At the Detroit Auto Show, the all-new 2016 Nissan Titan XD pickup made its debut with the also all-new Cummins 5.0 liter V8 turbo-diesel engine.
The combination of the Cummins turbo-diesel and Nissan’s XD line opens a new chapter for the brand as well as a new choice for buyers looking for a do anything tow vehicle.
While not considered a heavy-duty pickup in the realm of what Ford, Chevrolet and Ram offer up in their diesel powered 2500 and 3500 series, the Titan XD will be able to tow some 12,000 lbs.
While tailored and built for the Nissan Titan XD, the Cummins V8 features some 70% parts commonality with the commercial series Cummins ISV 5.0 engine commonly found in fleet vehicles.
With the Ram 1500 offering a 3.0 liter V6 turbo-diesel and the heavy-duty lines pushing the 6.0 liter realm, Nissan’s 5.0 liter V8 turbo-diesel threads the needle right in the middle with 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque.
Nissan and Cummins engineered the new powertrain together, a project which began in 2007. The engine block is cast with lightweight compacted graphite iron. Dual overhead cam heads are made of high-strength aluminum with composite valve covers.
A two-stage series sequential turbocharging system has both a small and larger compressor mounted in series. The small turbocharger builds boost faster at slow speeds, with the larger one coming on when rpms rise.
A patented rotary valve regulates the air flow between them to keep boost pressure at maximum levels and turbo-lag at a minimum.
Using a modern common rail injection system, Piezo fuel injectors provide multiple charges per combustion cycle aiding in cleaner combustion and increased power.
Emissions are handled with cooled exhaust gas recirculation, catalyst, diesel exhaust fluid urea injection and a particulate filter.
The new Nissan Titan XD with Cummins V8 turbo-diesel will be available in a variety of trim grades with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. At launch only a single 151” wheel-base crew-cab configuration will be available with the diesel engine.
