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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.

Mixed sales results, but automaker stocks rise on need for cars in Houston

DETROIT — The Big Three Detroit automakers on Friday reported better-than-expected August sales and issued optimistic outlooks for demand as residents of the Houston area replace flood-damaged cars and trucks after Hurricane Harvey, sending their stocks higher. General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler posted mixed August U.S. sales, with GM up 7.5 percent and Ford and Fiat Chrysler down. Japanese automaker Toyota improved sales by nearly 7 percent, while Honda fell 2.4 percent. Still, analysts focused on the potential for Detroit automakers to cut inventories and stabilize used vehicle prices as residents of Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, are forced to replace tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of vehicles after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey. Mark LaNeve, Ford's U.S. sales chief, told analysts on Friday that following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 "we saw a very dramatic snapback" in demand. That said, Ford sales fell 2.1 percent in August. It sold 209,897 vehicles in the United States, compared with 214,482 a year earlier. Sales were down 1.9 percent in the Ford division and off 5.8 percent at Lincoln. Demand was down for cars, crossovers and SUVs. It was not clear how many vehicles in the Houston area will be scrapped, LaNeve said, saying he had seen estimates ranging from 200,000 to 400,000 to 1 million. Ford's Houston dealers may have lost fewer than 5,000 vehicles in inventory, he said. Ford is the No. 1 automaker in the Houston market, with 18 percent share, according to IHS Markit. The company plans to ship used vehicles to Houston dealers and has "every indication we would have to add some production" of new vehicles to meet demand, LaNeve said. Investor concerns about inventories of unsold vehicles and falling used car prices have weighed on Detroit automakers' shares most of this year. Now, automakers can anticipate a jolt of demand from a big market that is a stronghold for Detroit brand trucks and SUVs. "It's got to be a positive for the industry," LaNeve said. Investors appeared to agree. GM shares rose as much as 3.3 percent to their highest since early March. Ford increased 2.8 percent at $11.34, and Fiat Chrysler's U.S.-traded shares were up 5.2 percent $15.91, hitting their highest in more than five years. GM reported a 7.5 percent increase in U.S. auto sales in August, helped by robust sales of crossovers across its four brands.

2017 GMC Acadia adds four-cylinder and All Terrain model

General Motors has officially started the process of updating its long-in-the-tooth fullsize CUVs by unveiling the second-generation GMC Acadia at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. While the Acadia is 700 pounds lighter, it's also shorter and narrower, which means it's not quite the people mover it used to be. You'll no longer be able to haul eight passengers, although there will still be five-, six-, and seven-passenger offerings. While families might not be thrilled with the loss of a seat, the lighter weight is a net win. Not only will the V6 model feel more powerful and efficient – in addition to the lower curb weight, there's a new, 310-horsepower engine – but it will also likely be more economical. GM estimates the front-drive V6 will return 25 miles per gallon on the freeway, compared to 24 mpg for the current front driver, but city fuel economy remains pegged at 17 mpg. In a move we're not entirely sold on, though, the Acadia will also adopt a four-cylinder engine, and no, it's not GM's highly regarded 2.0-liter turbo. Instead, you'll be able to order this 4,000-pound CUV with a 2.5-liter, 194-horsepower four-cylinder. What it won't be able to provide in straight-line speed, it will make up for with fuel economy. GM is wagering the front-drive, four-cylinder Acadia will net 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. Both engines are paired with a HydraMatic 6T75 six-speed automatic. A new All Terrain model is said to be optimized for wet, snowy and icy conditions, and its drive mode selector removes the Off Road selection in favor of All Terrain. We have live images of both the new Acadia Denali, as well as the new-for-2017 All Terrain model, direct from the floor of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. There's also a video of the full GMC press conference with reactions from our editors. Check them out. GMC Introduces All-New 2017 Acadia * 700-lb. lighter, more efficient crossover aimed at heart of midsize segment * Expanded range of available active safety features, including Front Pedestrian Braking and Surround Vision Camera * New powertrains include a 2.5L I-4, offering a GM-est. 28 mpg hwy, and an available est. 310-hp 3.6L V-6 * Acadia Denali with new, exclusive Continuously Variable Ride Control * New Acadia All Terrain with an advanced AWD system with Active Twin Clutch * On sale this spring DETROIT, Tuesday, Jan.