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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.

GMC introduces Canyon Nightfall Edition for the steathly and stylish

It may be just now arriving at dealers, but the 2015 GMC Canyon has just received its very first special edition trim, although the stealthy Nightfall Edition is, in the greater scheme of aesthetic upgrades, pretty basic. GMC has blacked out the truck's grille and side steps, added a spray-in bedliner as standard, fitted new 18-inch "Dark Argent" wheels with black inserts, a polished exhaust tip, remote start and automatic climate control. Naturally, the Nightfall Edition is only available with Onyx Black paint. Customers interested in the blacked-out pickup will need to choose between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, although they'll be freed the burden of picking a trim level or body style, as the Nightfall is limited to the mid-grade SLE with the four-door crew cab arrangement. "The new Canyon Nightfall Edition expands the Canyon lineup and gives style-conscious customers another choice," GMC's vice president of sales and marketing, Duncan Aldred, said in a statement. "Importantly, customers get the great looks of the Canyon Nightfall Edition and its unique content at a greater value than ordering the features separately." GMC has not released any information about the price of the Nightfall Edition, or when it will arrive in dealerships. Scroll down for the full press release announcing the newest member of the Canyon family. GMC Introduces 2015 Canyon Nightfall Edition Special edition model offers sleek, shadowy appearance 2015-01-08 DETROIT – GMC today introduced the 2015 Canyon Nightfall Edition – a stylized, blacked-out edition of the brand's all-new premium midsize truck that blends a dramatic appearance with popular features and accessories. The Canyon Nightfall Edition is offered on SLE crew cab models, either 2WD or 4WD, in Onyx Black and will be available in the first quarter of 2015. In addition to standard equipment on the SLE, the Canyon Nightfall Edition includes: Unique black grille Black assist steps Factory spray-in bedliner 18-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels with Dark Argent painted inserts Polished exhaust tip Automatic climate control Remote start "The new Canyon Nightfall Edition expands the Canyon lineup and gives style-conscious customers another choice," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing.

Google Earth helps sheriff's department find stolen car [w/video]

A stolen-vehicle case opened back in March was recently solved with the help of a property owner using Google Earth, a virtual globe and mapping service similar to Google Maps, ABC News reports. The man, who remains anonymous, found the stolen GMC Yukon while he was surveying his property in George County, Mississippi, using the map service and, judging by the top-down satellite image, thought he found a "shooting house" on his hunting grounds.
When he drove out to the suspicious structure, he realized it actually was a sport utility vehicle wedged in thick brush about 70 yards from the nearest road, so he called the police.
Law enforcement officers had arrested a female suspect in the case earlier based on eyewitness accounts, but didn't prosecute her because the stolen SUV hadn't been found. Ben Brown, a lieutenant detective with the George County Sheriff's Department, says that he ran the plates and confirmed the SUV was the stolen vehicle the department had been looking for.