Despite the soaring gas prices, many motorists still prefer a reliable pickup truck, especially for those who make a living out of the vehicle, like farmers and contractors. To entertain those truck lovers, Nissan released a new Titan. The truck’s bigger than it was before, thanks to the addition of two new longbed models, and it has a slew of upgrades that improve capability and comfort.

The Titan’s product-planning manager, Paul Fisher, who oversees all the upgrades, says, “We feel it’s very important for the Titan to be perceived not only as a private-use vehicle, but also as a work-use vehicle.”

At 20.3 feet from nose to tailgate, the new Titan King Cab and Crew Cab longbeds are 20 inches longer than the short-wheelbase counterparts they supplement. The King Cab has an 8.2 foot box instead of the standard 6.5 foot cargo space. It’s ready to swallow 4×8 sheets of plywood without needing a bed extender, while the Crew Cab’s 7.3 foot bed can haul around 85 percent of the ATVs and motorcycles out there with the tailgate closed and locked. Previously, it only was available with a 5.5 foot rear deck. The Titan LWB Crew Cab also can claim bragging rights to the longest bed available among half-ton pickups.

But it takes more than long beds to get the attention of commercial-truck buyers who need a mobile workshop as much as they need transportation to and from a job site. Nissan responded to the tool-toting needs of true truckers by giving the Titan a 33 percent boost in standard payload capacity, to just over 2000 pounds in the 140 inch Short Wheelbase King and Crew Cab two-wheel-drive trucks. Nissan beefed up the rear axle, strengthened suspension components, and increased front brake size to achieve this. Its 2000 pounds now beats the 1890-pound standard payload capacity of a similarly configured Ford F 150.
Revising the suspension also evened out the Titan’s stance, so it no longer looks as heavy in the nose, an attribute that made earlier editions of the truck look more like a midsize. And though the front discs may be a bit smaller than those on the new Tundra, Nissan engineers are quick to indicate that it has 80 square inches more surface area for the brake pads to sweep because Tundra uses a larger center hub. Add to that new Nissan shocks to handle the load.

Nissan also introduced a new PRO 4X off-road model that’s been slotted between the midpriced SE and premium LE. It comes with Rancho shocks, 18-inch wheels and BFGood-rich off-road tires, extra skidplates, and Eaton’s electronic E-locker–the only electric rear-differential locker available on a full-size pickup.

For the 2008 model year, Nissan’s Frontier pickup returns with some changes which include new Nissan shocks.

The Frontier shares platforms with the Xterra and Pathfinder sport-utility vehicles, which essentially ride on a modified version of the fully boxed, ladder frame used on the full-size Armada SUV and Titan pickup. The truck comes in either rear- or four-wheel drive and in four-door King Cab and Crew Cab versions. The former configuration includes front-hinged rear access doors and flip-up back seats, while the latter comes with conventional rear-hinged doors and a full-sized bench seat.

Two engines are now being offered. The optionally available 4.0-liter V-6 puts out 261 horsepower, while the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder develops 152 horsepower. Five or six-speed manual transmissions are available, as is a five-speed automatic transmission.

A “high-utility” pickup bed includes both a factory-applied spray-in bedliner and a “Utili-track” cargo tie-down system. Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control testify to the Frontier’s off-roading credentials and serious enthusiasts will want to check out the NISMO off-road package, which adds skid plates, an upgraded suspension with Bilstein shocks, electronic locking rear differential and knobby-style tires.

Standard Frontier features include four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitors. A limited-slip differential, leather seats, a high-powered Rockford Fosgate audio system, and a choice of either XM or Sirius satellite radio can be ordered optionally.

For 2008, the four-cylinder models can be ordered in ritzier SE trim; they had only been available in lesser XE trim last year. A Technology Package with Bluetooth and XM is available on NISMO and LE trims. And LE models now get a power cloth driver seat.