Nissan's biggest problem is the poor reputation of the reliability of its CVT transmission used on FWD cars and crossovers. Nissan lacks the reliability reputation of Toyota and Honda. 

Power utilities here are assisting data centers and factories with planning, and cost, of large scale battery backup systems and solar. It’s cheaper to help there than invest in more capacity. 

I doubt F-250 transmission would be needed unless Ford goes crazy with Super Duty Ranger engine.  The 10R80 has plenty of capacity to handle whatever engine is likely to be used.  Anything is possible but I don’t see Ford using 10R100 or 10R140.   Because of Super Duty Ranger heavier weight, both GVWR and GCWR, I think it’s possible Ford may use F-250 brakes.  With the 8-lug hubs and 18-inch wheels, it would seem possible to use the larger rotors and calipers.  Weight rating is about the same as F-250 so SD Ranger needs much greater stopping power.

And from VW’s Q3 results: https://www.automotivedive.com/news/volkswagen-vw-q3-2024-net-revenue-falls-ytd-earnings-sales/731565/   Big changes coming for VW…….   Volkswagen to shut three factories, axe jobs and cut pay by 10%, says union This article is more than 1 month old German carmaker warns of stagnation in the European sector amid news of deeper-than-expected action   https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/28/volkswagen-shut-three-factories-cut-thousands-jobs-union#:~:text=The German carmaker Volkswagen is,according to the company's union.     This is a good article that spells out the problems that VW is facing with rising costs, mostly because it’s just so Labor intensive because Lower Saxony government is VW Group’s second largest shareholder….    

Nissan's biggest problem (IMHO) is it dealer network. All manufacturers have certain dealers who are known on the Internet as the "bad boys". Nissan dealers come up pretty frequently.   What ever happens-who ever ends up with Nissan will not be getting a full size pickup-as everyone knows the (outdated) Titan has been discontinued.   

I wonder if it would get other super duty components as well. Considering the ranger already has a 10 speed, would it be possible to swap in the beefier ten speed from the super duty, or would that be too much development work? I know Ford doesn't want to step on the f-150s toes, but it's a shame they aren't selling this here. Lots of U.S. truck owners are literally begging for a midsized truck like this here. 

Reminds me of the Toyota Elonmuskskidsname thing (XyZ?)

Looks like the Ranger is going after commercial sales normally restricted to the Landcruiser 70 series This could work out well in the local Australian market , it’s a way to challenge some easy Toyota sales.

FA reports Ranger Super Duty will be getting F-250 8-lug hubs.   https://fordauthority.com/2024/11/ford-ranger-super-duty-will-get-f-250-parts/

Your just shifting the goalposts...the V8 (that in your mind would save you more money because its "simpler") costs more and is more limited (by design) by Ford for CAFE reasons all with similar or better power output.