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Nissan constructs a truck in full-size format with new Titan
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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CANTON, Miss. -- At a really big automobile factory, one might logically expect to see some really big vehicles rolling off the assembly line.
That's certainly the case at Nissan's new manufacturing facility, which goes on for upwards of a mile along I-55 at Canton, Miss. A parking lot at the end of the assembly line contains a bumper-to-bumper collection of husky full-size trucks awaiting shipment.
Yet the large-scale dimensions of these new Nissan trucks may still seem surprising to those who think that an automaker originating in Japan constructs pickup trucks only in eensy-weensy sizes for the compact class.
Titan, Nissan's new truck developed for a head-to-head run against full-size domestic pickups, disputes the notion.
It stands high and stretches long, measuring well over 18 feet in length and more than six feet tall and six wide.
A full-size truck box in back draws out six feet and seven inches long.
And it's a hefty vehicle, weighing in at 4966 pounds for the two-wheel-drive (2WD) version and 5287 pounds for a four-wheel-drive (4WD) edition.
To propel such weight requires a massive engine, and Titan provides one.
Dubbed the Endurance V8, Titan's all-aluminum engine displaces 5.6 liters and comes with dual-overhead cams and four valves for every cylinder -- the only four-valve plant among all big trucks.
It produces 305 hp at 4900 rpm and truck-hauling torque of 379 lb-ft at 3600 rpm, yet the unit runs on regular unleaded fuel.
And almost 90 percent of the torque from Titan's engine is available below 2500 rpm -- just where it's needed for towing tasks or off-road maneuvers at a slow speed.
Linked to the engine is an electronically-controlled Torq-King automatic transmission with five forward gears and a tow/haul mode, which reworks shift patterns when towing.
When properly equipped, Titan scores a maximum towing capacity of 9500 pounds.
It's also well-suited for off-road work with a 4WD version.
The 4WD equipment utilizes a shift-on-the-fly system working through a two-speed electronic transfer case and switch-operated locking rear differential, plus a brake-activated limited-slip traction control system (TCS).
Titan's driver can switch between 4WD in high range or low range for off-road treks crawling over rough terrain, or use the 2WD mode with power sent to the rear wheels for normal driving on dry pavement.
Foundation for the new truck is Nissan's ZW platform, a steel chassis of ladder-frame formation featuring full-length boxed rails for extra rigidity.
Front suspension is a double-wishbone design and at the rear there's a dual-rate rigid leaf with shackles pegged on sides of the frame to maximize the ground clearance.
Ride height works out to 10.3 inches at the rear axle, with 9.7 inches up front for a 2WD rig but 11.6 inches on the 4WD version.
The responsive steering system uses a rack and pinion arrangement with speed-sensing power assistance, and for brakes the four-wheel discs by Continental-Teves tie to an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with brake assist (BA) and electronic brake distribution (EBD).
Titan looks tough and powerful.
The exterior design features a stubby prow anchored by a rectangular grille flashing flat diagonal stripes in chrome and corner headlamp clusters with brows peaking in pentagonal format.
Shoulders square off to forge flat flanks and there's a curvaceous line on each side marking separation between the cab and truck bed.
Titan's rear box contains five channel rails -- there are two in the floor, one on each side rail and another on the header panel. Utility cleats slide in or out of the grooves with an infinite number of tie-down points for securing a load of cargo.
This is the first truck to offer a factory-applied sprayed black bedliner -- it's optional for base trim but standard on top models.
Titan also shows two different cab configurations with the King Cab and Crew Cab.
King Cab has two front-hinged front doors and two rear-hinged back doors that swing wide to nearly 180 degrees for easy access to the cab.
Seats consist of bench or buckets up front and rear flip-up seat cushions with grocery hooks set along the bottom of the cushions.
The Crew Cab carries four conventional front-hinged doors and seats for as many as six.
A front bench is standard with column-mounted shifter, but front captain's chairs are available and bring a gated shifter and floor-mounted console.
There's big-time cabin space here with class-leading legroom for both front and rear seats (41.8 inches for front seat legroom and 40.4 inches in the rear).
Safety gear in Titan extends to optional front seat side-impact and curtain-style air bags.
Titan Crew Cab trims in base XE, mid-level SE and deluxe LE editions, while the King Cab gets the same designations.
All versions roll on standard 17-inch wheels, with options for 18-inch aluminum wheels and 265/70R18 tires.
Titan Crew Cab lists several functional packages as options for special use. The Off-Road Package brings Rancho gas shocks, all-terrain tires, skid plates, foglamps and tow hooks. The Tow Package comes with a receiver hitch, wiring harness plug, extending mirrors, transmission oil temperature gauge, and heavy-duty battery and radiator plus vehicle dynamic control (VDC).
Other options include a DVD-based navigation system with dash-mounted 6.4-inch color video monitor, a DVD Mobile Theatre System with seven-inch video monitor folding down from the ceiling and a 350-watt sound system by Rockford Fosgate with ten cabin speakers.
price points string on a long list but start at $22,400 for Titan King Cab XE 2WD or $25,500 for the 4WD version.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2004 NISSAN TITAN Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size pickup truck
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| Model Options: |
Full-size pickup truck
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| Wheelbase: |
139.8 inches
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| Overall Length: |
224.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 5.6-L V8
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5 Torq-King
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| Drive: |
2WD Rear
4WD part-time
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc
ABS/BA/EBD/
opt. VDC/TCS/TPMS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front)
+ opt. 2 (side)
+ opt. 2 (side curtain)
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| Gross Weight: |
2WD: 6486 pounds
4WD: 6486 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
King Cab 2WD: 9500 pounds, King Cab 4WD: 9400 pounds, Crew Cab 2WD: 9400 pounds Crew Cab 4WD: 9400 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
2WD: 14/19 mpg
4WD: 14/18 mpg |
| Price: |
King Cab XE 2WD: $22,400, King Cab XE 4WD: $25,500, King Cab SE 2WD: $24,400, King Cab SE 4WD: $27,500, King Cab LE 2WD: $28,800 King Cab LE 4WD: $31,900
Crew Cab XE 2WD: $25,100
Crew Cab XE 4WD: $28,200
Crew Cab SE 2WD: $26,700
Crew Cab SE 4WD: $29,800
Crew Cab LE 2WD: $31,100
Crew Cab LE 4WD: $34,200 |
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