Nissan announced over the summer that it would commence in building its second crowdsourced vehicle, a 2014 Titan->ke482 pickup. The one-off truck->ke1311 would be built with the help of Nissan’s 170,000 Facebook fans in preparation for an epic Alaskan adventure, led by two veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project.

The truck started life as a stock Titan, no different than one found at a local dealership and through the last several weeks, Nissan’s->ke62 Facebook fans have voted on which parts to add, including wheels, tires, bumpers, mechanical modifications, interior accessories, and exterior graphics. With the truck completed, WWP Alumni David Guzman and Kevin McMahon are setting off on a week-long adventure through the Alaskan wilderness.

Nissan is creating a video mini-series that will debut in the fall of 2014 on YouTube that documents the two veterans’ extreme journey.

While this is Nissan’s first off-road iteration of a crowdsourced vehicle, it’s the automaker’s second similar build. Back in 2012, Nissan’s Facebook fans helped build a 370Z with a twin-turbo kit, a revised and track-ready suspension kit, and a host of visual changes to attract attention.

Updated 09/08/2014: Nissan unveiled a new video->ke278 revealing a series of new details on its latest Project Titan. The new video shows the Titan with new hardcore wheels, LED lights, and wrap the exterior in a bold, military inspired, custom digital camo print.

Click past the jump for more info on the Titan project

2014 Nissan "Project Titan"

Specifications
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  • Model: 2014 Nissan "Project Titan"
  • Engine/Motor: V8
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Pros
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Official Nissan Video

Exterior

Things look very different for the WWP Titan, with perhaps the most noticeable change being the digital-camouflage wrap that covers the entire vehicle. A set of 18-inch, Fuel Revolver D525 wheels were installed and wrapped in the popular Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires sized 35 inches. The front bumper system comes from ARB and is complete with a Warn winch. An LED light bar and light pods from Bulldog help the Titan navigate dark trails. Holding the LED lights in place is a custom roof rack that also holds a spare tire. A lift kit and fender flairs help complete the look.

Out back, a bed topper helps keep cargo dry, while a rolling cargo tray makes it more accessible. A custom, steel bumper helps protect the bodywork from the harsh Alaskan terrain and it houses a two-inch receiver hitch that pulls a compact, off-road style camper. A pintle hitch is used to couple the two together, ensuring they don’t separate while bouncing down rocky trails.

Speaking of that trailer, it houses a kitchenette, tent, water, extra fuel, storage space, and an extra spare tire.

A matching set of mud tires do the rolling while exceptionally high ground clearance helps the trailer easily follow the Titan.

Interior

Inside the Titan, Facebook fans voted to include Katzkin seat covers complete with the WWP and Project Titan logo. A high-grade Lowrance HDS 5m GPS interface is installed in the center console, making it easy for the two Vets to navigate Alaska’s uncharted regions. Nissan also changed up the Titan’s stock steering wheel and gear shifter, making it more comfortable to drive.

Otherwise, the Titan’s interior remains stock. That’s not a bad thing, however, as the truck offers plenty of room in the front two seats and loads of room for three passengers in the second row. The bench seat also folds up, allowing for extra cargo storage.

Drivetrain

Nissan didn’t leave the greasy bits alone either. Nissan engineers installed a NISMO cold-air intake and Borla cat-back exhaust, along with reprogramming the 5.6-liter V-8’s ECU programming. The extra power, which Nissan hasn’t listed, should help the truck combat the extra weight of gear, larger tires, and the trailer.

The Titan’s Endurance V-8 normally puts out 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. Pure speculation on my part puts the 5.6-liter making around 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. That represents a 23 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque gain over the stock engine.

Prices

Nissan started with a stock 2014 Titan with the off-road-spec PRO-4X package. Pricing for that package with the Crew Cab and standard bed length with four-wheel drive starts at $39,780. The automaker hasn’t released what the total cost of the truck’s build-up is, but it’s likely to exceed $80,000 with everything included.

Conclusion

Nissan is seems to be doing a good deed in raising awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Wounded veterans across the country will likely see some sort of positive support through this, and that makes me happy.

The project also brings attention to the Titan itself, a truck that will be replaced very soon. In fact, we can expect a new Titan to roll on the scene for the 2015 model year. What’s more, with Nissan’s partnership with Cummins means that 5.0-liter V-8 turbo-diesel we’ve been telling you about will likely come to fruition.

For now, we’ll enjoy watching the WWP Project Titan truck trample across the Alaskan wilderness.

Update History

Updated 08/08/2014: Nissan unveiled the first video in which explains the development process of its new "Project Titan" The video explains how Nissan fitted the Titan with hardcore tires and a high articulation suspension system.

Updated 09/02/2014: Nissan unveiled a series of new details and images on its future Project Titan. A new video was also unveiled revealing new phases from the project's development program.

Prior Speculation surrounding Nissan's "Project Titan"

The main man in charge of this operation is Fred Diaz, Nissan’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he was an integral part in making the Ram 1500 what it is today. During his time at Ram Trucks,->ke4211 he helped usher in the use of the multi-link, coil-over rear suspension, revised exterior and interior looks, and bringing the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel to fruition. To say he’s a truck guy is an understatement.

Now with Fred being at Nissan for the last year or so, you can bet your trailer hitch the guy is cooking up some solid stuff for the next generation of Titan trucks. We already know about the 5.0-liter Cummins V-8 in the works, along with its all-new body and interior.

Coming full circle, this little crowdsourcing stunt makes for good publicity, but also helps Fred and the Nissan team understand what Titan buyers are interested in. Perhaps we’ll get a special-edition package with several of these crowdsourced parts in the future. Perhaps a Ford Raptor or Ram Power Wagon fighter is in the works. I’ll leave you to speculate, but with rest assured that Nissan’s truck division has a bright future ahead of it.