Interesting article in the current edition of Diesel Progress magazine. Is a diesel F-150 far behind?

Nissan announced that it will offer a newly-developed Cummins turbocharged diesel in its next-generation Titan full-size pickup. Now in the latter stages of development and testing, the Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel engine has been optimized for the new Titan as a result of the partnership between Cummins and Nissan.

“Truck owners told us there’s a demand for the performance and torque of a diesel in a capable truck that doesn’t require the jump up to a heavy-duty commercial pickup,” said Fred Diaz, divisional vice president, Nissan Sales & Marketing, Service & Parts, Nissan North America. “There is no question that the new Titan will turn heads, and with the available Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel, we expect to win new fans and attract buyers looking for this unique configuration.”

The new engine will have a torque rating in the mid-500s (lb. ft.) and ratings to exceed 300 hp, Cummins said. The company said it is also developing a version of the engine for commercial vehicle customers.

Full article: Cummins Diesel For New Nissan Titan Pickup

 

Well, Nissan doesn't HAVE a 'heavy duty' line.. so this makes sense.

its not just engine and tranny.. the suspension will need work too.. haul, tow and brake.

for Ford.. where would you put this between the EcoBoost and the 6.7?

 

Definitely above the EcoBoost.

I doubt that they'll increase the towing capacity or GCWR of the Titan very much, so changes to the suspension and brakes should be minimal.

Advantages? I'd expect it to be like the difference between the diesel and gas Jeeo Grand Cherokee. My 2007 3.0 CRD diesel averaged 19-20 MPG, no matter how much I put my foot into it. Same MPG city and highway (well maybe 1 MPG more highway). The diesel towed my 5700 lb. trailer with no issues and averaged 15 MPG doing it. My 2010 Hemi is screaming going uphill with the trailer, sometimes shifting down to 3rd gear with instant MPG reading 0. Yes 0. Average is 9-10. In fact, the hemi is averaging about the same MPG as the diesel did towing the trailer.

Of course, the downside is the initial price of the diesel. My 2007 was only a couple thousand $$ more than the gas engine version, but that was because Daimler owned Chrysler. They had their own diesel engine (the 3.0 CRD was a Mercedes engine). Today, the Jeep Grand Cherokee with a diesel carries an $8K premium. Ouch! The same will probably be true of the Titan, or any other full-size truck with a diesel.

 

Ford has too much invested into the Ecoboost engine to offer a diesel in the F150.
I don't think we'll see one any time soon. It would be a nice offer but I just don't see it.

 

I would say Ford has too much riding on the F150 to ignore an emerging trend. If the Titan starts to get market share because of the diesel ford can unwrap their V6 diesel.

 

Ford have said publicly that they are not planning on offering a diesel engine in the F-150 line, whether that is true or not, is another thing entirely.

I suspect they made that comment because they were too far in the development cycle of the 2015 F150 to try to include a diesel engine in the program, but I bet the increased sales of diesel vehicles (Jeeps's/Audi's/BMW's/VW's/Mercedes), as well as the inclusion of a diesel engine in the Ram and the Titan (there has been rumors that the Tundra will use the same Cummins engine too) will make them try to fit a diesel engine in the F-150 sooner, rather than later - my bet is 2016.

They were a fair way along the development of the V8 diesel that is used in the Range Rover outside the US for the F-150 for 2011 when it got canned due to cost cutting during the GFC.
It's a good motor, and Ford still have the rights to use it when they sold Land Rover.
(4.4l turbo V8, 339hp, 525lb.ft - gets 31 US MPG hwy in the Range Rover)
The performance SUV - All-New Range Rover Vogue | Land Rover UK

 

I'm excited for this. I've never been a fan of the ecoboost b/c its actually just as thirsty or more thirsty when working (have to burn rich at WOT in this system).

I am excited for the new RAM 1500 and this new truck. I'd love to see the fuel economy as well as performance.

The real question is going to be cost. If the option is a 5-7k option....the half ton is going to be priced too closely to the HD lines. Now...if the HD lines keep skyrocketing in price there might become a place for these trucks. If the diesel half ton costs 48k an a new 1 ton diesel costs 51k....its going to be a tough sell unless the fuel economy is seriously better (at least 8 mpg better in my eye).