That Ford will no doubt remain top dog in the segment, with Chevy and then Dodge pulling up the rear. The Toyota has never made a significant dent in the market, but that's not to say the Nissan will suffer the same fate. Its 5.6-L V8 is much more powerful and styling the boldest of the two imports. It's possible the Titan could carve out a sizable niche of its own, despite the strong brand loyalty among pickup truck owners.
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| The stylish 2004 Quest minivan has one of the most unique interiors in the industry. (Photo: Nissan) |
Before the truck goes into production, however, Nissan will begin building the stylish 2004 Quest minivan, all-new from the ground up. It features one of the most unique interiors in the industry, with an executive jet-like passenger compartment, two rows of rear seats that fold into the floor and a distinct, sporty exterior design.
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| Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn, "a rock star of automobile production". (Photo: Nissan) |
It gets a version of the brand's award winning VQ engine too, that is also found in the Nissan Altima, Maxima and all-new Murano SUV, plus a raft of top-tier Infiniti models. In the Quest the 3.5-L V6 produces 245-hp and 246 lb-ft of torque to make it one of the most powerful in its class. The new van owes nothing but its name to the previous Quest that shared many of its components, as well as its basic architecture, with Ford Motor's Mercury Villager minivan.
Marking the beginning of production for the new Quest, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan CEO, dedicated the new Mississippi plant yesterday. Reuters reported that Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott named Ghosn "a rock star of automobile production" while a crowd of plant workers cheered on before him.