With compound turbos, dual overhead cam heads, loads of Cummins engineering behind it and 555 lb/ft of torque to churn the ground with, the new Cummins 5.0L V8 which made its world debut in the Nissan Titan pickup truck at the Detroit Auto Show the other day seems like it is just what the lagging brand needed. There are lots of people who forget that Nissan even sells a half ton truck anymore but that may change in a hurry because it will be the Titan that s the first to bring a diesel V8 to bear in the half ton market. The Ram EcoDiesel has been out for a while now but that truck is not in the same power league as this new Titan. The Ram uses a turbo diesel V6 which they tout more for fuel economy than for work. Nissan is taking the exact opposite approach and are planning to gear their truck toward the power hungry segment of the pickup truck market. Hell, they are even offering a factory installed Gooseneck hitch in the bed if you want it. With 12,000lbs of towing capacity, that’s legit!

The engine uses what Cummins is calling “sequential” turbos but let’s call them what we are, compound turbos. We know that it has a compacted graphite block, and forged guts. The forged guts thing is kind of a given in diesels but the compacted graphite block is a big deal because of strength and weight. One of the things that has hampered the growth of half ton diesel trucks has been the big weight of the engines. Using compacted graphite and composites where ever possible, these things are starting to lose lots and lots of weight. GM has been hinting at a diesel half ton for a while now and even the radiator support cover on new Silverado half tons has some references about diesel engines but ever since the financial collapse and the death of the (supposedly) ready to roll out 4.5L Duramax, we have not seen or heard much on this front. With the 2.8L Duramax slated to make a debut in the Colorado next year, we’re waiting.

This could be a big moment for the Nissan truck brand. If the market responds like they hope, it would breathe lots of new life into a truck line that has not had a lot of the spotlight in the last few years. Like we said above, this is the first “big power” half ton diesel and we cannot wait to wrestle one out of Nissan’s hands when the time comes that they start to hit the press fleets of the world.

Oh…and how much power is Gale Banks going to be making with these things in short order? LOTS!

HERE’S THE FULL 5.0L Cummins Diesel SCOOP FROM NISSAN AND CUMMINS – 

About the Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel
The 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel brings together a compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block, forged steel crankshaft, high-strength aluminum alloy heads, and composite valve covers to offer maximum durability in a lightweight package. These features, along with dual overhead camshafts, also contribute to the excellent noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics achieved by the 5.0L V8 turbo diesel.

The Cummins M²™ Two-Stage Turbocharger is configured to work well at both low and high engine speeds. The series sequential turbocharging system, involving two differently sized turbochargers, effectively provides a small turbocharger for low air flow requirements and a large turbo for high air flow. The small turbo provides the advantage of good transient response due to its low inertia and the large turbo maintains power at higher engine speeds. This helps eliminates turbo lag, providing a continuous delivery of peak torque through the RPM range.

In order to control the air flow between the two turbo chargers, the new M² system from Cummins Turbo Technologies uses a patented rotary valve to open ports that perform the bypass or waste-gate functionality and provide exhaust after-treatment thermal management.

High injection pressures from the latest Bosch® High Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel system and piezo fuel injectors provide precise fuel control for optimized in-cylinder combustion, leading to better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. With multiple injection events driven by integrated electronic controls, the HPCR fuel system, along with Cummins M2™ Two-Stage Turbocharger, contributes to a very impressive peak torque of 555 lb-ft and 310 horsepower.

In cold weather, the advanced ceramic glow plug system significantly reduces start time and electrical current draw, reducing vehicle charging system requirements. The ceramic glow plugs are designed to last the life of the engine, with no maintenance.

A two-stage fuel filter system for the 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel features the latest NanoNet™ media from Cummins Filtration, to ensure that the HPCR fuel system is fully protected against fuel contamination. NanoNet’s unique construction provides lower fuel-flow restriction, and traps greater than 99 percent of all particles as small as 4 microns.

Proven air handling and emissions control technology draws upon Cummins extensive emissions technology expertise. Cummins M2™ Two-Stage Turbocharger, cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Cummins Emission Solutions Aftertreatment System, featuring a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), result in near-zero oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions while delivering better performance and fuel economy.

“We are excited to have Cummins as a partner to launch the new TITAN XD. The Indiana-made Cummins 5.0L V8 is a perfect fit for our truck that was designed in California, engineered in Detroit, and will be assembled in Mississippi,” said Rich Miller, chief product specialist, TITAN, Nissan North America, Inc. “The 2016 TITAN reflects the passion that both Nissan and Cummins employees have toward their heritage as truck people. We collectively know what we would want in our own truck and pulled together all of those traits into one unbeatable package that we are thrilled to finally show the world”