New York, NY - Making its world debut at the New York International Auto Show, the all-new 2004 Titan Crew Cab boasts a spacious cabin with class-leading* interior space, a high-utility bed with an industry-first factory-applied spray-in bedliner, a new Utili-track™ bed channel tie-down system that provides ultimate cargo hauling flexibility, and an integrated, lockable bedside storage compartment.

The Titan Crew Cab, like the Titan King Cab, is in a league of its own when it comes to styling and innovation, bringing a fresh, new alternative in the full-size truck category. In addition, the Titan Crew’s Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter V8 engine offers power that rivals even some standard V8s found on competitors’ heavy-duty 3/4-ton models.

"The Nissan Titan significantly raises the standard for power, utility and style within the full-size truck segment through its bold innovations and advanced design," said Bill Kirrane, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "Titan clearly represents a shift in truck thinking and design."

The Driving Force
The heart and soul of the Titan is pure, unabashed power, with the all-new Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter V8 engine producing over 300 horsepower and 375-plus lb-ft torque. The Titan Crew Cab’s maximum towing capacity of 9,400 pounds (when properly equipped) is more than any competitive half-ton extended cab and crew cab models.

"When creating the Titan, we found that most people’s prerequisites for a serious full-size truck was horsepower, torque and towing capacity. So that’s where we put our highest priority," said Larry Dominique, Chief Product Specialist, Nissan Titan. "Nearly 90 percent of the Endurance V8’s torque is available below 2,500 rpm, giving Titan an advanced capability to tow, haul and drive off-road."

The all-new V8, with aluminum cylinder heads and block with cast iron cylinder liners, microfinished forged steel crankshaft with microfinished chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, molybdenum-coated pistons and single-stage timing chain, balances impressive power with superb fuel efficiency and quiet engine operation. While final certification is not yet complete, Nissan expects the new Endurance V8 will meet U.S. federal government’s Tier 2, Bin 8 Emission Vehicle standard. Titan is expected to offer best-in-class* acceleration and fuel economy/driving range with a 29-gallon fuel tank.

Titan also uses a specially engineered 5-speed electronically controlled Torq-King automatic transmission with tow/haul mode.

The 5-speed automatic transmission is designed especially for heavy-duty truck use, with emphasis on serious towing. Each component has been adapted and strengthened, along with a low and wide gear ratio to create a high performance control system producing top-class acceleration, power and shift quality.

At the center of this tough powertrain is a sturdy, fully boxed ladder frame built specifically for serious full-size vehicles. The frame has closed-section side rails rather than the traditional C-channel open section rails that most full-size trucks employ.

Titan’s responsive handling is a product of its all-steel double-wishbone front suspension design with coil-over shock absorbers and stabilizer bar and rigid leaf (dual rate) rear suspension with shackles mounted along the frame sides to help maximize ground clearance and departure angle. Also available are Rancho“ off-road performance shocks as part of the Off-Road Package. The new Titan is available with 7.5x17 painted steel wheels and P245/75R17 tires or 8.0x18 aluminum-alloy wheels and P265/70R18 tires. Also available are 7.5x17 brushed aluminum-alloy wheels and largest-in-class* BF Goodrich P285/70R17 all-terrain tires as part of the off-road package.

The Titan also features a standard power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, designed for greater steering and handling performance, especially during heavy towing situations. Unique to the Titan, the power steering rack-and-pinion gear is insulated from the vehicle body by three rubber-insulated mounts. The 3-point rubber mounting adds to the superior steering and handling performance and also helps prevent vehicle shimmy, which is felt through the steering wheel, resulting in a smooth effortless drive.

For 4x4 models, Titan uses an advanced shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive system with 2WD/4H/4LO modes with electronic control part-time transfer case. Also contributing to Titan’s off-road capability is an advanced torque split control strategy that works in cooperation with the brake-activated limited-slip Traction Control System to transfer optimum torque to wheels automatically according to road and driving conditions.

Spacious Interior Environment
"Full-size trucks are no longer used just for work; they’re an extension of the owners’ lifestyle," said Dominique. "Truck owners are purchasing trucks as their family vehicle and for recreation, as well as a work vehicle. The Titan interior design reflects this more well-rounded usage – emphasizing roominess and innovation while providing tangible support for truck activities."

The interior is designed to be spacious and accommodating and is available in five or six passenger configurations. At 127 cubic feet, the Titan Crew Cab offers more interior space than any competitive half-ton crew cab models – including recently announced 2004 models from Ford and Toyota.

The Titan Crew Cab also offers class-leading* front and rear seat leg room with 41.8 inches and 41.4 inches respectively (based on available 2003 and 2004 competitive data).

"Knowing that trucks are being used more and more for the family, the designers put special emphasis on rear seat comfort," said Dominique.

The rear seat is large and relaxing, with a full 24 degrees of seat back angle and offers a 60/40 split fold-down feature that offers more usable space than fold and tumble designs. The rear compartment offers ample storage, including door storage bins and rear door bottle holders in the armrests.

An available overhead console system gives passengers more storage options and also comes with an optional rear-seat DVD Mobile Theatre System with fold-down 7-inch monitor and 350-watt 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate“-powered sound system. The console houses rear audio controls and also contains dampened storage bins for both front and rear passengers for items like sunglasses, CDs, cell phone, PDA or a small tissue box.

Two interior configurations are available – a standard bench seat with column shifter, which seats six passengers or an optional bucket seat package, which offers a large center console with two front captain’s chairs with gated floor shifter.

The center console can hold a variety of beverage containers, including a 1-liter bottle. A 12-volt adapter is equipped in the storage area and can be used as a power source for a phone or other electronic devices. The storage in the center console offers passengers a variety of storage choices, with size adjusted by simply removing or adding dividers. The console’s storage box can also accommodate hanging file folders and contains holders for maps, paper, pens and business cards on the console lid.

The Titan Crew Cab features a front passenger seat that folds flat to allow extra storage and can also be used as a working area. Additionally, power-adjustable front seats with available driver’s seat memory system and heated seats provide added convenience. Titan also offers power-adjustable foot pedals with memory and transmission interlock.

A High-Utility Bed
Perhaps Titan’s biggest innovation and differentiation from the competition is in its bed, addressing truck owners’ desire for more utility and flexibility in how they use their trucks’ bed.
Nissan research showed that a vast majority of full-size pickup owners perform some sort of modifications, usually bed liners or tie-down systems, to their trucks after purchase. After studying available aftermarket bed utility systems and bed liners, the Titan team created a unique, two-part solution.

"For years, truck owners have had to make do with a simple steel box with just four tie-down hooks in the corners," said Dominique. "No more."

First, to overcome the tendency of aftermarket drop-in bedliners to warp or trap rust-inducing moisture underneath, or the relatively high cost and thickness of typical aftermarket spray-in bedliners, a special factory-applied spray-in bedliner was developed. Using a special high durability hard surface resin application, which can be sprayed on complex surfaces, the bedliner helps prevent scratch damage and corrosion to the bed and inner tailgate surface, it is the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer and is covered by the Nissan Basic Limited Warranty (see dealer for complete warranty details).

"Because Titan is being produced at an all-new manufacturing facility, we designed the spray-in bedliner as part of the truck line at an added investment of nearly $20 million dollars," said Dominique. "The spray-in bedliner gives Titan a tremendous advantage in the convenience offered in the segment*."

The second part of the bed utility solution was the development of the Utili-track tie-down channel system. With this system, five special "C" channel rails are mounted in the bed (two channels in the bed floor, and one each on the bed side rails and the bed header panel).

Removable utility cleats slide into the channels, providing an infinite range of attaching points for cargo tie-down. The channels are open at the rear of the bed, allowing the cleats to be completely removed when not in use for easy cleaning of the channels with a spray washer or garden hose.

The cleats are rated at 500 pounds (twice the industry standard) and the Utili-track system also includes 25 additional structural reinforcements to strengthen the bed, helping to accommodate the loads associated with the channel system. In addition, slide-in channel caps help prevent debris from collecting in the floor channels when not in use.

The channel system also accepts many current aftermarket accessory racks, and Nissan is developing its own extensive line of bed accessories including dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units, a sliding tool box, plus bike and kayak racks.

The Titan bed also includes four standard stake pockets and, as required for a working pickup, Titan carries 4x8-foot plywood sheets easily between the wheel housings.

The new Titan also features an innovative bedside storage compartment located behind the rear driver’s side wheel. The bedside storage bin is designed to hold common truck items such as work gloves, chains, rope, road flares, first aid kit or a hitch ball. The compartment is double-sealed to help prevent the intrusion of water and dust (though the compartment is not designed to be waterproof in case of submersion) and uses the Titan ignition key for locking and unlocking.

Safety and Security
The 2004 Titan includes a long list of safety equipment, including available front seat side-impact and curtain supplemental air bags that help provide side-impact and rollover protection for outboard passengers (the first available among full-size pickups).

Standard safety features on the 2004 Titan include driver and passenger front supplemental air bags with Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), front seat belts with adjustable upper anchors, pretensioners and load limiters, three-point rear outboard passenger seat belts and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) child seat anchor system.

Driver and passenger confidence is accentuated with an extensive list of vehicle-incorporated safety features including an energy-absorbing steering column, Zone Body construction with front and rear structure crumple zones, hood buckling creases with safety stops, knee bolsters and special body side reinforcements and a shift interlock system.

Models and Manufacturing
The 2004 Nissan Titan will be offered in King Cab and Crew Cab models with either 4x2 or 4x4 drive configurations. The Crew Cab is offered in three models – XE, SE and LE, each with choice of 4x2 or 4x4.

Every Titan comes fully equipped with the all-new Nissan Endurance V8 with 300-plus horsepower and 375-plus lb-ft torque, 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, power rack-and-pinion steering and 17-inch wheels and tires.

Two seating package configurations are available on the SE Model – Split Bench Seat and Power captain’s chairs.

Optional equipment packages on the Crew Cab include an XE Popular Package with overhead console, upgraded audio system and vehicle security system with immobilizer; an SE Popular Package with upgraded audio system with steering wheel audio controls, overhead console with rear audio controls, rearview mirror with temperature and UGDO and adjustable pedals; SE Rockford Fosgate Package with premium audio Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system; Mobile Theatre Package with drop down rear monitor and integrated DVD player, video port on center console and two wireless headphones; Front Seat Side-Impact and Curtain Air Bag Package; Sunroof Package; and Proximity Package with rear proximity sensors and DVD-based navigation system.

Titan Crew Cab also offers three functional packages: an Off-Road Package (XE 4x4, SE and LE) which includes Rancho“ gas shocks, lower final gear ratio (3.357), P285/17R17 BF Goodrich raised white letter all terrain tires, 17-inch aluminum wheels, skid plates (oil pan, fuel tank and transfer case), fog lamps and tow hooks; Utility Bed Package (SE) with C-channel bed system, bed side storage, rear bed lighting and power point and spray-in bedliner; Tow Package (SE, LE) including receiver hitch, lower final gear ratio (3.357), 7-pin wiring harness plug, trailer brake pre-wiring on I/P, transmission oil temperature gauge, extending mirrors, heavy duty battery and radiator and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

Titan will be one of four vehicles assembled in the Canton, Miss. facility, along with the new Nissan Quest, Pathfinder Armada full-size SUV and full-size Infiniti SUV. Nissan has a longstanding reputation for assembling quality products in North America.

The original Smyrna, Tenn. facility, which started production in 1983, has been recognized as one of the most productive vehicle assembly plants in the U.S., winning top honors in the Harbour Reports independent rankings from 1994 - 2002. The new 3.5-million square foot Canton facility is schedule to start production in May 2003. The Decherd, Tenn. plant, which will produce Titan's Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter V8, began production in 1997.

"The new Titan is Nissan's biggest vehicle and biggest statement yet," said Kirrane. "There's much on the line – a major financial investment, an extension of our growing brand and reputation, and our longstanding heritage of innovation and performance. Titan delivers on all accounts."