The Nissan Titan pick-up truck has been an on-again, off-again tale for Australia for some time now, but with rumours now swirling of the big truck’s impending demise in the USA, it’s one project that now appears like it will be permanently off for our market.
How, then, can Nissan do battle with the likes of the RAM 1500 TRX and Ford F-150 (not to mention regular-sized utes like the Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota’s incoming “apex off-road variant” of the HiLux?).
The answer, at least according to the internet, is by adding a bed to the rear of the popular, and V8-powered, Patrol SUV, tapping into the popularity of that model, and injecting a little luxury into the pick-up truck space.
The render above is very unofficial, and was conceived by graphic artist Theottle, but we can still hope, can’t we?
The Patrol, after all, has never been more popular, having broken sales records for the brand earlier this year. So far in 2022, the Patrol has 3226 new owners – up a considerable 122 per cent from the 1453 units sold to this point last year.
A Patrol-based truck should also prove plenty handy on and off the road, given its 5.6-litre petrol V8 which produces a heady 298kW and 560Nm. Also on board is a seven-speed automatic transmission, a full-time 4WD system, selectable off-road modes and a rear diff lock.
The final piece of the puzzle? When it comes to full-size trucks, Nissan might soon only have the Patrol to lean on, if rumours out of the USA come to fruition.
Reports in America point to the Titan disappearing from sale in the next two years, with sales having been underwhelming.
America’s Automotive News quotes sources that have told it that the Titan will be retired by 2025.
“There’s no plan engineering’s working on for replacing it, updating it,” the source reportedly said. “It’s dead.”
The other issue is the current-gen Patrol, which has been on sale for some time, will soon be replaced by an all-new Y63 version (of which there has been no talk of a pick-up version, by the way).
That model, though, will be more tailored for Australia than ever before, with the Patrol’s success here affording Nissan Australia a bigger seat at the product planning table. And that means a sustained focus on off-road credibility.
“As the volume has increased, and we’ve been able to demonstrate demand for Patrol that is more than we’re able to supply at this point, we’re getting a bigger voice at the table,” Nissan Australia boss Adam Paterson told us recently.
“As far as unique specific requirements, it’s difficult to build those into a program when… we’re one of few right-hand markets. I would say that (the Patrol) has always been built to be a true off-road-capable vehicle, and that’s even more a requirement in this country than in other markets where it is sold.
“Even though its a similar product to the vehicle sold in North America, my experience is that the capability of it is utilised more here than it is overseas.
“So the requirements of this market, I feel, is to keep it very , very true to its off-road capable heritage, because it’s utilised. As we sit at the global table as far as requirements go, ours is to make sure it remains as capable as it’s always been.”
A truck version? Unlikely. But we can hope.
Keyword: Nissan Patrol ute would be a V8-powered, RAM-bothering monster in Australia