Boy, I dunno about a 3.0L displacement engine @ 500 ft-lbs torque. Seems awfully small to me. I just don't think the Europeans understand the N.A. market (vice versa as well).
A 4.0-5.0L seems much more in line with a 500 ft-lb peak torque rating.
Hmmm......funny Cummins is doing just that for Nissan!
Your passenger car market slowly moved towards ours in the past 30 years. The truck market will too, eventually, though this 3 liter V6 would be a better engine to introduce in a silverado or Ranger, and put the 4 liter V8 in a full size pickup. The V8 Cummins 5 liter, isnt really an ecodiesel but will put Nissan in closer competition to Rams 6.7
Really, the tow ratings and payload you get for a half ton truck makes absolutely no sense in relation to the vehicle weight. Same as for the Sprinter 2 series (2800kg GVW) in Europe, their suspension is so soft that they make you seasick, especially a extra long, extra wide van, with just a little load in it.
My guess is that manufacturers in the future will build the 2500/3500SRW/3500DRW on one frame, then build the 1500 on the smaller frame joined with a Dakota, Ranger or Silverado, because you dont need the weight for the payload or tow rating, a lighter chassis with better suspension would actually tow better. At my previous employer we once built the leaf springs of a 5 ton sprinter under a 3 ton SRW for our rental fleet. It made the best towing 5th wheel tractor there was, not because of the increased 5th wheel weight, but because of the increased stability in crosswinds with a big enclosed 10 meter long, 4 meter high trailer behind it.
