Full-size trucks are serious business in Texas, and the next big thing is here. As Nissan North America (NNA) launches the all-new 2004 Titan in Texas on Sept. 25 at the State Fair, the company is taking its first-ever full-size truck into America's heartland of trucks. "To say that Texas is important to Nissan would be a huge understatement," said John Spoon, regional vice president, Nissan North America. "Texas boasts almost 20 percent of U.S. truck sales, making it one of the world's most competitive truck markets and historically dominated by domestic manufacturers." The importance of Texas to Nissan is evident by the amount of money and time the company has committed to this key market. Nissan has made a significant investment into research over the past several months to better understand the Texas demographic and target market. Other dedicated efforts include retrofitting several of its 60 dealerships in Texas and redesigning showrooms to accommodate the full-size trucks. Dealers are also hiring additional staff and training new sales teams. "With the addition of Titan and Pathfinder Armada, we have expanded the Nissan brand to be a true full-line auto manufacturer," added Spoon. "We are making sure our dealers are well-prepared to sell, service and talk big trucks. This is new for Nissan, but we're going in with the right artillery." The Titan is built on an all-new full-length boxed ladder frame, featuring a newly designed Nissan Endurance 5.6-liter DOHC V8 with 305 horsepower and 379 lb-ft of torque, controlled by a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. The Titan is available in King Cab and Crew Cab models with choice of 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. "Nissan's entrance into this segment will transform the consumer landscape for full-size trucks," said Larry Dominique, chief product specialist for Titan. "The Titan brings an exceptional combination of powerful performance, bold styling and a new level of innovation to the full-size truck market." Other key features of the 2004 Titan include: - 168-degree rear-opening door - Class-leading 127 cubic feet of interior space - best-in-class leg room and head room (Crew Cab) - High Utility Bed with bed-side lock box, segment exclusive Utili-track™ bed channel tie-down system and industry-first spray-in-bed liner - 9,500 lbs. towing capacity. The Titan, which was conceived, developed, styled and engineered primarily in North America, will be assembled at Nissan's new $1.43 billion manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss. It will be available in dealerships in late 2003. About Nissan North America, Inc. In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com.