Tag Archives: Titan

Electric Vehicles

Panasonic’s Powdered-Battery Tech Could Ease EV Range Anxiety, Speed Up Charge Times

Sila is looking it “Titan Silicon.” To Wired, Gene Berdichevsky mentioned: “Titan Silicon is a nanocomposite material. It’s like raisin bread, where the raisins are the silicon, and there’s the squishy matrix around the raisins with a big outer rind on the particle itself. The rind holds the space, and the bread moves aside when the raisins expand. The scaffold is not holding the silicon—it’s accommodating the expansion.” 

According to Panasonic, silicon-based batteries will permit upwards of 10 occasions the capability of older lithium- and graphite-based batteries. If that involves fruition anytime quickly (and that is an enormous “if”), it may possibly doubtlessly change how EVs are perceived, pushed, and charged. 

Currently, there are not any concrete plans as to the place or when this expertise will hit the mainstream, except for the upcoming Mercedes G-Class. However, in a press launch, Panasonic says it is focusing its efforts on North America for EV battery manufacturing. 

Motorsport

Electrified Nissan Pickup Coming After EV SUVs

Nissan is shaking up its pickup offerings by discontinuing the Titan for the 2024 model year. The future of the brand’s truck lineup is electrification, judging from statements from a high-placed executive.

“One thing you can be sure about is we’re going to keep investing in the truck segment,” said Ivan Espinosa, the Nissan Motor Company global product strategy and product planning boss, to Automotive News. “How do we evolve … is the question that we are discussing internally. Eventually, we will have to electrify the truck.”

When Espinosa refers to electrification, it’s unclear whether he means a full EV or a hybrid powertrain. For example, Nissan’s rival Honda just announced the Prelude Concept. While the model initially seemed to be completely electric, a later clarification revealed the car was actually a hybrid.

Espinosa made additional statements about the electrified truck during a media roundtable at the Japan Mobility Show that Motor1.com attended. He said the model would come after offerings in more significant segments like SUVs. “The pickup might be a little bit on the later portion,” he said referring to the arrival timing.

There are conflicting rumors about how Nissan intends to position the electrified truck. One report indicates that it would be a mid-sized pickup with a fully electric drivetrain that would give buyers an alternative to the Frontier. The other story claims the automaker would make the next-gen Frontier into an EV that would possibly arrive for the 2030 model year.

Nissan is already preparing to update its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi to build electric vehicles. The factory currently produces the Frontier, Titan, and Altima.


Motorsport

Nissan Titan Is Officially Discontinued After the 2024 Model Year

After experiencing poor sales for many years, the Nissan Titan has finally met its end. Production of the full-size pickup will cease in 2024, and as of now, there are no plans for a successor in this profitable segment.

The news of the Titan’s discontinuation first emerged on August 4th through a leaked internal memo at Nissan, as reported by The Autopian. Motor1.com reached out to the automaker directly, and a spokesperson confirmed the memo’s authenticity, stating that Titan production at the Canton, Mississippi plant will conclude in the summer of 2024. The spokesperson also mentioned that this decision will not result in any job cuts.


Motorsport

2024 Nissan Titan Now Starts At $47,665, A $5K Increase From Last Year

The 2024 Nissan Titan and Titan XD have not received any major updates. However, Nissan has made changes to the truck’s trim lineup, resulting in a higher starting price compared to last year’s models. The entry-level 2024 Titan SV now starts at $47,665 (including the $1,895 destination charge). The truck is currently available for purchase.

For the 2024 model year, Nissan has eliminated the entry-level S trims, unintentionally causing a price increase of over $5,000. The 2023 Titan King Cab S 4×2 had a starting price of $42,245, while the 2023 Titan Crew Cab S 4×2 was priced at $44,035. Moreover, the 2024 Titan XD Crew Cab S, which previously started at $49,885, has been discontinued. Additionally, compared to the 2023 models, every trim level for the 2024 models has seen a price increase of $120.


News, Technology

The Controversial Tech Behind The Missing Titanic Submersible

CBS reporter David Pogue was part of a Titan crew in 2022, during which he revealed some concerning details about the design of the submersible vessel. Pogue mentioned that the vessel was operated using a modified Logitech F710 wireless game controller, with custom sticks replacing the direction joysticks for improved navigation.

There is a comparison to be made with the U.S. Navy’s use of Xbox 360 controllers for its submarines. However, there is an important distinction: the Navy utilizes the controller to operate periscopes, not for maneuvering the submarine itself. Furthermore, the Logitech F710 is an inexpensive controller that was first introduced over a decade ago. Given the gravity of the situation, it seems peculiar to rely on such an old and economical controller for such a critical task.

Additionally, the submersible reportedly only has a single button inside for turning it on, with the rest of the control systems relying on computers and digital displays. This is similar to the trend in modern cars, where buttons and dials are being replaced by touch screens. While this design was intended to make operating the submersible easier, it could become problematic if the vessel loses all electrical power, especially since it relies on Starlink for communications.