The
all-new 2004 Nissan Titan, which made its world debut at
the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit,
brings to the full-size pickup market bold styling and a
new level of innovation -– including rear King Cab
doors that open nearly 180 degrees for nearly unlimited
interior access and a high-utility bed that includes an
industry-first factory-applied spray-in bed liner, a new
Utili-track tie-down system that provides ultimate cargo
hauling flexibility and an integrated, lockable bedside
storage compartment.
The
Titan, Nissan's first entry into the full-size truck category,
is built on an all-new pickup platform, featuring a newly
designed 300-plus horsepower Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter
DOHC V8 with a torque rating of more than 375 lb-ft. The
new Titan also offers a standard 5-speed automatic transmission
and a towing capacity of up to 9,400 pounds. Titan will
be available in both King Cab and Crew Cab models with a
choice of 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. The Titan Crew Cab
model will be shown for the first time at the New York International
Auto Show in April 2003.
The
new Titan, which was conceived, developed, styled and engineered
primarily in North America, will be assembled at Nissan's
new $1.43 billion manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss.,
with its Nissan Endurance V8 assembled on an all-new line
at Nissan's advanced engine production facility in Decherd,
Tenn. The new Titan is scheduled to go on sale at more than
1,100 Nissan dealers nationwide in late 2003.
"The
launch of the 2004 Titan is a huge project for Nissan, literally
and figuratively," said Bill Kirrane, vice president
and general manager, Nissan Division. "Our challenge
in entering this well-defined, brand loyal and product knowledge
truck market is to first get the basics done right and then
build on those core attributes with a new level of style
and innovation. With Titan, we’ve done just that."
The
Titan Concept: Big, Bold and Better
The
Titan name was chosen to reflect the importance Nissan placed
on the all-new pickup’s massive size and power. Though
the pickup has replaced the sedan in many households as
the second family vehicle, the prerequisites for success
continue to be horsepower, torque, towing capacity, a large
cab and a large bed.
"One
of our first targets in developing the new Titan was to
fit in before we could stand out," said Kirrane.
"Trucks have become a necessity rather than an
accessory for active lifestyles, so we had two goals: to
meet or exceed the capacities and capabilities of the gold
standards in class – and then bring to the table fresh
ideas, items that have never been done before."
As Nissan
began an extensive research program into truck usage and
owner desires, innovation emerged as the primary need beyond
size and power. "We let owners tell us and show
us what they felt was missing in the current offerings –
more storage, more cargo carrying flexibility and more assertive
styling. Then we added some ideas and targets of our own,
like building on the best power in class with the highest
fuel economy and longest driving range," said
Kirrane.
While
the engineers began work on Titan’s hardware, a team
of designers set up shop at Nissan Design America, Inc.
(NDA) in La Jolla, Calif. Like every other area of the new
Titan, the exterior styling grew out of extensive pickup
user research.
"There
hasn’t been much pickup design innovation for a number
of years and for many owners there hasn’t been much
need," said Tom Semple, president, NDA. "Yet
we heard from buyers, especially those somewhat younger
than the truck segment average, that they wanted a bolder,
more expressive exterior, something more adventurous. We
also wanted the design to be clearly identified as a Nissan."
The
Titan exterior design is marked by both its refinement and
large sense of scale, with a large, impressive hood, powerful
yet highly detailed headlights and a unique silhouette.
"We
really wanted to give Titan a new quality, a really modern
feel without compromising its utilitarian roots,"
said Semple. "It’s stylish but still a truck,
with the form projecting the vehicle’s power and dimensions."
A
True Truck Platform
Once
the basic form took shape, the engineers turned to matching
bold styling with equally bold ideas of their own. First
was the idea of class-leading performance. Building on Nissan's
reputation for advanced engine design, they targeted class-leading
towing power, acceleration and fuel economy/driving range
with the development of the Titan's standard 5.6-liter DOHC
V8. Rated at over 300 horsepower and, equally important,
more than 375 lb-ft of torque, the engine is matched with
a specially engineered 5-speed automatic transmission with
manual shift mode and available gated shifter.
Though
final numbers are not yet available, the use of advanced
engine technology such as aluminum block with cast iron
cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, microfinished
crankshaft and camshaft, molybdenum-coated pistons, 6-bolt
main bearing caps, and Super Silent single-stage timing
chain are expected to result in excellent fuel economy with
no sacrifice of performance.
For
4x4 models, Titan adapts an advanced shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel
drive system with 2WD/4H/4LO modes with electronic control
part-time transfer case.
An off-road
package will also be available with a unique lower ratio
Dana 44 axle, class-exclusive electronically activated locking
rear differential (switch operated), off-road-style Rancho
gas shock absorbers, large all-terrain tires, fog lights
and lower radiator, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates.
Titan's
responsive handling is a product of its all-steel double
wishbone front suspension design and rigid leaf (dual rate)
rear suspension with shackles mounted along the frame sides
to eliminate below frame obstacles. The new Titan is available
with 7.5x17 painted steel wheels and 245/75R17 tires or
8.0x18 aluminum-alloy wheels and 265/70R18 tires. Also available
are 7.5x17 brushed aluminum-alloy wheels and 285/70R17 tires
as part of the off-road package.
Power-assisted
rack-and-pinion steering is standard, along with 4-wheel
disc brakes with Bosch Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
The
Titan’s towing capacity is rated at up to 9,400 pounds
– as much as some 3/4-ton pickups.
A Contemporary Interior, an Innovative Entrance
The
interior is designed to be spacious and accommodating, while
also highly usable. "We wanted the Titan's interior
to feel big, assertive and organized, combining big, open
spaces with smaller, private places for the owners’
everyday stuff," said Semple. "Even the
door handles, knobs and assist grips are unique, full-size
truck scale parts, designed to be used with work gloves
on – rather than just pulling sedan knobs and handles
out of the parts inventory."
Among
the Titans many standard and available features are power-adjustable
front seats with available driver's seat memory system,
heated front seats and flip-up rear seat cushions (King
Cab) for added cargo space and flexibility, with grocery
hooks on the bottom of the seat cushions.
The
King Cab’s rear compartment offers ample rear storage,
including door storage bins and rear door bottle holders
in the armrests and power front windows with one-touch up
and down function.
Along
with the "everyday innovations" found in Titan’s
storage and comfort details, King Cab models feature a true
breakthrough design innovation - a first-in-class Wide-Open
rear door that swings open nearly 180 degrees, providing
unprecedented access to the rear seats. Key to the door’s
design is a hefty, two-stage hinge with four axis of rotation.
The door opens first to a conventional 85 degrees, then
can be swung to nearly 180 degrees.
Along
with providing a new level of ease for entering and exiting
the rear seat, the Wide-Open door allows owners to load
packages or cargo in crowded parking lots without having
to maneuver between the traditional "trap" of
partially opened front and rear doors.
The
Wide-Open door will be standard on all 2004 Nissan Titan
King Cab models.
"The
Wide-Open door design is amazing both in its simplicity
and in how far it advances the basic utility of an extended
cab truck," said Larry Dominque, Chief Product
Specialist, Nissan Titan. "It is really going to
make Titan stand out from every other extended cab pickup
on the market today."
A
High-Utility Bed
The
Titan’s other really big idea is actually a series
of innovations, all addressing truck owners’ desire
for more utility and flexibility in how they use their trucks’
beds.
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. Thinner than drop-in
bedliners or typical aftermarket spray-in applications,
the Titan bedliner also maximizes bed volume. Available
in black color only, it is the first offered by any original
equipment manufacturer and is covered by the Nissan warranty.
"Because
Titan is being produced at an all-new manufacturing facility,
we designed the spray-in bedliner as part of the truck line
at added investment of nearly $20 million dollars,"
said Dominique. "The spray-in bedliner gives Titan
a tremendous advantage in the convenience and warranty piece
of mind for owners."
The
second part of the bed utility solution was the development
of the Utili-track System tie-down channel system. With
this system, five special "C" cross-section 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 22 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 dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units,
along with bike and kayak racks and other accessories.
The
Titan bed also includes four standard stake pockets and,
as required, 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.
Models and Manufacturing
The
2004 Nissan Titan will be offered in King Cab and Crew Cab
models in a number of trim levels to match specific buyer
needs. More details will be provided as the new Titan gets
closer to its on sale date. The Titan Crew Cab pickup will
be shown publicly for the first time in April 2003 at the
New York International Auto Show.
Titan
will be one of four vehicles assembled in the Canton, Miss.
facility, along with the new Nissan Quest, Nissan full-size
SUV and full-size Infiniti SUV. Nissan has a longstanding
reputation for building 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 summer 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."
2004
Nissan Titan King Cab Preliminary Specifications
Layout/Body:
Front engine, rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive, extended
cab pickup, fully boxed all-steel ladder frame
Engine: 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8
300+ horsepower and 375+ lb-ft torque
Aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel
crankshaft, microfinished crankshaft and camshaft, molybdenum-coated
pistons, 6-bolt main bearing caps, Super Silent single-stage
timing chain
Transmission: 5-speed electronically controlled automatic
transmission with manual shift mode, available gated shifter
or column-mounted shifter (with bench front seat), tow/haul
mode
Drive Configuration: Rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System
(TCS)
4WD System: Available shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive system
with 2WD/4H/4LO modes with electronic control part-time
transfer case, electronically controlled locking rear differential
(switch operated)
Suspension: Front double wishbone, all-steel
Rear rigid leaf (dual rate) with shackles mounted along
frame sides
Available off-road Rancho front and rear gas shocks
Brakes: 4-wheel disc brakes with Bosch Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS)
Wheels/Tires: 17x7.5 and 245/75R17; 18x8.0 and 265/70R18
Wheelbase: 139.8 inches
Length: 224.2 inches
Width: 78.8 inches
Height: 74.4 inches (4x2), 76.0 (4x4)
Track f/r: 67.5 inches/67.5 inches
Bed Length: 6.5 ft. (King Cab)
Towing Capacity: 9,400 lb.
Safety: Zone Body construction with front and rear crushable
zones and occupant zone
Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (includes dual-stage front
supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front
occupant classification sensor), 3-point front seat belts
with pretensioners and load limiters
Supplemental front side-impact air bags with available supplemental
side-impact curtain air bags (the first time available in
a full-size extended cab pickup)
3-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants, including
center position
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren) child seat
safety system
Innovations: Wide-Open rear doors (King Cab) that swing
open nearly 180 degrees
Available high-utility bed design featuring:
- Utili-track bed channel system with adjustable aluminum-alloy
tie-down cleats and available accessory racks, trays, dividers
and modular storage systems
- Unique lockable, climate-resistant bedside storage compartment
located immediately behind the driver's side rear wheelwell,
with two-position adjustable tray and removable rubber mat
- Factory-applied spray-in bedliner