Dive Brief:

• Nissan has announced that a 5.0-liter Cummins diesel is coming for its Titan, probably for the 2015 model year, and now it is exploring a 2.8-liter diesel power plant for the Frontier Runner pickup.
• The truck is at the Chicago Auto Show, and it mates the smaller diesel with an eight-speed automatic tranny, and it's rated for 200 hp and 350 ft.-lb. of torque.
• The change, Nissan estimates, could kick the Frontier's mileage rating up by 35% ion comparison with the 4.0-liter V-6 that is standard now on two-wheel-drive Frontiers.

Dive Insight:

The mileage, if the 35% estimate proves correct, would be about 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The diesel would let Nissan catch up with GM's plan for a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel in its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.