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Nissan expects 25 percent of Titan buyers to be moving up out of Frontiers, Xterras or Nissan sedans, which means that the vast majority of customers likely will be newcomers to Nissan showrooms. Here is the truck that Nissan hopes will attract them:

All 2004 Nissan Titans are built on a fully boxed and ladder frame chassis with a 139.8-inch wheelbase. All 2004 Titans are 224.2 inches long overall and 78.8 inches wide. Beds are 20 inches deep with a 6-foot, 6-inch long bed in the King Cab and a 5-foot-6 bed in the Crew Cab.

Front suspension is independent with double wishbones, coil-over shocks and a stabilizer bar. Engineers said the coil-over spring reduces weight and allows a softer bushing and note that a wide angle between the upper and lower arms also reduces stress on the softer bushings. Targets included limiting initial impact harshness while providing quick control after impact.

The rear suspension uses leaf springs, but with the front mounting points on the outside of the frame to enhance ground clearance, or as Nissan puts it, to avoid “low-hanging fruit,” which the Titan does with at least 9.7 to 11.5 inches of room, including 10.3 at the rear axle.

Steering is by rack and pinion and stopping is by 12.6-inch disc brakes at each corner with standard anti-lock, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution technologies.

Power is provided by Nissan’s new, 32-valve, double overhead-cam VK56DE Endurance V8 engine, which displaces 5.6 liters and generates 305 horsepower at 4900 rpm and offers 379 pound-feet of torque at 3600 rpm, with 90 percent of maximum torque available at 2500 revs.

That power flows through a five-speed automatic gearbox that can be controlled through a gated floor-mounted shifter that Nissan designed with a side-to-side toggle so driver’s can easily move back and fourth between first and second as well as between fourth and fifth for better control when doing such things as towing. By the way, towing capacity is 9500 pounds.

Buyers can choose between two- and four-wheel drive. The 2WD transfer case has a 2.937 axle with a 29.18:1 crawl ratio in first gear. The respective figures are 3.357 and 33.35:1 for the 4WD version, with a 2.596 4WD Low gear.

Both King and Crew cab versions are available in XE, SE and LE trim levels, with 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains in every configuration.

Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, six-passenger seating, a carpeted passenger compartment, 28-gallon fuel tank and a tach and volt meter.

The XE rides on 17-inch steel wheels and wears 245/75 tires and has manual windows. The SE gets 18-inch alloy wheels, 265/75 tires, chrome grille and bumpers, front bucket seats, a center console, gated floor shifter, power windows/locks/mirrors and an overhead console. The LE comes with six-spoke alloys, a “high utility” bed with spray-on liner, channels and tie-down cleats, fog lamps, step rails, puddle lamps, heated leather bucket seats (with power and memory) and a six-CD changer and Rockford Fosgate premium audio system.

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