[Administrator]

Nissan's next generation of Titan pickup trucks could get a diesel option, says Nissan North America product boss Larry Dominique. In a recent interview with the folks at AutoWeek, Dominique, former project boss for the original Titan, commented that no decision has been made about the future powerplants, but that they are still considering several options. "I have a broad menu I can look at," he said. "We could do downsized powertrains, we could do an enhanced V8, and we could look at diesel powertrains."

Currently the Titan is only available with the company's 5.6-liter gasoline V8. A new Titan, built with Chrysler was scheduled to debut in 2011, but with Nissan and Chrysler since parting ways the next version isn't likely until at least 2013.

Nissan does offer a 3.0-liter diesel V6 overseas in vehicles like the Pathfinder. It makes sufficient torque with 406 ft-lbs, but at just 235-hp its probably not up to what U.S. customers would expect.

With Renault/Nissan's recent announcement of a partnership with Mercedes parent company Daimler, there is now also the possibility that a donor engine could come from Germany. Dominique himself commented that one of the biggest factors towards offering a diesel Titan in North America would be, "if we could find the right partner and the right engine."

More: Report: Next Generation Nissan Titan Could Get a Diesel Engine on AutoGuide.com

 

[dubie2003]

This is awesome news. If the Titan get a diesel, then hopefully the Frontier would too (just smaller).

I just hope they address the diffs thou since I am sure the guys who tow a bit will end up blowing them on a regular basis.

 

[jellymanLRT]

This is awesome news. If the Titan get a diesel, then hopefully the Frontier would too (just smaller).

I just hope they address the diffs thou since I am sure the guys who tow a bit will end up blowing them on a regular basis.

The 3.0 litre diesel could go in the Fronty and the bigger diesel in the Titian! That would be a sick a** option!!! I can see it now: "Nismo Diesel Package (NDP)"

 

[dubie2003]

3.0 would be nice but it would probably be the 2.5.

I have no clue for the T thou. Ford uses something like 6.0 or 6.4 or etc and cummins uses 5.9 and now 6.7 (i think) so it may be a numbers game to make the T top them all.

 

[jellymanLRT]

3.0 would be nice but it would probably be the 2.5.

I have no clue for the T thou. Ford uses something like 6.0 or 6.4 or etc and cummins uses 5.9 and now 6.7 (i think) so it may be a numbers game to make the T top them all.

Your right about 6.7Litre. Can you imagine a Titan with a 6.7 Cummins straight from factory tho? Although that would be a big strike at the Dodge Ram... But didnt Dodge lose their contract with Cummins tho? (a while ago?)

 

[TheRealDoug]

3.0 would be nice but it would probably be the 2.5.

I have no clue for the T thou. Ford uses something like 6.0 or 6.4 or etc and cummins uses 5.9 and now 6.7 (i think) so it may be a numbers game to make the T top them all.

but you also have to remember those same engines are in the 2,3, and 4 series versions of the trucks whereas nissan will be putting in one truck. The HP is a little low, but that tq is nice. I'd like to see a power curve for that engine...

 

[CoastGuardZ]

We need the diesels here...

for those of y'all that don't already know, Nissan has a diesel truck company in the USA.
Official UD Trucks Site U.S., Nissan Diesel America, Inc.

These trucks are available with 4 or 6 cylinders ranging from 4.7 to 7.6 litres. Perfect options for the Titan. I've said from day one the Titan should be offered in a regular cab 4.0 V6 with M/T and there should have been a small V8 option, think Infiniti 4.5L.

I would give my neighbors left arm for the 3.0 V6 Diesel for my Frontier though.

 

[IslandNismo]

Good info^^^

 

[kahfamily1]

If they do come out with the diesel titan, I hope it would be soon, my pops is looking into a new diesel, would love to help steer him that way than the chevy, dodge and fords

 

[frontman04]

i want a diesel, this would save me. but i bet if they do a diesel titan it will cost to much i bet it will be up there in the 50s

 

[jellymanLRT]

i want a diesel, this would save me. but i bet if they do a diesel titan it will cost to much i bet it will be up there in the 50s

Completely agree.. T option would be very expensive.. Lame, but that option would totally sell. Ppl would want to pay that premium for a truck made o work and that lasts a very long time.

 

[dubie2003]

There are a ton of Dodge and Chevy/GMC fans out there (Ford too but they don't count, lol) that would have to see a pretty noticable difference in price to draw them to the Titan.

I just wonder how much the frame would have to be changed to fit the motors?

Also, Allison transmissions are just awesome. I was happy to see that on the Nissan Diesel site.

 

[FitzIngarage]

Subaru too mentioned the potential of a diesel for the U.S. market, but then begged off. Scuttlebutt in the forums is that the U.S. regulators keep tightning the noose on emissions. Even though the U.S. already has the most stringent diesel emissions in the world (all U.S. diesel fuel must be Ultra Low Sulfur, vehicles have urea injection or particulate traps), lawmakers are already talking about taking it to a new level and it's scaring manufacturers away from offering diesels that will soon be obsolete.

The other thing some potential buyers overlook is that diesel engines are signifcantly more expensive, so despite the enticing MPGs they deliver, the payback over a gas engine vehicle can take years in the U.S..

My wife and I are seriously considering buying a 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI (turbodiesel) and calculate it'll take four years to break even over a gas Forester 2.5X Premium and six years on gas Santa Fe GLS because the gassers cost much less.

But, we love the Sportwagen's responsible size, durable and upscale interior and excellent 6-Speed manual gearbox. And yeah, that 550+ Mile highway cruise range is nice too.

 

[dubie2003]

That is a great point. Most people fail to realize that diesels are the minority of the motor work in consumer vehicles and this is what causes them to be more expensive. Not to mention the internal forces in diesel motors are much more extreme then gas. Heck, there are no sparkplugs, its just compression that causes the explosion in the cylinder.

I also agree, the US is making their regulations more and more tight which is nice but it makes it hell on the auto industry. They are not going to invest money in something that will require major re-design in a few years.

I am also glad that you mentioned the "payback" timeline for the diesel motors. The one thing that really throws a wrench into that is a truck used for towing is going to get really crappy mpg (between 8-12mpg) while the same vehicle with a diesel will get get almost double (18-25mpg). Then the price difference between gas and diesel. Then lets not forget, prices to get a diesel repaired is a bit insane just because most mechanics today in the US mainly know gas motors and diesels are a bit different.

 

[mrgrayaz]

Where is the talk of diesel coming from? I see nothing in the article about diesel.

It could also get a HB260 rear axle with 4.56 gears and a ARB air locker pre-installed.

About as likely in my opinion.

Diesel is dead in the US, our emissions are too tough for them now.

it "Could" get a diesel doesnt count.

the lack of editing is annoying.

 

[razor11]

Wouldn't it pay to lower the diesel standards a little if everyone got twice the mileage??? 80% of VW car sales are diesel...but not in the good'ole USA. Frontier/Navara turbo diesels are also very common, outside of the USA. C'mon, I thought it was time for a change.













►:itsfriday:

 

[goody]

Good reading here

I know it still does not mean they will bring to the US, but I think still some good reading.

 

[FitzIngarage]

< Wouldn't it pay to lower the diesel standards a little if everyone got twice the mileage??? >

What's irritating too is that Congress taxes diesel fuel $0.06 more per gallon than gasoline. Considering that a gallon of diesel will take you 30% to 40% further down the road (example using the 2010 VW Jetta TDI Clean Diesel vs. the 2.5L gasoline model), it seems irresponsible to tax U.S. diesel at a higher rate.










►:itsfriday:[/QUOTE]

 

[FitzIngarage]

I should have mentioned too that if diesels are to take root here in the U.S., a lot of educational marketing will need to be done. Some buyers are fixated on HP. Diesels produce modest HP, but phenominal torque. The average consumer recognizes HP, but is likely not aware that torque is and what it does for performance in towing and hauling.

Too, the days of being able to inject unlimited amounts of diesel fuel into injectors to produce gobs of smokey, tire-shredding power are fading away with new U.S. vehicles. New diesel emissions systems are very complex, very expensive and computers seek to foil attempts at defeating their work.

 

[HKYStormFront]

I agree Dan. It's true, people see "blah blah horsepower" and think that's a real thing. Horsepower is a calculated number based on torque at RPM. most diesel engines never get above 4k rpm therefore they never make more HP than torque (crossover point is 5252rpm).