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2016 Nissan Titan XD arrives with diesel V8 power

Feels like this one's been coming soon (or is that #CumminsSoon?), forever. Over a decade since the Nissan Titan launched, the Japanese fullsize pickup has finally been given a full redesign, and it looks to be a worthy – and interesting – competitor in the light-duty pickup class. First and foremost, the truck debuting here in Detroit is the Titan XD – it's not a trim level, but a totally different version of the standard Titan, despite looking the same. The best way to explain the difference is that if the Titan competes with a Silverado 1500, the XD competes with something a step higher, but not a full 2500. Think of it as a Silverado 2000 or something – a step between light and heavy duty. Nissan truly thinks there's a white space in this pickup segment. The company isn't ready to release details on the standard Titan just yet, and the XD with the diesel engine will be the first version to come to market. The diesel in question is the long-awaited 5.0-liter V8 from Cummins, producing 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the Titan XD can tow up to 12,000 pounds, and has a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds. Nissan has confirmed that gasoline V6 and V8 options will be available on both Titan and Titan XD models, but has not released any details at this time. The 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 will only be offered on the XD. Nissan is upgrading its Around View Monitor with features to aid with towing, too. Shown here as a Crew Cab, the Titan will be offered in King Cab and Single Cab configurations, as well, with three bed lengths (a 6.5-foot bed is seen here). Nissan has also told us that a lower-grade work truck will be available, as well. As the models roll out, the Titan and Titan XD will be offered in several trims, including a rugged-looking Pro-4X model and a new, top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve. All except the Pro-4X can be had with two- or four-wheel drive. Speaking of looks, we have to say, this is a pretty nice looking truck. Its appearance is fresh and modern, if awfully reminiscent of other trucks in the segment (hard to offer a unique design with that shape, of course). Up front, there are premium elements like available LED headlamps with LED running lamps, and out back, those same modern bulbs are used for the taillamps.

2014 Nissan 370Z pricing announced, MSRP reduced by $3,000

Nissan is up to something. The company announced pricing for the 2014 Nissan 370Z, 370Z Nismo, and 370Z Roadster, which isn't out of the ordinary. What is, is that the standard, hardtop 370Z has received a $3,130 reduction in price for 2014. The upmarket Touring model, meanwhile, has been dropped $2,550.
That means, excluding the $790 for destination and handling, a base, six-speed manual 370Z is only $29,990. That is an excellent deal. Adding an automatic will bump the price to $31,290, while the Touring model starts at $35,270 for DIY shifters and $36,570 for autos. The top-of-the-range Nismo runs $43,020. The Roadster, meanwhile, starts at $41,470.
So what does this mean in the grand scheme? Automakers don't just slash $3,000 off the price of a desirable sportscar because they're feeling generous.Could this be a move to clear out stock before a replacement to the current Z arrives?

FCA scion John Elkann tries to pull off a Marchionne-sized merger

MILAN, Italy — When John Elkann lost his ally last year with the sudden death of Sergio Marchionne, some questioned whether the softly-spoken scion of the Agnelli clan would be able to emerge from his shadow to ensure Fiat Chrysler's future. But New York-born Elkann, who became Fiat chairman in 2010, acted decisively to fill the vacuum left by the larger-than-life Marchionne and get closer to the big merger deal the legendary executive was unable to deliver. At just 28, Elkann was thrust into the role of Fiat vice chairman after the deaths of his grandfather and great-uncle "because there was really nobody else" to take the wheel. For Elkann, who got his first taste of the car industry as an intern at a factory producing headlights in Birmingham, England, the first 18 months with responsibility for the family-owned carmaker and its long heritage were "terrible." But from that low point, Elkann, 43, is now trying to merge Fiat Chrysler (FCA) with French rival Renault to form the world's third largest carmaker and tackle new challenges facing the industry. Elkann will become chairman of the merged FCA-Renault if the deal goes ahead, ensuring the Agnelli dynasty plays a central role in the next chapter of automotive history. At an event in Milan on Monday, the usually-shy Elkann looked happy and confident. His first big break came with an instrumental role in persuading Marchionne, who was running one of the businesses owned by the Agnelli family, to become chief executive in 2004 and give Fiat "a new start," Elkann said in a "Masters of Scale" podcast last year. Fiat was at the time almost on the brink of collapse. This involved a "very long night ... and many grappas" but proved to be a turning point in the fortunes of the Italian company founded by Elkann's great-great-grandfather Giovanni Agnelli, which built its first car in 1899. In 2005, Elkann backed Marchionne in negotiating the breakup of an alliance Fiat had entered into with General Motors in 2000, receiving $2 billion from GM in return for canceling a deal that could have required GM to buy the remainder of Fiat Auto. Marchionne then used GM's money to fund a turnaround at Fiat, which involved taking the Italian carmaker into a transformation alliance and then full-blown merger with U.S. automaker Chrysler as Elkann agreed to the Agnellis loosening their grip.