We brought you the first spy shots of the next 2015 Nissan Titan test vehicles in March of this year. Still, Nissan remains incredibly secretive about any details or the release schedule of the redesigned truck. Competition is a fierce as ever. The new 2013 Ram is already on sale with a diesel Ram 1500 coming as a 2014 model. The new 2014 Toyota Tundra is coming this summer, and so is the 2014 Chevy Silverado. Ford is not far behind the redesigned F-150 coming in 2014.
The rumor is that the next Nissan Titan will be released in the Spring of 2014 as a 2015 model. So why haven’t Nissan teased any information about the next truck? The word is that Nissan is going big on this and is thinking outside the box. The goal is to bring real innovation and differentiate from the competition. The main objectives are capability, usability, fuel economy, and value. How will Nissan solve for the crucial MPG objective?
Well, Nissan has a few possible tricks in their hat. First, is a new Hybrid Pure Drive system, which is being introduced on the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. This system uses a supercharged four cylinder in combination with an electric motor. However, at 243 ft-lb of torque, the Pathfinder Hybrid powertrain is not strong enough for a full size pickup. What else? During my recent test of the 2013 Infiniti M35h Hybrid, I thought that the 457 ft-lb from the M35h system would work nicely in the next Titan. My theory is that Nissan is working on a next generation of a Hybrid system for their next big truck. They could combine a supercharged V6 (something they have experience with) with electric motor(s) and have a flexible and efficient combination.
Electric motors are known for their instant torque and come in a plethora of power levels. Even if Nissan has aspirations for a Heavy Duty version of the next Titan, a Hybrid HD can also be a possibility. It could provide the needed torque and satisfy stricter emission standards. It would also differentiate Nissan from the its pure diesel HD opponents.
Check out this fun TFLcar video of the current Nissan Titan on a Safari:
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or scouring the internet and other media for various automotive, mechanical, and computer related information.
