The Titan Crew Cab, like the Titan King Cab, brings a fresh, new alternative to the full-size truck category. Its Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter V-8 engine offers power that rivals even some standard V-8s found on competitors' heavy-duty 3/4-ton models.

The Titan Crew Cab is offered in three models-XE, SE, and LE, each with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4. Every Titan comes fully equipped with the all-new Nissan Endurance V-8 engine with 305 horsepower and 379 foot-pounds of torque, 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, power rack-and-pinion steering, and 17-inch wheels and tires. Two seating package configurations are available on the SE model-split bench seat and power captain's chairs.

Optional equipment packages on the Crew Cab include an XE Popular Package with overhead console, upgraded audio system, and vehicle security system with immobilizer; an SE Popular Package with upgraded audio system with steering wheel audio controls, overhead console with rear audio controls, rearview mirror with temperature and HomeLink universal transceiver, and adjustable pedals; SE Rockford Fosgate Package with premium audio Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system; Mobile Theatre Package with drop-down rear monitor and integrated DVD player, video port on center console, and two wireless headphones; Front Seat Side-Impact and Curtain Airbag Package; Sunroof Package; and Proximity Package with rear proximity sensors and DVD-based navigation system.

Titan Crew Cab also offers three functional packages: an Off-Road Package (XE 4x4, SE, and LE), which includes Rancho gas shocks, lower final gear ratio (3.357), P285/70R17 BF Goodrich raised white letter all-terrain tires, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, skid plates (oil pan, fuel tank, and transfer case), fog lamps, and tow hooks; Utility Bed Package (SE) with C-channel bed system, bed side storage, rear bed lighting, and power point and spray-in bedliner; and Tow Package (SE, LE) including receiver hitch, lower final gear ratio (3.357), 7-pin wiring harness plug, transmission oil temperature gauge, extending mirrors, heavy-duty battery and radiator, and vehicle dynamic control (VDC). Titan Crew Cab has a maximum towing capacity of 9,400 pounds (when properly equipped).

"When creating the Titan, we found that most people's prerequisites for a serious full-size truck are horsepower, torque, and towing capacity. So that's where we put our highest priority," said Larry Dominique, chief product specialist, Nissan Titan. "Nearly 90 percent of the Endurance V-8's torque is available below 2,500 rpm, giving Titan an advanced capability to tow, haul, and drive off-road."

Titan also uses a specially engineered 5-speed electronically controlled Torq-King automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. The 5-speed automatic transmission is designed especially for heavy-duty truck use, with emphasis on serious towing. Each component has been adapted and strengthened, along with a low and wide gear ratio to create a high-performance control system producing top-class acceleration, power, and shift quality.

Titan's responsive handling is a product of its all-steel double-wishbone front suspension design with coil-over shock absorbers and stabilizer bar and rigid leaf (dual rate) rear suspension with shackles mounted along the frame sides to help maximize ground clearance and departure angle. Also available are Rancho off-road performance shocks as part of the Off-Road Package. The new Titan is available with 17-inch painted steel wheels and P245/75R17 tires or 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and P265/70R18 tires. Also available are 17-inch brushed aluminum-alloy wheels and largest-in-class BF Goodrich P285/70R17 Rugged Trail as part of the Off-Road Package.

For 4x4 models, Titan uses an advanced shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel-drive system with 2WD/4H/4LO modes with electronic control part-time transfer case. Also contributing to Titan's off-road capability is an advanced torque split control strategy that works in cooperation with the brake-activated limited-slip traction control system to transfer optimum torque to wheels automatically according to road and driving conditions.

Full-size trucks are no longer used just for work-they're an extension of each owner's lifestyle. Truck owners are purchasing trucks as their family vehicle and for recreation, as well as for work. The Titan interior design reflects this more well-rounded usage-emphasizing roominess and innovation while providing tangible support for truck activities.

The interior is designed to be spacious and accommodating and is available in five- or six-passenger configurations. At 126 cubic feet, the Titan Crew Cab offers more interior space than any competitive half-ton crew cab model. An available overhead console system gives passengers more storage options and also comes with an optional rear-seat DVD Mobile Theatre System with fold-down 7-inch monitor and 350-watt 10-speaker Rockford Fosgate-powered sound system. The console houses rear audio controls and also contains storage bins for both front and rear passengers for items like sunglasses, CDs, cell phone, or a PDA.

Two interior configurations are available: a standard bench seat with column shifter, which seats six passengers, or an optional Captain's Chair Package, which offers a large center console with two front captain's chairs with gated floor shifter.

The center console can hold a variety of beverage containers, including a 1-liter bottle. The storage area has a 12-volt adapter, which can be used as a power source for a phone or other electronic devices. The storage in the center console offers passengers a variety of choices, with size adjusted by simply removing or adding dividers. The console's storage box can also accommodate hanging file folders and contains holders for maps, paper, pens, and business cards on the console lid.

The Titan Crew Cab features a front passenger seat that folds flat to allow extra storage and so it can be used as a work area. In addition, power-adjustable front seats with available driver's seat memory system and heated seats provide added convenience. Titan also offers power-adjustable foot pedals with memory and transmission interlock.

Perhaps Titan's biggest innovation and differentiation from the competition is in its bed, addressing truck owners' desire for more utility and flexibility in how they use their trucks' bed.

Nissan research showed that a vast majority of full-size pickup owners perform some sort of modifications, usually bedliners or tie-down systems, to their trucks after purchase. After studying available aftermarket bed utility systems and bedliners, the Titan team created a unique, two-part solution.

First, to overcome the tendency of aftermarket drop-in bedliners to warp or trap rust-inducing moisture underneath, or the relatively high cost and thickness of typical aftermarket spray-in bedliners, a special factory-applied spray-in bedliner was developed. Using a special high-durability hard surface resin application, the bedliner helps prevent scratch damage and corrosion to the bed and inner tailgate surface. It is the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer and is covered by Nissan's basic limited warranty. Nissan spent nearly $20 million developing the new bedliner.

The new Titan also features an innovative bed side storage compartment located behind the rear driver's side wheel. The bed side storage bin is designed to hold common truck items such as work gloves, chains, rope, road flares, first aid kit, or a hitch ball. The compartment is double-sealed to help prevent the intrusion of water and dust (though the compartment is not designed to be waterproof in case of submersion) and uses the Titan ignition key for locking and unlocking.

Standard safety features on the 2004 Titan include Nissan's advanced airbag system with dual-stage front supplemental airbags with seat-belt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor; front seat belts with adjustable upper anchors, pretensioners, and load limiters; three-point rear outboard passenger seat belts; and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system.

—Gail Sprock