The next Nissan Titan--which will be a restyled version of this new 2009 Dodge Ram--is ditching its "Endurance" V-8 for a version of Chrysler's HEMI eight-cylinder engine.

Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com reports that Nissan's truck engineers are basically handing over the next Titan to Dodge's truck team. The Nissan engineers are laying out performance specs, while it's up to Dodge to execute, he reports.

The deal isn't completely done yet, but Nissan's engineers expect the HEMI to be a part of the package, Levine says, along with a V-6 and a diesel.

Earlier this year, the two companies laid out the plan wherein the Ram would spin off a new version of the Titan. Nissan will pay Dodge to build the truck in Saltillo, Mexico, and will convert a big chunk of its Mississippi truck plant over to commercial-vehicle production.

Nissan and Chrysler seem to be waltzing into each other's arms--along with the truck project, the two are working to bring a Nissan Versa small car to Chrysler showrooms. We wouldn't be surprised if the upcoming big crossover based on the Nissan Forum concept ended up as a replacement for the Chrysler Pacifica, either.

We're not even up to the Paris auto show yet, but the 2008 Los Angeles auto show is coming up in the fall as well--and some of the launches already confirmed for the L.A. show are split on green trends and on horsepower.

2010 Ford Mustang: You've seen plenty of spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang--including some put out there by the company itself, as it tries to keep Camaro mania in check roughly somewhere short of the Obama lunacy. The latest word is that Ford will show off the Mustang at the L.A. show to avoid the collateral damage from Camaro Convertibles and Toyota Priuses and Volt production vehicles in Detroit.

2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ: Ford will show off the revamped 2010 Fusion sedan in Los Angeles as well, along with the new Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ. The new Fusion has a new face and an interior with a large navigation-ready screen, not to mention a new hybrid version. The hybrid's for Ford and Mercury only; no Lincoln gas-electric version is planned.

2010 Buick LaCrosse: GM issued a tease photo of the 2010 LaCrosse last week, showing only its nose. We're expecting more details on the new sedan shortly; Bob Lutz says it's one of the nicest things GM's ever done, so who are we to be anything but breathless in anticipation?

2010 Nissan 370Z: There are pics floating around, but only the name's been confirmed by Nissan. The new Z car could be shorter and distinctly lighter than today's car--and European mags are suggesting a version will become the new Renault Alpine.

Nissan Cube: The new generation of the boxy Scion-alike city car emerges this fall at the Los Angeles show, and later, could be the platform Nissan uses to sell electric vehicles in the U.S.

Volkswagen Concept R: If it has any intent of following up on the sassy Concept R from 2003, Volkswagen could show a production version of the Elise-fighter sportscar in Los Angeles. A lightweight vehicle with class-leading fuel economy, according to Autocar, the new roadster would undercut the hardtop convertible Eos and would use small four-cylinders and diesels for power, as well as a new DSG transmission.

Mercedes-Benz concept: The details are near zero at this point, but a Mercedes concept due for the Paris auto show in October will be flown to the U.S. for an appearance at the November L.A. show. The German carmaker's also going to bring along the SL65 Black Series, after it flogs the car for the press in the next few weeks.

Green Car of the Year: The award, given by our friend Ron Cogan's Green Car Journal, names the vehicle that  most advances the cause of efficiency, while reducing the auto world's environmental footprint. Five finalists will be named between now and the delivery of the award in mid-November.

Press days for the Los Angeles auto show are Nov. 19-20, with public days through Thanksgiving. We'll update you on more intros as they're confirmed.

There's nothing more than a nod and wink from deep inside Nissan headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., but that Murano Convertible rumored on other Web sites is in fact a reality.

A ragtop Murano doesn't sound like a logical product step, but TheCarConnection.com's own sources confirm it's a model in development at the automaker, though we can't confirm it will sport a fabric folding top as reported by Edmunds Inside Line. A V-6 and front-drive will be the standard drivetrain, with all-wheel drive possible, though the Murano may have to lose that option to save weight better spent on reinforcing its body structure.

The Murano convertible's due in early 2010, but maybe an outpouring of sentiment from you readers will speed it up--or shut it down before it hits the market. What say you? Are you ready for a droptop Murano, or is it better left on the drawing boards? Tell us in a comment below.

It makes sense to some industry analysts and to the team here at TheCarConnection.com--but Chrysler is denying that it's planning to drop its car lineup and link up with Nissan in an alliance that would leave Chrysler to focus on trucks, SUVs, and minivans.

The Wall Street Journal reports the two companies are discussing a broad-ranging alliance that would add to their agreements to build trucks and cars for each other. Last year, the pair announced a plan in which Nissan would supply Chrysler a small car for sale in markets outside the U.S., derived from its Versa hatchback, and would engineer a new small car for Chrysler for sale in the U.S. For its part, Chrysler will develop the next Titan for Nissan.

The new reports say the companies are embarking on a "radical" plan that if approved, would lead Chrysler to cease development on passenger cars. The Detroit News says Chrysler is still working on Plan D, which would revamp Chrysler's mid-size Avenger and Sebring sedans. Chrysler is also working on a planned restyling of its 300/Charger sedans for the 2011-2012 time frame.

A pairing with Nissan would be a logical move, because there's so little overlap in expertise. Like Northwest and Delta teaming up, Chrysler and Nissan excel in what the other company doesn't--Chrysler's minivans, Jeeps and big trucks are the perfect complement to Nissan's Altima, Z, and Infiniti lineup. It also fits the pattern of alliances that Nissan's talked up for a decade--and Chrysler's owners at Cerberus might be keen to tap for a quick product fix.

What's your take--is Chrysler better off tying its future to Nissan, or does it have a better plan to go it alone? Tell us in a comment below.

At a wide-ranging presentation on its "green" car initiatives, Nissan said today that it's working on a new lithium-ion-based hybrid powertrain to bow in 2010, and showed off the electric-vehicle technology it's developing for a new car to bow in 2010.

The hybrid vehicle, Nissan says, is a rear-drive hybrid system--possibly making it a natural for a new Infiniti top-end sedan. The system is proprietary (no borrowing from Toyota here, as in the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid) and uses two clutches to maximize fuel efficiency. It uses lithium-ion batteries to store energy conserved from engine power and regenerative braking. And, Nissan says, the lithium-ion batteries allow for better packaging.

The electric vehicle is one that Nissan says will emerge for the 2010 model year; they add it's not based on any current Nissan model. The new EV is front-wheel drive and uses an 80-kilowatt motor and inverter paired with a lithium-ion battery pack, installed under the floor. For demonstration purposes Nissan used a Cube compact to show off the system; a new Cube compact will bow at this fall's Los Angeles auto show but Nissan did not confirm the next-generation Cube as the basis for its new battery-powered car.

Nissan developed both vehicles under a global plan to green up its fleet by 2012--also, coincidentally, the year it plans to mass-market the new EV, so don't look for a U.S. version until then.