Nissan Titan Could Get Cummins Diesel Engine With Thursday Announcement

It’s taken awhile, but Americans are warming up to diesel engines once again, compelling automakers to put these efficient oil-burners in a wider variety of vehicles. The Nissan Titan, one of just two full-size Japanese pickups sold in the U.S., is rumored to be getting a diesel engine option with an announcement scheduled for Thursday morning.

These rumors first started circulating a couple of years ago, with Nissan and Cummins co-developing a four-cylinder diesel engine for the faltering Titan. That 2.8 liter engine was rumored to deliver a combined 28 mpg, along with 350 ft-lbs of torque. The current 5.6 liter V8 in the Nissan Titan gets just 15 mpg combined with just a bit more (385 ft-lbs) torque, so a diesel-engine option would just about double the Titan’s fuel economy.

It would also be one of just two full-size trucks to offer a smaller diesel engine option, along with the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, which uses a 3.0 liter V6 with 410 ft-lbs of torque on tap. While GM, Ford, and Chrysler all offer massive, and massively powerful diesel engines, motors like the 6.7 liter I6 in the Ram 3500 are overkill for 99% of jobs outside of ranches or regular hauling. The only glimmer of hope for a four-cylinder diesel pickup came from outside the U.S.,when Indian automaker Mahindra wanted to import its TR20 diesel pickups. But that whole plan fell down like a drunk at a stair climbing competition, leading to lawsuits, hurt feelings, and no small diesel pickup for America.

A smaller diesel engine option would give the Nissan Titan something to differentiate it from other pickups in this price range, and could deliver fuel economy even better than the Ram EcoDiesel. Keep your fingers crossed kids, because like many of you, I’ve been waiting for a legit four-cylinder diesel pickup for years…and we might finally have one. The Nissan Titan diesel is expected to debut in the fall 0f 2014.

 Source: The Truth About Cars