Nissan enters the big league of trucks
with the introduction of Titan, which
stretches to full-size dimensions on
the new ZW boxed-rail platform.
Titan
debuts late in 2003 after assembly at
Nissan's new manufacturing facility
in Canton, Miss., with power supplied
by a new aluminum-block V8 built at
a Nissan engine plant in Decherd, Tenn.
Although ultimate engine production
numbers are still pending, Nissan promises
that the dual-cam 5.6-liter powertrain
will deliver more than 300 hp plus 375
lb-ft of torque with towing capacity
climbing to 9400 pounds. If so, these
figures will be good enough to position
Titan at the top of its full-size class
in terms of power and tow rating.
Traction
options split into either rear-wheel
2WD or a shift-on-the-fly 4WD system
featuring 2WD and 4H/4LO 4WD modes through
an electronically-controlled part-time
transfer case and switch-operated locking
rear differential. Titan shows two cab
configurations -- King Cab and Crew
Cab. The King Cab has two front-hinged
front doors and two rear-hinged back
doors that swing wide to nearly 180
degrees for east access to the cab.
Seats
consist of bench or buckets up front
and rear flip-up seat cushions with
grocery hooks on 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 floor shifter and center console.
Titan's
rear truck box runs six and a half feet
in length and contains five channel
rails (two in the floor, one on each
side rail and another on the header
panel). Utility cleats slide in or out
of the grooves for an infinite number
of tie-down points to secure a load
of cargo.
Safety
gear in Titan extends to optional front
seat side-impact and curtain-style air
bags plus four-wheel disc brakes with
anti-lock braking system (ABS). Titan
Crew Cab trims in XE, SE and deluxe
LE editions, while the King Cab uses
similar designations plus an entry-model
dubbed simply as the E.
All
versions utilize a five-speed electronically-controlled
automatic transmission and roll on 17-inch
wheels, with options for 18-inch aluminum-alloy
wheels and 265/70R18 tires, a DVD-based
navigation system with dash-mounted
6.4-inch color video monitor, DVD Mobile
Theatre System with seven-inch video
monitor folding down from the ceiling
and a 350-watt Rockford Fosgate sound
system with ten speakers.
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