2015 (?) 2016 (?) Next Generation Frontier Details To Be Released!

Well, we kinda knew it would happen sooner or later but no less authority than Nissan's Global Boss Andy Palmer at last weeks NYC Auto Show revealed that they would begin releasing info on the next generation Frontier in the coming couple of weeks.

With the Titan (introduced in '04 as an '05 model) seeing its complete redesign, the Frontier and Xterra (if it were to continue to exist) were next on the hitlist.  Now that the Pathfinder has returned to its own, unibody, more "refined" model it leaves open the question of how related the Titan and Frontier would be given in their current form they ride on the same basic platform.

Pressed by Australian journalists in NYC and the Aussies get the Frontier in both a 4.0L Petrol and a 2.2L turbo diesel badged with the "Navara" name, Palmer would discuss that no diesel version of the Patrol (the Infiniti QX80 here) would be produced (disappointing many there as well as in the Mid East).  What he did indicate is that not only would the details on the Frontier's replacement come shortly but that "it would be logical" if that replacement also spun off an SUV variant.  Given that the Xterra is the current Frontier's SUV clone, it would seem "logical" that the Xterra would be living on in the next generation of "smaller" truck and SUVs within Nissan's portfolio.

Quoting Palmer "should go back to that basis of good durability, good quality, and good reliability. If I was doing a pick-up, that’s where I’d start...It’s around about the same [size as the current model] - one-tonne pickups are fairly generic in terms of their overall dimensions..I think it’s about what you deliver on fuel consumption, what you deliver on styling...these are the key differentiators for that kind of pickup market"

To me the first part sounds an awful lot like the Xterra's original tag-line of "Everything you need, nothing you don't" while the fuel consumption and style sound a lot like a diesel with a bold design--much like the original Frontiers were, being the first to introduce the quad cab and other queues.

Should be an exciting month or so!  Oh, and given they are releasing this info right now, I'd say the next generation Frontier should be about six months to a year behind the introduction of the next Titan which means, as the next Titan will be introduced in Q1 '15, I'd look for the next Frontier later that year...and with a diesel as well and that means a diesel Xterra could be in the cards as well...

Andy Palmer talks about next generation Frontier and Xterra...

Update!!

Now confirmed that at least in its overseas version it will house a 3.0L turbo diesel and will spawn a 7-seat SUV based upon the same platform...now the 3L diesel isn't much of a surprise but a SEVEN seat SUV is a big surprise...Maybe Nissan feels that people don't want a 5 seat SUV anymore but a body on frame 7 seater??  That seems a bit odd and it also flies in the face of thinking that this rugged SUV (vs. the soft-roading Pathfinder) would hold closer to the Xterra demographic...and it now appears that the reveal of the vehicle will be within the next month per this report...

Next Gen Navara/Frontier/Xterra update...

Those Crazy People in Dubai!!

Whether its gold plated Ferraris or Bugatti police cars, you can never put anything past those with near infinite wealth....

So you end up with what you have here...A nice Nissan Armada driving around a major city in Dubai...not so unusual you say...until you check out his cargo which happens to be rubbing its gums up against the rear window...Yup...that's a full grown lion...

2014 Nissan Rogue Offroad Review...

Not that you would want to use your new Rogue as an offroader but, its nice to know it won't fall apart immediately upon leaving the pavement.

The video calls the Rogue one of the most improved vehicles of 2014 and I would tend to agree--particularly in terms of its looks.  The little 4-Cyl engine seems a bit over-purposed in this ever growing vehicle but from the sounds of things all the little electronic dongles and doo-hickies make the Rogue a great small family car.

2015 Nissan Murano Spy Shots

The Nissan Murano is in its 2nd Generation with its current iteration coming in '09 and the original being produced back in '02 as an '03 model.  The Murano itself has been extremely successful as it was introduced at the perfect time to bridge the period between body on frame gas guzzling SUVs of the 90's and the trend toward soft-roaders and CUVs we've seen in the '00s and beyond.

While the 2nd generation carried over a great deal of the style and lines of the initial Murano, the third generation is projected to be a sharp departure in a number of areas.  These are the first spyshots of what will be the '16 Murano.  The rectangular dual exhaust reminds me a bit of the Porsche Cayenne as does the rear spoiler.  Not a ton can be gleaned from these shots given the heavy camouflage but the windshield looks substantially more raked that previous versions and the overall profile appears much more like current Infiniti CUV offerings than prior Muranos.  The bulbous rearend also lends to this impression.  More to come soon on this in the near future--but could we get a diesel engine here as well??  The Euros already get a 2.5L diesel equipped Murano so given the recent proliferation of diesel vehicles in the US, might we see that as an option?

2015 Nissan Armada Will NOT Get Titan's Diesel Engine...

It would have seemed like a no brainer...but I guess it isn't...

It was revealed today that while the 2015 Nissan Titan will get the V8 Cummins Turbo-diesel and its SUV sibling, the Nissan Armada, will be redesigned at the same time and use the same frame and other underpinnings as the new Titan, much as it does today, it will not be offered with a diesel.

This is kind of odd as I would imagine the SUV will get at least as bad gas mileage as the truck version but maybe Nissan's internal info says that families and others more likely (soccer moms?) to buy the SUV over the pickup truck have no interest in a diesel option. This is about the only thing I can think of at the moment...

The new Armada will remain a body-on-frame truck based vehicle and will remain LARGE in size. Nissan plans to use lightweight materials and aero-packages (active aero?) to hopefully eke out whatever mileage improvements they can.

Next Gen Armada NOT to get diesel engine...

2014 Nissan Rogue Spotted!!

 Heavily camouflaged but still exhibiting a sleeker, lower form--much like the Infiniti crossovers, the next gen Rogue also looks a bit longer as well.  The Rogue has been a big seller for Nissan in the US and this looks to continue with this model giving consumers more of what they like about it as a small-ish, inexpensive-ish wagon without wagon looks.

In Canada and elsewhere this will likely be dubbed the "X-Trail" or "Dualis" replacing a more rugged model in those markets and streamlining another section of Nissan's product line.  These photos were taken in Death Valley during hot weather testing--thus the need for the Uhaul trailer to put additional stress on the vehicle in real world conditions.  Additionally, the next generation Rogue will reportedly have a hybrid gas/electric drive option--a first for a Nissan SUV/crossover I believe.