Nissan North America announced that it has become the second Japanese brand - after Toyota - to enter the US full-size pickup truck market. The 2004 Titan was launched at a press conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit by Nissan Motor Company President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "The new Titan is Nissan's biggest vehicle and biggest statement yet," said Ghosn. "There's much on the line - a major financial investment, an extension of our growing brand and reputation, and our longstanding heritage of innovation and performance." According to Nissan, the Titan is scheduled to go on sale at more than 1,100 Nissan dealers nationwide in late 2003. The Titan is built on an all-new truck platform with a newly designed ‘Endurance’ 5.6-litre DOHC V8 with ‘over 300’ horsepower and more than 375 lb-ft of torque, standard five-speed automatic transmission and a towing capacity of up to 9,400 pounds, says the company. According to the company, an off-road package will also be available with a lower ratio Dana 44 axle, class-exclusive electronically activated locking rear differential (switch operated), off-road-style Rancho gas shock absorbers, large all-terrain tires, fog lights and lower radiator, fuel tank and transfer case skid plates. Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is standard, along with four-wheel disc brakes with Bosch anti-lock. The Nissan Titan will be available in both King Cab (extended single-row seating) and Crew Cab (double-row) models, with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. The Titan was conceived, developed, styled and engineered primarily in North America and will be assembled at Nissan's new $1.43 billion manufacturing facility in Canton, Mississippi.