup won, but we will say that it was remarkable to learn how varied are the targets at which each of these trucks is aiming. Some were great for one task while failing miserably at another, and the winner was the one that performed well the most often. Click the source link below to check out the Pickuptrucks.com 2008 Half-Ton Shootout.

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Pickuptrucks.com picks best truck in 2008 Half-Ton Shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titan Tire ships world's first 63-inch tire

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Work

Remember in the first Crocodile Dundee movie when he gets mugged in New York City and Sue says "He's got a knife," and Dundee says, "That's not a knife, this is a knife," and then he pulls out a beast-killing monstrosity of a blade? Well, that's what the folks at Titan Tire are saying right now about every other -- smaller -- tire in the world.

Titan has made a 63-inch rubber behemoth for use on trucks in Canada's oil sands. The stats on these rubber donuts is impressive: the 59/80R63 is the biggest production tire in the world, standing over fourteen feet tall and weighing 12,500 pounds with a load rating of 101 metric tons. It makes Titan a very appropriate name for the company, as we learned from another movie, Remember the Titans, that in Greek mythology the Titans were greater even than the gods. Now we can only hope this development will make the price of oil drop another ten dollars...

[Source: Titan via Gizmag]

Titan Tire ships world's first 63-inch tire originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ghosn hints at killing Nissan Titan

John Neff — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:02:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

No one doubts that selling full-size trucks in the U.S. is a tough racket. Nissan knows this firsthand, as it's sold only 60,961 units of its Titan pickup so far in 2007. Compare that to the third best-selling truck in the U.S., the Dodge Ram, which has sold 326,177 units, or the new-for-2007 Toyota Tundra, which has sold 177,336 units.

In a Newsweek article profiling Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Nissan-Renault reportedly hinted that he may kill the Titan pickup. The fact is, it's becoming less and less profitable to compete in a full-size truck segment that's shrinking and becoming more competitive by the day. While Ghosn is far from hammering the last nail in the Titan's coffin, his reported comment simply highlights the fact that a smart company will build what it can sell for a profit.

Producing a pickup profitably is clearly on Ghosn's mind, and considering last Friday's rumor that Nissan is in talks with Chrysler on a possible collaboration, a Dodge Ram-based Titan that's cheaper to produce than the current truck is definitely a possibility going forward. Either that, or there won't be a Titan at all if Ghosn can't figure out how to make a buck off it.

[Source: Newsweek via Pickuptruck.com]

Ghosn hints at killing Nissan Titan originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan hasn't learned from Ford: Navistar-powered diesel Titan in 2009

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Nissan

All indications are that Ford will be dumping the Navistar diesels it's used in its Super Duty pickups almost forever in favor of an in-house-developed diesel sometime around the end of the decade. Apparently undaunted by the quality issues that Ford has repeatedly experienced with the Navistar engines, Nissan appears ready to step into the breach and pick up the supply for the Titan pickup.

Since it appears that Nissan won't be developing a heavy duty version of the Titan, it's not clear at this point if it will use the current 6.4L V-8 that Ford uses or the smaller engine that Navistar had developed for the light-duty Fords. Most likely it will be the latter engine, and it may be available for 2009. Nissan, as expected, won't comment on future products -- except when they do (they previously announced a diesel Maxima for 2010).

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

UPDATE: Mike Levine at Pickuptruck.com spoke with Nissan spokesperson John Schilling who told him, "We haven't announced anything about a diesel engine for the Titan. This news is speculation at this point, but we are continuing to study this technology for potential future use. The only vehicle we've said that will have a diesel engine is the Maxima in 2010."

Nissan hasn't learned from Ford: Navistar-powered diesel Titan in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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