Nissan Titan to get a HEMI from Chrysler?

Now that Chrysler will be building the next-generation Nissan Titan, the automotive industry is wondering how much input will actually come from Chrysler and whether or not the new Nissan Titan will just be a rebadged Dodge Ram.

Speaking to AutoObserver, William J. Krueger, Nissan’s senior vice-president in North America, said that the next-generation Titan will employ the architecture of the new 2009 Dodge Ram, however ‘the upper body will be unique to Nissan.’ Assembly of the new Titan will begin in 2011 at Chrysler’s Saltillo, Mexico plant.

Krueger said that the Dodge Ram’s underpinnings will enable the possibility for a wide range of models for the Titan, which is currently limited to just two body styles and single V8. So will it get a HEMI?

“That’s still being...
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07G35J - 5/19/2008 2:16:04 PM

+1 Boost

NOOOOOO!!!!!! What's wrong with Nissan's 5.6L V8? Why are they doing that? Hasn't Nissan learned not to mess with joint ventures with Detroit's 3? The Nissan Quest and Mercury Villager disaster should've taught them, but I guess it didn't.

91z4me - 5/19/2008 2:40:15 PM

-2 Boost

The Dodge 5.7 Hemi is quite a powerful motor. It is also compact and cheap to assemble (less moving parts). Since the truck will be packaged for the smaller 5.7 it only makes sense to use it instead of the larger 5.6 Nissan.

pchera01 - 5/19/2008 4:33:20 PM

+6 Boost

I owned Armada, and I have driven some Doge, hemi vehicles, they got the power, but it doesn't fell good like Nissan 5.6L. I hope the Hemi is only a third optional engione for Titan,

lexusrox123 - 5/19/2008 6:17:53 PM

+1 Boost

why put a gas-sucker in a good truck? doesnt make sense...

mercuryguy - 5/19/2008 3:56:03 PM

-2 Boost

Nissan built the Villager for Mercury. The Villager was just a rebadged import.

It is only the front drive models that the big 3 had quality problems with. The rear drive Fords were atypical, and always sturdy and easy to maintain. Detroit was never good at building cheap econoboxes.

montyz81 - 5/19/2008 4:33:42 PM

+3 Boost

Check your stats, the Villager and Quest were built in a Ford plant. As for design, Nissan supplied the drive system (Engine/trany) Ford designed the body. It was not considered an import.

ChicaneShooter - 5/21/2008 2:58:37 AM

+1 Boost

LOL!
i recall a story about when the Quest was in development. the nissan people went over what the ford guys had done so far. they used sticky notes for their comments, criticisms, and suggestions for improvements.

by the end of the session, the van was PLASTERED with sticky notes!

without the help of nissan, seems ford just can not build a decent minivan. hence, the expiration of the aerostar (windstar? both?).

montyz81 - 5/20/2008 7:23:56 AM

+2 Boost

Interesting, the Titan beat the last GMC and other trucks save the F150 in comparisons when it was released. The 5.6 V8 (based on the VQ V6) is the best V8 engine on the road. Technology/reliability for dollar, you can't beat it. Hopefully that engine will make the trip to whatever chrysler plant builds this truck!

S30GTR - 5/20/2008 9:05:12 PM

+1 Boost

i'm with you. that's the only way it should be done.

ChicaneShooter - 5/21/2008 3:22:27 AM

+1 Boost

me too.

the Hemi is WAY overrated. not only is it still an obsolescent PUSHROD design, unlike the modern 4-cam nissan engine, but it is NOT EVEN a true hemi!

it's JUST an ORDINARY pushrod v8 with a lot of marketing hype, trying to cash in on the original chrysler hemi's reputation.

the ONLY thing going for it, it that its CHEAPER to build than nissan's modern dohc v8.

Threepoint1415926 - 5/21/2008 8:59:08 PM

+1 Boost

Anytime someone uses "pushrod" in their argument, I point them squarely at the LS7 and invite them to compare stats with any other motor they choose. I'd put my bottom dollar down that the LS7 is smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient, less expensive and more powerful than just about any comparable you can throw at it.

tundrahq - 5/22/2008 6:58:20 PM

+1 Boost

I think that Nissan's V8 is excellent, but I'm confident it's going away in the next 2 years. Nissan's decision to 'outsource' their truck production is based on prohibitive development costs associated with upgrading the current powertrain to meet new fuel economy requirements. There's nothing wrong with Nissan's V8, but they're not going to spend the money to upgrade it, especially when Dodge is going to do the same for all their truck motors. Might as well share the expense with Dodge and focus on building cars (something Nissan does quite well).