Nissan Titan Dumps "Endurance" for HEMI

By Marty Padgett September 3rd, 2008

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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.

UPDATE: PickupTrucks.com reports today that Chrysler's Jim Press confirms Nissan will get the HEMI, but Nissan spokespeople are still noncommittal.

Posted in: 2008, 2010, Dodge, Nissan, Titan

It's Not Just Detroit

By Paul Eisenstein July 31st, 2008

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Nissan Titan

While Detroit's Big Three automakers may be struggling for their very survival, the domestic manufacturers aren't the only ones suffering from the current car market downturn.

The sharp slump in light truck sales have slammed hard two of the Japanese Big Three, including Toyota, which has already announced sharp cuts in pickup production, and Nissan, which is scaling back production of both pickups, like the big Titan, and its various SUVs.

And now, Nissan reveals, it is offering buyouts to 6,000 of the workers at its two Tennessee assembly plants. That comes as a shock in a state that has seen its automotive workforce rise rapidly, in recent years.

Some of those standing to be offered a buyout option could get packages consisting of up to $125,000 in cash, along with benefits like discount car purchases.

The move follows recent steps to bring capacity more in line with diminished demand. Among other things, Nissan will eliminate a night shift at one of the truck lines. But the automaker, like its Japanese rivals, has pointedly stressed that it doesn't plan any layoffs. Other than those who accept buyouts, the company plans to find alternative work for any excess employees.

Ironically, the tough news comes just a week after Nissan dedicated its all-new U.S. headquarters, located in a suburb of Nashville. It moved to Tennessee, two years ago, ostensibly to reduce costs and put its American corporate offices closer to its primary production center.

Tags: Industry

Posted in: Nissan, Titan

Japanese Also Slammed by Truck Slump

By Paul Eisenstein June 10th, 2008

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Nissan Titan

Ford's turnaround plan is in tatters. General Motors must close four more of its plants. And Chrysler's biggest launch of the year, its new Ram pickup, has been all but aborted. Record fuel prices have been devastating Detroit. But the domestic automakers aren't the only ones feeling the pinch.

Asian manufacturers are feeling the pinch as well, and suddenly realizing that their own foray into light trucks now has a serious downside. Toyota, for example, has seen its incentives soar on the heavily promoted Tundra, yet even then, the full-size pickup has suffered a double-digit sales decline in recent months. The automaker has delayed the planned open of its new Tupelo, Mississippi, assembly plant, and scaled back sales expectations for the Highlander, the crossover/SUV that will be built there.

Then there's Nissan, which never quite connected to the U.S. market with its own big truck, the Titan. Overall, the automaker's light-truck lineup, including the Quest minivan and Armada full-size SUV, has suffered a 9.8 percent dip since the beginning of the year, but Titan sales have plunged a painful 44.5 percent.

That's leading the Japanese maker to cut light-truck production at its Canton, Mississippi, assembly line back to one shift - though it will also add a third shift at the plant for the increasingly popular Altima sedan.

Earlier this year, Nissan announced a major realignment of its truck fleet. Instead of building a next-generation Titan on its own, Nissan will team up with Chrysler to develop a version based on the Detroit maker's new Ram. Production of the Infiniti QX56 luxury SUV will be shifted back to Japan, and it is likely that major changes will be made to the Armada program, as well.

Tags: Industry

Posted in: 2008, Infiniti, Pickups, QX56, Titan, Tundra