Posted on 11/27/2003 5:42:10 PM PST by InvisibleChurch
Nissan Undercuts Domestics with $22,400 Price Tag on Titan Posted: 11/14/03 10:56 a.m. CST
By John Porretto Associated Press
DETROIT Nissan Motor Co.s first full-size pickup, which goes on sale in the United States next month, will be priced $2,600 to $3,000 less than comparable models from Detroits Big Three, the Japanese automaker said.
The Titan, which began rolling out of Nissan's Canton, Miss., plant in late October, will range from $22,400 to nearly $40,000.
Nissan began production of the Titan pickup at its Canton, Miss., manufacturing facility in October. It is scheduled to reach showrooms the first week of December.
The truck is available in two body styles, a King Cab and larger Crew Cab. The price will range from $22,400 for the base model to nearly $40,000 depending on the trim level and other options, the company said Thursday.
Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models will be available.
Nissan officials said they expect the highest-volume models to sell for between $27,500 and $29,800. The automaker hopes to sell 100,000 Titans in the United States next year.
Were pricing Titan with realistic MSRPs that we believe will be closer to the actual prices consumers will pay rather than pricing higher with room factored in for heavy incentives and discounting, said Jed Connelly, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Nissans North American affiliate.
Nissan will compete in a market long dominated by domestic pickups from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge. The first foreign challenger, the Toyota Tundra, entered the mix in the 2000 model year.
In a price comparison, Nissan said the $24,400 base price for its two-wheel drive Titan King Cab SE is between $2,600 and $3,000 less than the MSRP for comparable models from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AGs Chrysler Group.
That difference does not account for rebates and other discounts offered by the Big Three.
Earlier this week, Ford increased the incentives on its new F-150 pickup, offering more attractive financing rates. Ford also is offering $1,000 to owners of Dodge Ram and Chevrolet Silverado pickups who trade in their vehicles for a new F-150.
The Titans debut is the final stage in Nissans attempt to be perceived as a full-line U.S automaker. The Japanese companys Canton plant also produces a revived Quest minivan and its first full-size sport utility vehicle. Industry analysts say the Titans massive ratings 9,500 pounds of towing capacity and a 305-horsepower V-8 and sleek design should ensure Nissan meets its first-year sales target.
tippy the truck
375 Ft-lbs is a little more torque than a Hemi, but 300 is 45 less horsepower... Nice try Nissan. Does the Democrat party write your ad copy?
Particularly when the engine of the American truck is make in Canada, unlike those "foreign" trucks made in the USA.
"WINDSOR, Ont., Nov. 5, 2002 -
"Ford of Canada's largest engine plants soon will begin full-scale production of a new 5.4-litre TritonTM V-8 engine that will power the next-generation Ford F-150 pickup. The milestone will mark the culmination of a massive, three-year expansion program and investment of nearly $770 million (Cdn*)."
http://www.ford.ca/english/LearnAbout/NewsReleases/pr20021105.asp
The piston head has a hemispherical contour and its supposed to help with the burn and boost efficiancy/power. Something like tht.
Toyota had to be "dragged-kicking-and-screaming" to build a V-8 engine for their "full size" truck/SUV line. They wouldn't have been taken seriously by the American consumer after Dodge remodeled the Ram a few years back (available with a V-10 or Cummins Turbo Diesel).
Honda still hasn't developed a V-8. Honda is still hopelessly stuck on smaller diplacement engines.
Most Japanese automakers don't understand the American market. They would rather that we changed our tastes and just buy compact cars with 4 cylinder engines.
Nissan may be the one exception to this rule. I think that they are aggressively pursuing the U.S. SUV/truck market. They also seem to have a REAL V-8 engineering/development program. Their 4.5 liter V-8 good start especially considering that they do not have the resources of Toyata and Honda.
Nissan is currently behind Honda and Toyota but this situation could change...
I think it's like a varicose vein in the rectum. Hurts like hell if you've got one. Also referred to as "rhoids."
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