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.
05/02, 3:40 PM
posted by:
inspire
Nissan failed miserably with its first incarnation of the Titan. At least they wisely chose a proven pick-up maker like Chrysler to help them out.
Chrysler, on the other hand, gains by offsetting the cost of production by selling some of their know-how to Nissan. Maybe they could learn a thing or two about interior design from Nissan? Whatever the joint venture may bring, it’s good that economy of scale will benefit both companies.
05/02, 3:42 PM
posted by:
cookie4me
smart!
05/02, 3:48 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
Inspire,
Very smart comment. You don’t sound like the typical “15 year old” on this site, fortunately. Are you lost? haha
05/02, 4:02 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Now we have to wait and see what the other end of this partnership will bring in the form of a small Nissan with a Mopar badge. I feel far more comfortable with this marriage than the Chrysler-Cheri platform arrangement being proposed for the Demon.
05/02, 4:24 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
hmmmm Mopar and Nismo teaming up- could be a good thing?
05/02, 4:25 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Cheri could not certify cars in Europe and US. Former Yugo was sturdier in a crush. What good it does for Chrysler trying to import a car that can’t be sold? This way Chrysler will have to pay a little (or a lot) more for a car, but also will be able offset its excess capacity. Hopefully when things turn around capacity can be used for Chrysler.
05/02, 4:33 PM
posted by:
Jordan
i thought the titan was pretty nice. it had a lockable storage compartment behind one of the rear wheels and was the only truck available with a floor-mounted shifter. maybe it wasn’t marketed correctly.
isn’t nissan’s 5.6 liter v8 more powerful than the hemi?
05/02, 4:43 PM
posted by:
Dodge_fanatic9
Just hope that dodge doesnt get ricers in return!
05/02, 5:25 PM
posted by:
TOZO
Nissan Frontier = Suzuki Equator
Nissan Titan = Dodge Ram
Didn’t the Geo brand do something like this?
05/02, 6:20 PM
posted by:
sharpie
Not quite the same. The entire Geo brand was rebadged from Isuzu, Suzuki, Toyota, etc. Geo had no original design of its own. Nissan Frontier for one is an original Nissan being badged a Suzuki Equator. Then there are the Murano, Rogue, Versa, Sentra, Altima, Maxima . . . and none of these has any rebadge counterpart. So it’s a far cry to call Nissan a Geo . . . yet. Stay tuned.
05/02, 6:29 PM
posted by:
LamborghiniZ
Lame. The Titan is a solid truck, great looking too. Should have kept doing their own ****.
05/02, 6:59 PM
posted by:
AMGoff
xyunya…. what on earth are you even talking about?? You’re a little backwards there friend – it might pay to actually read the article.
OH and look… lamboz’s graced us with his presence again – wonderful! Regardless of what one feels about the old/current Titan, the Ram is simply a better truck.
05/02, 8:00 PM
posted by:
elviososa
It’s a big mistake to build a Titan from a Ram.
05/02, 11:03 PM
posted by:
Brendino
Smart for Chrysler.
They give concessions to Nissan in a dying segment and they’ll get to gain a lot in the small car market – where the market is headed.
05/03, 1:26 AM
posted by:
RotaxKart
I have driven both trucks 2007 Hemi and 2007 5.6. The Nissan blows the ram out of the water with power comfort and quality. The Dodge is currently the worst fullsize truck on the market at the moment. The only thing that dodge has is the cummings. This blows my mind. I was waiting for Nissan to come out with the new Titan. Not anymore!
05/03, 2:37 PM
posted by:
nestle_s
well the titan is a good pickup truck and the ram is the oldest design as of now. but we will have to see. the only thing i wish nissan did was a conventional cab like what toyota, gmc/chevy, ford and dodge are doing with their pickup trucks. plus nissan spent over $1 billion dollars (from what i read) on the platform alone and about $2 million with the plant that they are using building the truck. nissan’s forcast for the titan was 100,000 units/year and they only moved 60,000+ so they were off on their target sales. plus dodge has the know how for the truck segment for a long time so the ram has been a great truck. smart move for both companies. i cant wait to see the ‘next gen’ titan.
05/04, 12:22 AM
posted by:
RotaxKart
The next Ram looks good. I just cant get over the cheap dodge plastic interior.
05/05, 8:55 AM
posted by:
frylock350
I for one like the idea of a HEMI-powered pickup without the Tonka styling Dodge uses and Toyota apes. The Titan should be entirely more attractive than the Dodge.
05/05, 9:00 AM
posted by:
frylock350
“I thought the titan was pretty nice. it had a lockable storage compartment behind one of the rear wheels and was the only truck available with a floor-mounted shifter. maybe it wasn’t marketed correctly.
isn’t nissan’s 5.6 liter v8 more powerful than the hemi?
Comment by Jordan”
The new HEMI is more powerful than the Nissan motor.
The Titan’s floor shifter was a glorious waste of space in a vehicle designed for utility. All trucks and SUVs should have column shift as it increases interior room and allows for more central storage capacity or God forbid, a bench seat.
Nissan’s sales suffered because they didn’t offer lower trimmed and regular cab trucks. GM, Ford, and Dodge sell tons of no-frills long box, regular cab trucks. Nissan needs to offer a V6/small V8 regular cab to be competitive there.
05/05, 10:51 AM
posted by:
shaver
Dont care how many they sold. Titan has best motor/tranny combo in 1/2 ton industry. Best brakes, handling and driving truck in market, very good off-road too. DOHC motor is smoother and more efficient then the HEMI or cheap SOHC POS 3 valve ford motor. Floor shifter was optional.
Huge disappointment to base great Titan on worst truck out today. Hope the next Ram is huge step forward.
05/06, 12:24 AM
posted by:
AMGoff
^^ WTF… and this is the opinion of someone who thinks that a DOHC engine somehow makes for a superior truck… DOHC + Luxury cars = maybe… trucks = not so much.