2016 TITAN XD Triple Nickel – Land speed record attempt – Video
LAS VEGAS – Fresh from being named the “Truck of Texas” by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), the 2016 TITAN XD, with its Cummins® 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel, makes an ideal, if unconventional, land speed record racer. Dubbed “Project Triple Nickel” as an homage to a stock TITAN XD’s 555 lb.-ft. torque rating, the specially outfitted truck was revealed today at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.
“What better place to show off the latest collaboration between Nissan and Cummins than the 2015 SEMA Show,” said Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Land speed record racing is one of the most intriguing and difficult forms of motorsport, and what we learn from this undertaking will be beneficial to all as TITAN is continuously developed.”
“Project Triple Nickel” is a working collaboration between Cummins and Nissan North America. Modification began on the 2016 TITAN XD a few weeks ago, and thus far it features a special lowered suspension, salt-flat style disc wheel covers, Mickey Thompson tires, an Ultra Shield seat, a Stroud Safety parachute, a custom-fabricated front air dam and bed covers and a custom, brushed nickel-colored wrap. Additional modifications – including a roll cage, additional safety equipment and more – will be added within the next few months as the truck is developed with an eye toward setting new class speed records.
Both companies currently employ land speed class record holders, both at Bonneville as well as the East Coast Timing Association, which holds events in Wilmington, Ohio. Those employees, on a volunteer basis, will help guide the ongoing project, with the truck competing in the D/DT class (current record 191 MPH) as well as the FIA class A-III-9 (record 115 MPH).
“Cummins and Nissan have had an innovative partnership for more than five years, with excellent results, including the award winning powertrain for the all-new 2016 TITAN XD truck,” said Jeff Caldwell, general manager of Global Pickup & Van Business, Cummins. “Our working teams have been discussing a land-speed record racing project for some time now, and we are thrilled to debut this truck at the 2015 SEMA Show. Our founder, Clessie Cummins, would be proud of the volunteers willing to spend the time pushing his diesel to its limits.”
Cummins has a long history in land-speed record racing, starting in 1931 on Daytona Beach and continuing to the salt flats of Bonneville and the airstrips of Wilmington, Ohio. Cummins inherent durability and endurance has also been proven at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in off-shore racing, DAKAR rallies, and countless competitive pulling events demonstrating the “overkill” characteristic that make up the Cummins DNA.
Nissan also has a history in land speed record racing, most recently with a 1994 “Hardbody” compact pickup truck, which raced at El Mirage and Bonneville. That truck set multiple records in the mid-1990s for a four-cylinder truck, most notably a run of 142.9 MPH on the salt flats.
“Project Triple Nickel” is on display at Nissan’s SEMA booth #30024, Nissan’s official booth at the 2015 show.
Special thanks for supporting the Nissan / Cummins “Project Triple Nickel” 2016 TITAN XD:
- Cummins: Tom Dollmeyer, Bruce Watson, Neal Wallace, Jeff Caldwell, Clint Garrett, Brent Fields
- Nissan: David Kixmiller, Richard Kulach, Randy Rodriguez
- Suppliers: 12 Point SignWorks,Coffey Fabrication & Race Prep