Hot on the heels of the 2016 Nissan Titan XD->ke4254 hitting showrooms, Nissan->ke4254 has released this, the Titan Warrior concept, at the 2016 North American International Auto Show->ke222 in Detroit. Built on the back of a Titan XD, the Titan Warrior concept shows just how aggressive the truck->ke1311 can become, and just how daring Nissan->ke62 can be.

"Truck buyers have a seemingly insatiable appetite for more content and more unique offerings," said José Muñoz, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Company and chairman of Nissan North America. "Even though our all-new 2016 Titan XD->ke482 just started arriving at Nissan dealers nationwide last month, we are already exploring new territory where Titan might go in the future."

It’s highly unlikely the Warrior concept->ke169 will make production, but we’re betting that Nissan is paying close attention to the public’s reaction to this truck’s highly modified off-road suspension and vastly reworked exterior appearance. Perhaps the automaker has something up its sleeve to battle the Ford F-150 Raptor.

Besides the design study, the Titan Warrior concept was built to pay tribute to Nissan’s off-road racing heritage, dating back to the old Hardbody pickups that raced in the Dakar Rally. It also builds atop the recent “Project Titan” build that used crowd sourcing to construct the most hard-core first-generation Titan pickups to ever come from Nissan. The truck was then used by two U.S. Military veterans to traverse some of the toughest terrain in Alaska in a build-up to the launch of the 2016 Titan XD.

So lets jump into what Nissan has done with this Titan Warrior concept.

Continue reading to learn more about the Nissan Titan Warrior Concept.

Exterior

Wow, where to start… Nissan has swapped just about every body panel on the Titan XD for something far more extreme. The front grille is bolder, but still retains the basic shape of the production Titan XD. Three marker lights along the top show off just how wide the truck is – three inches wider than stock, to be exact. The bumper is completely new, sporting a skid plate that protects the undercarrage from off-road objects. The headlights are rather unique, looking like something from a futuristic GT-R concept.

The emboldened look continues onto the sides, with larger, wider fenders with carbon-fiber accents. The larger fenders were needed to help cover the massive 37-inch ProComp Xtreme Terrain MT2 tires. A custom-style rocker guard and step rail has been added between the axles, helping protect the body while making entry into the truck easier. The truck’s three extra inches of ground clearance would otherwise make the hop inside more of a jump. Mirroring the step rails is built-in body cladding that matches the aluminum-style skid plate up front. New body lines run from the widened fenders onto the lower door sections as well.

Out back, the rear of the Titan Warrior concept takes things even further. The tailgate dark accents long its vertical section. The bumper is more for looks than utility. Four exhaust ports are shaped into the lower valance, giving the truck a clean design. A receiver hitch protrudes from below the license plate holder. The taillights aren’t immune from the changes, getting LED bulbs and small Titan “T” logos within the plastic lens. A carbon fiber spoiler sits atop the cab, giving it a sportier feel.

Up top, the roof sports LED off-road lights that help illuminate the darkest of trails without using a SEMA-special LED light bar. The wheels are also unique, sporting black spokes with machined faces near the tire.

Each of the trucks exterior panels are accents with a color Nissan calls “Magma,” contrasting nicely against the matte gunmetal grey paint.

Interior

That “Magma” accent color on the exterior makes itself very known here on the Titan’s interior. The accent color shows up on the door panels, center console, the center-mark on the suede steering wheel, the start/stop button, as the backlighting on all the controls and the accent stitching found throughout the cabin. There’s even a set of gauges that sit atop the dashboard that utilize the orangey-copper hue.

Besides the color, the dash receives new controls below the infotainment system. Large rocker switches control the exterior lighting, traction control, 360-camera system, and shock dampening. The start/stop switch is protected by Magma-colored cover while the dial for the 4WD has been replaced with a piece that resembles the charging handle for an AR-15 rifle.

The center console is home to two bespoke drink containers – with the console providing heat for one and cold temps for the other. The steering wheel also gets an update, with chrome accents at the three and nine o’ clock positions. Suede continues along the top of the dash, on the A-pillars, and roof. Carbon fiber is found on the AC vent surrounds, the grab handles, and center console.

All told, the interior looks great, though don’t expect it to make production anytime soon.

Drivetrain & Suspension

Nissan didn’t mess with too much under the Titan Warrior’s hood. Present and unchanged is the 5.0-liter Cummins V-8 turbodiesel that cranks out 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission. A two-speed, electronically controlled transfer case sends torque to the front wheels when 4WD is selected. The powertrain provides bulletproof power an the ability to lug 12,300 pounds worth of trailer up a grade.

Of course, that’s not this Titan’s purpose. That’s evidenced by the complete suspension upgrade from the stock Titan. Custom-built upper and lower control arms with high-performance ball joints. Bumps are soaked up by coil-over racing shocks with an internal bypass up front and matching shocks out back, minus the coils. Upgraded tie-rod ends, custom sway bars, and hydraulic pressurized bump stops were added for good measure.

Conclusion

Though not slated for production, the Titan Warrior concept shows just how dedicated the Nissan team is to furthering its full-size truck program. It’s a good bet we’ll not see another 10-year hiatus of design innovation from the automaker again. That’s a good thing as the first-gen Titan simply aged into irrelevancy in the truck market.

The Titan Warrior’s smart looks, hard-core suspension, stump-pulling powertrain, and highly detailed interior are impressive. Let’s hope Nissan puts a few of these design elements into a production-ready truck – or more accurately – an off-road ready truck that can battle it out with the Ford Raptor.