Nissan announces updates to pickups, commercial vans

While Nissan’s planned roll out of the Cummins diesel-powered Nissan Titan XD pickup garnered a lot of attention, the company plans severa other updates to its entire pickup and commercial van line.

[ click to enlarge + ]Titan’s little brother, Frontier, will get three new colors for 2016 (Sunset Orange, Gun Metallic and Magnetic Black). Metallic Blue, Night Armor and Super Black will no longer be available. A moonroof has been added to Frontier Crew Cab SV model.

Frontier is offered in both King Cab and Crew Cab body styles and in 4×2 and 4×4 driveline configurations, along with five trim grades: Frontier S (4-cylinder and V6), SV, PRO-4X (4×4 only), Desert Runner (4×2 only) and SL (Crew Cab only).

NV Cargo adds 1st row side- and roof-mounted curtain supplemental side-impact air bags with rollover sensor for front outboard occupant head protection as standard equipment

The 2016 Nissan NV Cargo van, the company’s commercial entry, will get a supplemental front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact air bags for front outboard occupant head protection (includes rollover sensor) added as standard equipment for the 2016 model year.

[ click to enlarge + ]Powering the rear-wheel drive Nissan NV Cargo is a choice of two powerful yet fuel-efficient engines – a 4.0-liter V6 and 5.6-liter V8. Both are mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. Next model year, the NV Cargo will offer one new exterior color: Cayenne Red. Midnight Garnet will be discontinued.

The van is offered in three versions: NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD, and in two roof configurations – Standard Roof and High Roof

Nissan’s NV200 Compact Cargo van, equipped with a 2.0-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder engine and a next-gen Xtronic transmission, also gets a new paint color next model year: Taxi Yellow. The van is offered in S and SV models.

Expected to arrive at dealerships later this year, Titan XD creates a “new class” of pickup, Nissan says, that carves out a unique position in the segment between traditional heavy-duty and light-duty entries.

[ click to enlarge + ]The new design combines the capability of a heavy-duty hauler with the drivability and affordability of a light-duty pickup, anchored by a Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel rated at 310 horsepower and a hefty 555 lb-ft of torque mated to a heavy-duty 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission. The pickup offers a maximum towing capacity of more than 12,000 pounds.

For the 2016 model year, Titan includes an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller, Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Tow/Haul Mode with Downhill Speed Control and a Trailer Light Check system that allows one-person hook-up operation – including checking turn signals, brake lights and running/clearance lights.

Also assisting trailer hook-ups is Titan’s RearView Monitor with Trailer Guides, while the available Around View Monitor (AVM) provides a unique “bird’s eye” view of the surrounding area from front, rear and side cameras to help with parking and pulling in and out of tight spaces.

The system also includes Moving Object Detection (MOD), which helps the driver detect moving objects such as vehicles, shopping carts or other large objects when backing out via an on-screen notification and warning chime.

Titan XD owners have two available hitch options, including an integrated gooseneck hitch engineered into the frame and easily accessible in the bed.

The new Titan XD Crew Cab is offered in S, SV, PRO-4X, SL and Platinum Reserve models. Gasoline-powered Titan models are expected in Spring 2016.