Late last year, reports had an agreement between Nissan and Chrysler supplying one another with compact cars or big trucks. Now, details emerge on what the two full-size pick-up trucks will have in common. Both will be built on the 2009 Dodge Ram platform, and the Nissan Titan will be built alongside the Ram at Chrysler’s Satlillo, Mexico plant.
The truck’s bodies will be nearly unique, as the Titan will only share the doors and roof panel with the Ram and Nissan will offer only two cab styles, just like the current model; extended and crew cab. Like the Dodge , the rear bedsides will feature lockable storage pockets, though marketers are likely to come up with something other than RamBox for the feature.
Likewise, the current Titan’s rear leaf springs are to be replaced with the new Ram’s coil spring suspension. Under the hood, Chrysler will supply the Titan with a range of engines in place of Nissan’s sole 5.6-liter V8. The same 3.7-liter V6, 4.7-liter V8 and perhaps even the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 will be offered in the new truck, according to pickuptruck.com. The trucks will also use the forthcoming light-duty Cummins V8, expected to arrive in 2010.
Nissan’s 5.6L V8 will still be used in the Armada SUV, tuned to produce 400 horsepower, and in the Infiniti QX56 , where it will make close to 450hp.
In related news, Nissan’s venture into the LCV market will spawn a heavy duty truck that will include dual rear wheel models and is unique to the Japanese automaker. The truck will be built at its Canton, Mississippi factory, taking up the Titan’s place on the assembly line. A concept of the heavy-duty truck is expected to be shown at the Detroit show next year.
