More info on Nissans version of the Dodge Ram
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From: Albany, NY
More info on Nissans version of the Dodge Ram
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/html/new...ure-titan.html
Last month Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Company jointly announced Chrysler would build the next iteration of Nissan's Titan half-ton pickup at Chrysler’s plant in Saltillo, Mexico, based on the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. Nissan reps said the new Titan would retain certain styling and performance elements to differentiate it from the Ram but no specifics were provided. Now, sources have told PickupTruck.com some of those details, plus information about a heavy duty version of the Titan.
Externally, the Titan half-ton will share its doors and roof panel with the all-new Ram, while the rest of the Titan's sheetmetal will be unique and designed by Nissan.
Like the current Titan, the future truck will offer only two cab configurations, extended cab and crew cab, even though the 2009 Ram will have a regular cab option. The Titan will also receive Dodge's new 'RamBox' storage feature, which adds dry lockable space to the sides of the cargo box, and it will share the Ram’s innovative new coil sprung rear suspension.
The current Nissan Titan is only available with a 5.6-liter V8 but the next Titan will offer a wide range of Chrysler-sourced engine choices, including a 3.7-L V6, a 4.7-L V8 and *likely* the 5.7-L 'HEMI' V8, instead of Nissan's next-generation 5.6-L 'Endurance' V8. The HEMI's simpler overhead valve (aka pushrod) construction and lower cost materials are expected to save several hundred dollars versus the dual overhead cam 5.6-L V8. Cutting costs is critical in the increasingly price sensitive full size truck market. Using the HEMI would also set the Titan up to share the Ram's two-mode hybrid powertrain – fuel economy being another highly important purchase consideration.
Externally, the Titan half-ton will share its doors and roof panel with the all-new Ram, while the rest of the Titan's sheetmetal will be unique and designed by Nissan.
Like the current Titan, the future truck will offer only two cab configurations, extended cab and crew cab, even though the 2009 Ram will have a regular cab option. The Titan will also receive Dodge's new 'RamBox' storage feature, which adds dry lockable space to the sides of the cargo box, and it will share the Ram’s innovative new coil sprung rear suspension.
The current Nissan Titan is only available with a 5.6-liter V8 but the next Titan will offer a wide range of Chrysler-sourced engine choices, including a 3.7-L V6, a 4.7-L V8 and *likely* the 5.7-L 'HEMI' V8, instead of Nissan's next-generation 5.6-L 'Endurance' V8. The HEMI's simpler overhead valve (aka pushrod) construction and lower cost materials are expected to save several hundred dollars versus the dual overhead cam 5.6-L V8. Cutting costs is critical in the increasingly price sensitive full size truck market. Using the HEMI would also set the Titan up to share the Ram's two-mode hybrid powertrain – fuel economy being another highly important purchase consideration.
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From: SoCal
Pretty much what we thought. Nissan will get a rebadged Ram with different sheet metal and styling excluding the expensive doors and roof. Much like what Mistsubishi had with the Raider from the Dakota.
Nissan gets to stay in the full size truck market for a fraction of the cost it would take to redesign and rebuild the Titan. Chrysler gets to fill more capacity for the Ram truck line that will probably see serious sales drops in the next several years.
Along with the Chrysler badged Nissan small car variant seems like a win-win for both corporations addressing the needs of their line-ups in a tougher economy.
Nissan gets to stay in the full size truck market for a fraction of the cost it would take to redesign and rebuild the Titan. Chrysler gets to fill more capacity for the Ram truck line that will probably see serious sales drops in the next several years.
Along with the Chrysler badged Nissan small car variant seems like a win-win for both corporations addressing the needs of their line-ups in a tougher economy.
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From: Michigan's left coast
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From: The Golden State
Large truck sales are going into the toilet as fuel prices rise.
Dodge is going to see it's Ram sales fall like a ton of bricks to the civilian, non-contractor market.
Nissan needs to develop a new Titan to stay competitive, but can't justify the cost if their already marginally selling (by US pickup standards) is going to also see drops in sales.
Chrysler and Nissan made a deal that keeps Chrysler's Ram assembly lines full, recoupes some of the development costs of the new Ram, while Nissan gets an all new large truck for little more than the price of a reskin.
In the midst of all this, Chrysler gets a small car made by Nissan to sell, which barely cost more than the price of new skin and interior.
Not a bad deal for either, actually.
You aren't kidding, Eric!
Ford's already closed one of 3 F series plants, and I'd wager that the other one is going to close soon.
GM's full sized truck sales pretty much has no where to go but down.
Dodge is going to see it's Ram sales fall like a ton of bricks to the civilian, non-contractor market.
Nissan needs to develop a new Titan to stay competitive, but can't justify the cost if their already marginally selling (by US pickup standards) is going to also see drops in sales.
Chrysler and Nissan made a deal that keeps Chrysler's Ram assembly lines full, recoupes some of the development costs of the new Ram, while Nissan gets an all new large truck for little more than the price of a reskin.
In the midst of all this, Chrysler gets a small car made by Nissan to sell, which barely cost more than the price of new skin and interior.
Not a bad deal for either, actually.
Ford's already closed one of 3 F series plants, and I'd wager that the other one is going to close soon.
GM's full sized truck sales pretty much has no where to go but down.
Last edited by guionM; May 5, 2008 at 06:22 PM.
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Apparently you haven't been listening to other automotive news - the plant builds several vehicles there; some will continue; other models (new to the market) will be built there to take the place of the models being lost.
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lol! With the amount of traveling I have done this year the only automotive news I get are the monthly rags and this site.
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From: The Golden State
No word yet, but I can give you some facts and speculation.
Fact:
the vehicle will be a Chrysler design built on a Nissan architecture in Japan. It will be shipped to the US and sold under the Dodge name. It will be a small car, and it will be in the showrooms for 2010.
Speculation:
Since Chrysler currently has no small cars (the pretty hefty Dodge Caliber is the smallest thing Chrysler currently sells), and Chrysler already has a deal with Chery of China to make mini cars, the only thing left is the long awaited replacement for the Dodge Neon.
Fact:
the vehicle will be a Chrysler design built on a Nissan architecture in Japan. It will be shipped to the US and sold under the Dodge name. It will be a small car, and it will be in the showrooms for 2010.
Speculation:
Since Chrysler currently has no small cars (the pretty hefty Dodge Caliber is the smallest thing Chrysler currently sells), and Chrysler already has a deal with Chery of China to make mini cars, the only thing left is the long awaited replacement for the Dodge Neon.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,881
No word yet, but I can give you some facts and speculation.
Fact:
the vehicle will be a Chrysler design built on a Nissan architecture in Japan. It will be shipped to the US and sold under the Dodge name. It will be a small car, and it will be in the showrooms for 2010.
Speculation:
Since Chrysler currently has no small cars (the pretty hefty Dodge Caliber is the smallest thing Chrysler currently sells), and Chrysler already has a deal with Chery of China to make mini cars, the only thing left is the long awaited replacement for the Dodge Neon.
Fact:
the vehicle will be a Chrysler design built on a Nissan architecture in Japan. It will be shipped to the US and sold under the Dodge name. It will be a small car, and it will be in the showrooms for 2010.
Speculation:
Since Chrysler currently has no small cars (the pretty hefty Dodge Caliber is the smallest thing Chrysler currently sells), and Chrysler already has a deal with Chery of China to make mini cars, the only thing left is the long awaited replacement for the Dodge Neon.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Richmond, TX
Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville
Some of you gues need to get your facts straight!
The next Titan will be a Nissan designed vehicle; the agreement is for Chrysler to build it; it simply is not a Dodge Ram with a Nissan badge on it as the title of the thread would lead one to think.
Same thing in referse for the small car - Chrysler gets a Nissan built small car that is dedigned by Chrysler.
On the other hand, Suzuki is getting the Nissan Frontier pickup re-badged for Suzuki.
Some of you gues need to get your facts straight!
The next Titan will be a Nissan designed vehicle; the agreement is for Chrysler to build it; it simply is not a Dodge Ram with a Nissan badge on it as the title of the thread would lead one to think.
Same thing in referse for the small car - Chrysler gets a Nissan built small car that is dedigned by Chrysler.
On the other hand, Suzuki is getting the Nissan Frontier pickup re-badged for Suzuki.
Wrong.
Dodge will build Dodge engineered trucks with Nissan designed sheetmetal and interior. Think Ford Probe and Mazda MX-whatever. The Nissan part will only be skin deep.
Same for the Nissan engineered smal car for Chrysler. Think dodge Stealth and Mitsu 3000GT. The Chysler part will only be skin deep.
Nissan's super truck V8 went from being top HP with the worst mpg to tied for last in HP with the worst mpg. No wonder they just gave up.
Like I said it would be.
