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Why 2015 is going to be a huge year for trucks

Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn took center stage to introduce the 2016 Titan last week at the Detroit Auto Show. He spoke of the truck's new features, impressive Cummins V8 diesel engine and the extensive amount of time and money required to build a modern, competitive pickup truck. "We have done all of this because we see opportunity – an opportunity in the unmet needs of today's American truck customers," Ghosn said. He was speaking about the Titan, but his thoughts echo the industry's mindset: When it comes to trucks, find an opportunity and attack. Even with CAFE regulations looming and fickle consumer preferences, investing in trucks is a no-brainer for automakers. Some consumers will always need a truck for their job or lifestyle. And some people will always want one, whether they need it or not. With that in mind, here are four reasons why the pickup-truck sector is more important than ever and poised for growth in 2015. View 24 Photos The Nissan Titan Is Back Okay, it never left, but the Titan hadn't been redesigned since its launch in 2003, and Nissan sold more NV200s than Titans in 2014. It's an understatement to say the truck was languishing. That all changes with the 2016 model. The Titan will come in two variants, a traditional fullsize competitor and the Titan XD. The XD will lead the market launch, and it arrives late this year. It's pitched as a "whitespace" offering, Nissan sales and marketing vice president Fred Diaz said. The idea is to offer something in the general size and price range of a fullsize truck, but also have some of the capability of a heavy-duty truck. The XD uses a fully boxed ladder frame, the chassis design from Nissan's commercial division, and the wheelbase is about 20 inches longer than other Titan models. The XD, which Nissan is calling the flagship of the line, will be the only model with the 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8. It produces 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, while being able to tow 12,000 pounds. V6 and V8 gasoline models will also be offered on the Titan XD and the standard, non-XD model. When production ramps up, the Titan will be sold with several cabs, beds and trims. New features include trailer sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller, more storage options in the cabin and even laminated front and rear side glass to reduce outside noise. All of this has given Nissan fresh confidence in an area where it admittedly has been lacking. "We can compete," Diaz told Autoblog.

GM issues stop-delivery for 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon

General Motors is issuing a stop-delivery order for its latest midsize pickups, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, because the driver's side airbag might not be wired correctly. The total number of vehicles affected is still being determined.
According to the statement from GM, the problem, "affects the vehicles' two-stage airbag system by reversing the deployment sequence and disrupting the deployment timing of the driver airbag stages." That means in an accident the bag may not work correctly.
Most of the affected trucks are still on the assembly line, in transit or unsold at dealers, says GM. Until a way to repair the problem is found, customer deliveries are stopped. However, "a small number" of them are in the possession of buyers. GM is contacting these people by phone and by FedEx letter to have the vehicles returned to dealers. In the meantime, they'll be given a loaner to drive.

2017 GMC Acadia comes into focus

The future slate of crossovers from General Motors reportedly ride on the company's new, scalable Chi platform. With short- or long-wheelbase configurations possible, the chassis conceivably allows the automaker to be more adaptable in the configuration of its CUVs. Cadillac already appears to be testing Chi for the luxury brand's future SRX/XT5, and here it is again under heavy camouflage underpinning the next GMC Acadia. Unfortunately, the Acadia is so well concealed here that it's extremely difficult to pick out any of the styling changes, though the squared-off fenders and faint GMC logo peaking through the tape on the front wheels reveal what this vehicle is. Up front, the grille appears to sit somewhat lower than the current model, and the vertical LED running lights are easy to pick out. The orientation of the taillights through the camo suggests wraparound units not too dissimilar from the current Acadia (or is that Saturn Outlook?). The next-gen Acadia is expected to debut in 2016 as a 2017 model year vehicle. The powertrain options may include the current 3.6-liter V6, a four-cylinder and possibly even a turbo V6, and GM's new nine-speed automatic might also be for offer. With a year before the reveal, take a look at these photos for a first look. Featured Gallery GMC Acadia Spy Shots View 12 Photos Image Credit: KGP Photography Design/Style Spy Photos GMC Crossover gmc acadia