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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.

Stellantis reports $15B profit in first year of merger

FRANKFURT, Germany — Automaker Stellantis said Wednesday that it made 13.4 billion euros ($15.2 billion) in its first year after it was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. The earnings nearly tripled profits compared with its pre-merger existence as two separate companies, as the maker of Jeep, Opel and Peugeot vehicles exploited cost efficiencies from combining the businesses. The result compared to a combined 4.79 billion euros for the separate companies in 2020 before the merger, which took effect on Jan. 17, 2021. Revenue for the combined business rose 14%, to 152 billion euros. CEO Carlos Tavares said the results “prove that Stellantis is well positioned to deliver strong performance" and had overcome “intense headwinds” during the year. Automakers have struggled with shortages of key parts such as semiconductor electronic components and rising costs for raw materials as the global rebound from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic brings more demand. The company said the benefits of the merger were worth some 3.2 billion euros during the year. Mergers can lead to streamlined costs as companies combine functions and spread fixed costs over a larger revenue base. The company accelerated its rollout of battery-powered vehicles, with sales of low-emission vehicles reaching 388,000 — an increase of 160%. Stricter environmental regulations in Europe and China are pushing automakers to roll out more electric vehicles with longer range. Stellantis started production of a hydrogen fuel cell commercial van under its Opel brand in December. Stellantis' other brands include Chrysler, Citroen, DS, Fiat, Maserati, Ram and Vauxhall. Related video: Earnings/Financials Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep RAM Citroen Opel Peugeot Vauxhall

Chrysler's mysterious limo spotted in trailer for new Wolverine movie

Way back in the warm, sunny days of June, we reported on a rather strange looking Chrysler-badged limousine spotted during filming for the latest installment in the Wolverine saga. Now, with the first trailer for Logan (or Wolverine 3, if you prefer its informal name) hitting the internet, we're getting another look at the odd limo, along with a few other offerings from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. There's a flock of "Federal Police" Rams and a spinning, bluish-green Rebel – we're guessing Wolverine and Professor Xavier stole it from some kind of work crew – judging by the gold-ish decals on the door and the work box in the bed. Our look at the Chrysler limo isn't great, although it does appear in two scenes of the trailer. We're thinking these shots are connected, and here's why. Our first sighting comes in a cemetery, where the hulking limo sits in the background while Wolverine takes a pull from a pint of liquor. This scene ties in neatly with the images from June – we've embedded the tweet that posted the original shots at the bottom – which shows Wolverine wearing the same clothing. Comparing the shape of the limo's mirrors in June with a later scene in the trailer, we can safely say that Wolverine eventually ends up driving the limo, with a worried Professor Xavier in the backseat. While FCA hasn't been shy about wanting to hook up with Hollywood blockbusters, Logan is quite a lot different than Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, or even Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. The tone of this entire trailer, from Johnny Cash's baleful cover of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt to the dire medical condition of Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier, is depressing and emotional. That's a far cry from the super-successful superhero blockbusters that roll out of Marvel Studios every year. You can spot the exterior of the limo at 0:17, the interior at 1:03 (the scene is cut to make it look like Logan and Professor X are driving the Ram Rebel that appears at 1:02), and the police Rams at 0:48. Aside from the new FCAs, there's also a lovely first-gen Ford Bronco. Logan hits theaters on March 3, 2017. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: