The 2005 Nissan Titan King Cab full-size pickup begins its sophomore year with only minor equipment enhancements but several significant changes to model availability and option package content.
Titan King Cab has been all we expected in its first year, says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of marketing,but we feel we can increase our competitiveness with the domestic trucks by reconfiguring base and option packages and revising model availability.
Revising option package contents has also improved price positioning on most models, Forsyth adds.
The changes include the addition of a new SE 4x2 High Utility Bed Package and a new XE 4x2 Appearance Package. In addition, three option packages have been considerably revised.
Titan King Cab is still offered in four models, XE 4x2, SE 4x2, SE 4x4 and LE 4x4.
For 2005, all four models add standard Dampened Tailgate Assist, which reduces effort needed to open and close tailgate, and new front-seat active head restraints.
Both two- and four-wheel-drive SE models are further enhanced with the addition of an AM/FM/CD audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer.
The top-of-the-line Titan King Cab LE 4x4 gets upgraded interior trim and new back-up proximity sensors.
Unchanged for 2005 is Titan's 5.6-litre DOHC V8 engine that produces 305 horsepower and 379 ft-lbs of torque. It uses advanced engine technology such as an aluminum block with cast-iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, microfinished crankshaft and camshaft, graphite-coated pistons, six-bolt main bearing caps, and Super Silent single-stage timing chain.
With the Premium Tow Package, Titan can boast a maximum towing capacity of 4,309 kilograms (9,500 pounds) as much as some three-quarter-ton pickups. It's built on a rugged, fully boxed high-strength steel F-Alpha platform for enhanced crash performance and long-term durability.
The standard five-speed automatic transmission was designed especially for heavy-duty truck use, with emphasis on serious towing.
For 4WD models, Titan adapts an advanced shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system with 2WD/4H/4LO modes with an electronically controlled part-time transfer case.
Titan's responsive handling is a product of its all-steel double-wishbone front suspension and rigid leaf (dual rate) rear suspension with shackles mounted along the frame sides to eliminate below-frame obstacles.
Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is standard, along with four-wheel disc brakes with Bosch Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
Other Titan King Cab standard and available features are power-adjustable front seats with available driver's seat memory system, heated front seats and flip-up 60/40 rear seat cushions for added cargo space and flexibility, with grocery hooks on the bottom of the seat cushions. The rear floor was designed to fold nearly flat for maximum cargo utility.
In addition, King Cab features a true breakthrough design innovation a first-in-class Wide-Open rear door that swings open 168 degrees, providing unprecedented access to the rear seats.
The Titan King Cab's other really big idea is actually a series of innovations, all addressing truck owners desire for more utility and flexibility in how they use their trucks beds.
Nissan engineers developed a special factory-applied spray-in bedliner. Using a special high durability hard surface resin application, the bedliner helps prevent scratch damage and corrosion. It is the first offered by any original equipment manufacturer and is covered by the Nissan warranty.
The second part of the bed utility solution was the development of the Utili-track System tie-down channel system, available in two SE option packages. Five special "C" cross-section rails are mounted in the bed, and removable utility cleats slide into the channels, providing a wide range of attaching points for cargo tie-down.
The Titan King Cab bed also includes four standard stake pockets and, as required, Titan carries 4x8-foot plywood sheets easily between the wheel housings.
Standard safety features on the 2005 Titan include Nissan's Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seatbelt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor, front seatbelts with adjustable upper anchors, front-seat active head restraints, pretensioners and load limiters, three-point rear outboard passenger seatbelts and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system.
Driver and passenger confidence is accentuated with an extensive list of vehicle-incorporated safety features including a Zone Body construction with front and rear structure crumple zones, an energy absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases with safety stops, knee bolsters and special body side reinforcements and a shift interlock system.
The Titan King Cab XE is equipped with a standard split front bench seat (40/20/40 split) with a centre seat fold-down armrest storage bin and split fold-up rear seat (60/40 split) with three-point seat belts for all positions.
A new XE Appearance Package can be added. It includes spray-in bedliner, limited-slip differential, upgraded audio system with in-dash six-CD changer, rear-sliding window, overhead console, tow hooks and privacy glass.
Titan King Cab SE models add front captains chairs, five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels and P265/70R18 tires, a number of chrome exterior touches and a long list of exterior and interior upgrades.
King Cab SE 4x2 can be further enhanced with a pair of option packages, the SE Premium Tow Package (4,310 kg towing capacity) and SE Utility Bed Package.
The King Cab SE 4x4 also can be augmented with two packages, the SE Tow and Utility Package and the Offroad and Audio Package.
King Cab LE includes all the feature of the SE models with the Tow and Utility Package plus six-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, standard high-utility bed, tubular-style running boards, leather-appointed seating, Rockford Fosgate?-powered audio system with eight speakers and more.