Nissan To Launch Diesel Full Size Pickup In U.S.

The Nissan Motor Co. is preparing to launch a diesel-powered version of its Titan full-size pickup in the United States. The pickup is expected to be released by 2009.

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, a Japanese industrial daily, reported Friday that the Titan's engine will be built by local truck and engine manufacturer Navistar International Corp. International Truck and Engine Corp., Navistar's principal operating company, is the exclusive supplier of diesel engines to Ford's Super Duty pickups. Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley would not verify or deny the report, but the company has been working to sell its medium-duty diesel engines to other automakers.

To note, the third largest Japanese automaker, held 44 percent by Renault SA, has no diesel product line in America. The decision of the automaker is anchored on the growing demand for fuel-efficient powertrain. The powertrain is usually integrated to commercial vehicles like large pickup trucks. Hence, the Japanese automaker is introducing the diesel-powered Titan to meet the needs of Americans at the same time to promote cleaner environment. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman at Nissan said that the company could not comment on future product plans.

The Japanese automaker launched the Titan, its first and only full-size pickup, in 2004 hoping to find a niche in the lucrative segment. Unfortunately, sales have failed to live up to the company's expectations. Last month, the automaker sold 4,899 Titans and that number is down by 18 percent from the year before. So far this year, sales dropped 15 percent at 28,668 units. As of March, the heavy duty version of the Titan has been put on hold.

The 2008 Titan model will add an optional seven-foot long bed to the crew cab and an optional eight-foot long bed to the king cab. The king cab Titan with the long bed will come with a larger 37-gallon fuel tank. The five-speed transmission and 5.6L V8 will remain standard equipment on all Titans.

The pickup went on sale in April. Since its launch in the segment, the Titan has been facing stiffer competition from the Toyota Motor Corp.'s remodeled Tundra, which the automaker has called its most important product launch to date. Toyota has hinted that it would eventually offer a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Tundra.

The Titan comes in three basic trim levels: the XE, SE, and the LE. The Titan features the refined Nissan radiator, navigation system, DVD player with screen, side airbags, off-road package, traction control, sunroof, big tow package with transmission temperature gauge, Sirius satellite radio, XM satellite radio, leather split power bench seat, utili-Track bed rail system, lockable bedside, storage box, power adjustable pedals, automatic windows down with key fob, and the sophisticated 32 valve 5.6 L VK56DE V8 engine that produces 305 horsepower and 379 pound feet of torque at 3600 rpm.

The U.S. pickup market is dominated by the Ford Motor Co.'s F-Series and General Motors Corp.'s Chevy Silverado, the two best-selling vehicles around the globe. Now, foreign automakers are trying to invade the lucrative segment to steal a hefty slice of the realm.

Nissan is due to launch a diesel version of its Maxima in the U.S. in 2010. The engines of the sedan will be produced by Renault. The current Maxima features the standard Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) which is likened to that of the Nissan Murano, a freshened grill that resembles Altima's, and more rounded headlights. The Maxima engine has internal chains for the twin overhead cams. This eliminates the need for regular timing belt replacement.

In other markets, the Maxima is also known as the Cefiro or the Laurel. The sedan's direct rivals are the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata or Hyundai Azera, Chevrolet Impala and the Ford Five Hundred.