Yes, it's just a concept. Yes, it will never, ever come to the UK. And yes, some might say it's a little over the top. But at a Detroit show where autonomous driving and fuel cells seem to be the predominant theme - more on those to follow - you'll hopefully excuse a little childish glee at a sodding great pick up. Welcome to the Nissan Titan Warrior Concept.
Looks good for pedestrian safety...
It has been created by Nissan Design America, exaggerating the themes of the standard Titan XD pick up (launched last year) to presumably make the production car more attractive. Or, as the official Nissan line goes: "the TITAN Warrior Concept was conceived to share our team's pride and excitement to be back in the truck market in a big way."
So there's the standard 5.0-litre V8 diesel (!) and six-speed automatic gearbox, but then everything else is beefed up rather substantially. Because Nissan wanted the Warrior to have an "even more powerful presence than the original", this car has been raised by three inches. This also means that 37-inch off-road tyres can be fitted, with uprated suspension unique to this car. The Warrior is also three inches wider, presumably just to intimidate people a little more.
Then the grille and headlights were made to look more "menacing", the arches were flared and four huge exhausts were added. Plus those bonnet vents are said to be functional. And what's an off-road pick up without roof lights?
37-inch tyres made to look rather tiny
Inside the Titan Warrior is an interior "conceived to handle the abuse experienced on an extended off-road excursion in comfort and style." So there are new seats, a steering wheel milled from one block of aluminium (that's what it says here) and cupholders that can warm drinks (for your morning coffee driving out to the lake) and cool them too (for a celebratory Coke after a successful day's fishing).
There may be a more overtly off-road Titan in due course - think Toyota Tundra Bass Pro edition - but it seems unlikely. For now let's celebrate a quite daft and rather brilliant motor show concept done just for the hell of it. That doesn't happen too often.
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