SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/643686
NISSAN TITAN WARRIOR The Titan Warrior is the latest off-road truck concept that was introduced by Nissan Design America (NDA). The truck borrows from the 2016 Titan XD and takes it to new extremes both cosmetically and mechanically. "Truck buyers have a seemingly insatiable appetite for more content and unique offerings," said Jose Munoz, executive vice- president of Nissan Motor Company and chairman of Nissan North America. As Nissan suggests, it is an adventure-ready, off-road modified design that was built around a commercial- duty chassis with modified suspension works. The Warrior is powered by the same Cummins 5.0-liter V8 turbo diesel that is found in the Titan XD production truck. Interestingly, the Warrior was influenced by the crowd- sourced customization of the automaker's Project Titan, a project that sent two U.S. military veterans representing Wounded Warrior Project on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Alaska. Also, the Warrior pays homage to Nissan's motorsports heritage, which goes back to the days of the company's SCORE Baja "hardbody" competition pickups and Paris-Dakar Rally treks. While it follows the Titan XD's standard wheelbase and length, Nissan upgraded the ground clearance considerably for the Warrior by lifting it three inches. The lift allowed for 37-inch tall tires mounted on 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Warrior's width was extended three additional inches on each side to accommodate a long-travel suspension system and oversized tire package. Cosmetically, the Warrior is striking in appearance, which Nissan calls "modern armor." Overall, it radiates a stealthy, sharper-edge feel than the production Titan XD model. This look is especially revealing in the grille and signature Titan headlamp housings, front and rear fenders and fully functional hood vents designed to give the diesel additional cooling potential. Obvious is the broader hood that flows into a large front skid plate, which interconnects to the powerful front bumper. Then there are the custom LED lights, both front and rear. In fact, the rear LED lights spell Titan using a capital T logo, and as a finishing touch, a quad-tipped exhaust system is THE TITAN WARRIOR CONCEPT BUILDS UPON THE RECENT PROJECT TITAN XD OFF-ROAD TRUCK, BUT PACKS MORE PUNCH VISUALLY AND IN ITS SUSPENSION. 046 SCORE JOURNAL