Nissan's Titan Warrior concept issues Ford SVT Raptor challenge

Nissan today unveiled its Titan Warrior pickup concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, an off-road optimized truck the company says speaks to its optimism for its future in the truck marketplace.

Reading between the lines or rather, simply looking at the details of those on this concept, it's clear too Nissan wants to hone in on the success Ford has enjoyed with its F-150-based SVT Raptor. No surprise then the Warrior concept is an homage to the brand's off-road racing heritage, and builds on a one-off customized Titan that took a pair of U.S. army vets to Alaska as part of the Wounded Warrior Project.

In some regards, the Warrior concept unabashedly apes the Raptor: obvious cues include knobby tires and lifted suspension, but there are more subtle details like marker lights set into the grille we think are a clearer tell of Nissan's intent.

Nissan refers to the Warrior's look as more "technical" than the standard Titan's exterior, with aluminum wheels complementing a matte grey paint.

Nissan said the "polished" interior reflects its recognition that many truck drivers use their vehicles as daily drivers. It's based around the stock Titan's cabin, but adds an aluminum steering wheel, and custom hot-and-cold drink containers built into the centre console.

Powertrain-wise, the Warrior shares the Titan XD's Cummins turbodiesel V8 and six-speed automatic transmission.