We say the FTX concept looks too bold to be just an update for the current Tundra. And a Texas assembly plant sounds like the right place for Toyota to build a real fullsize truck. For our money there's no doubt that a bigger, more powerful truck is coming from Toyota, and we'll wager a diesel version will be available by 2007. The current Tundra and Tacoma have won Toyota a lot of credit with truck buyers, and based on Nissan's early success with the larger-than-life Titan, we think the Big Three better step it up if they want to keep selling so many trucks.
Nissan's All New
Those Nissan engineers must be working a lot of overtime, because in two years they've redesigned almost their entire line of trucks with this new '05 Pathfinder and Frontier. Styling for the new midsize siblings is simply a scaled-down Armada and Titan but on a ladder chassis that shares parts with the Titan (the previous Pathfinder was unibody). Cleary even Nissan acknowledges that the old supercharged V-6 wasn't cutting it so a new 4.0L V-6 engine that promises more than 250 hp looks to be the standard engine.
Both 4x4s will offer five-speed automatic transmissions, but the Frontier will be available with a six-speed manual. We're hoping for a granny-low First gear. The Frontier also offers a spray-in bedliner and "Utili-track" bed channel tie-down system. But for us some of the biggest news comes from underneath the Nissans. Hopefully we weren't the only ones who took the time to notice, but the Frontier had a selectable rear locker that is driver-selectable by a switch on the dash. Way to go, Nissan! We asked if the Pathfinder's independent rear axle would also get the locker, but the answer we got was a negativo.
Our long-range predictions for Nissan also include a 31/44-ton variant of the Titan with a serious diesel engine. Whether it ever happens depends on how well the current Titan does, and how well Toyota's larger Tundra sells.
Leftover Concept?
If you've ever been late on a homework assignment and handed it in anyway hoping to get some credit from the teacher, then we think you'll understand the Concept-T Volkswagen rolled out in Detroit this year. We could be wrong, but the radical looks of the crossover sports car/off-roader seem dated now that VW sells a production version called the Touareg. We're not bashing VW-we liked the V-8-powered Touareg so much we named it 4x4 of the Year-but VW could have come up with something better to show off the new 5.0L V-10 twin turbodiesel engine also on display this year. Heck, the Concept-T only had the 241hp V-6 base engine. We would have built a Touareg bulldozer and slipped the new V-10 between the framerails!
Volkswagen's new V-10 twin turbodiesel will offer 310 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque and be backed by a six-speed auto transmission and New Venture Gear transfer case just as in the 310hp and 302 lb-ft V-8 model currently available. According to VW's own data, the Touareg will gain almost 500 pounds with the diesel engine option, but will have similar performance numbers and better fuel economy.