Nissan looking to use the D22 for the next North American Frontier

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
Interesting. Question is: Will we still also get the new Navara? And which platform will the new Xterra be based on?
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I have posted this in other places...


When I worked for Nissan "Smyrna plant" I had a engineer that told me they were looking at doing a small
truck again.. This was in 2011.. With Chevy stepping up to the plate with a new colorado I do not see how
Nissan could build one.. Toyota isn't going to drop down in size and the Chevy is a mid sized truck.

Plus don't read into this D22 thing too much.. The only thing they could use would be the frame.. I wouldn't expect torsion bars again
any time soon lol.. Plus Nissan doesn't have a small V6 to drop into this right now either. The 4.0 is here to stay for some time..
I do expect them to bump the 4.0 to 300 HPs in the next go around. Nissan has made big leaps in the 3.5 Which the 4.0 is based on.
Infinity is using the old 3.5 as a 3.7 now..

Plus the profit margins are very small on the little trucks. In the article it talks about how this older frame design could help cut costs but
Nissan would basically be doing a complete redesign on it...

I think all of this talk of the d22 is to keep us blind sided and other car manufacturers guessing if Nissan is bringing the Navara based truck to the US.
 

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
I have posted this in other places...


When I worked for Nissan "Smyrna plant" I had a engineer that told me they were looking at doing a small
truck again.. This was in 2011.. With Chevy stepping up to the plate with a new colorado I do not see how
Nissan could build one.. Toyota isn't going to drop down in size and the Chevy is a mid sized truck.

Plus don't read into this D22 thing too much.. The only thing they could use would be the frame.. I wouldn't expect torsion bars again
any time soon lol.. Plus Nissan doesn't have a small V6 to drop into this right now either.

Don't need a small V6. All of Nissan's modern 4 cylinders are capable of more torque and HP than the VG33 in the old D22. Plus lighter and more efficient.

The 4.0 is here to stay for some time..
I do expect them to bump the 4.0 to 300 HPs in the next go around. Nissan has made big leaps in the 3.5 Which the 4.0 is based on.
Infinity is using the old 3.5 as a 3.7 now..

So is Nissan. 370Z is obvs 3.7L

Plus the profit margins are very small on the little trucks. In the article it talks about how this older frame design could help cut costs but
Nissan would basically be doing a complete redesign on it...

I think all of this talk of the d22 is to keep us blind sided and other car manufacturers guessing if Nissan is bringing the Navara based truck to the US.

The recently unveiled Navara is coming to the US in some form or other. The current Frontier sells well enough that it would be ludicrous of Nissan to not bring a new midsize truck to the US market. That doesn't mean they can't slot another, smaller truck into a niche that, for the time being, Nissan would have to themselves. I am as skeptical as you; I won't believe it until I see it. But I also won't reject the idea out of hand.

My thoughts in red.
 

Nd4SpdSe

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Quebec, QC
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...s-small-truck-plans-navara-now-north-america/


Our industry source who reported that Nissan would use an old version of the Frontier has reported back to us with some bittersweet news.
The reported next-generation Frontier, which would have been based on the bones of the old, first-generation Frontier, has been abandoned. According to our source, bringing the old technology up to modern crash standards was too onerous a task, and the costs were simply too high – even with using an already paid for architecture.
The big issue at hand is this: Nissan still wants to have a small, basic, fuel-efficient affordable truck, since they see it as an untapped niche. Their original thinking was that the D22 Frontier would let them get their in a cost-effective way (remember, small trucks are low-margin, difficult to price and carry significant regulatory burdens). But now that this option is off the table, Nissan is forced to use the all-new Navara as a starting point.
From a superficial perspective, that’s not such a bad thing. The Navara is a modern, global mid-size pickup that is a proven design and a sales success across the globe. The problem is that, as it sits now, it’s far too expensive for what Nissan USA is looking for. So, the North American truck will use the Navara architecture, due to its crashworthiness, and ability to fit a modern, diesel engine under the hood, but the tradeoff will be a fair amount of content will not make it across the ocean.
As with the now dead D22, Nissan Mexico will be responsible for engineering the truck to meet NAFTA standards. This “clean sheet” approach, if it can be called that, will cause further delays. The current Frontier will soldier on until 2018, when the new truck arrives. A diesel variant arrives a year later. The new truck will likely have a different look and stick to the original mandate of being akin to a modern-day Hardbody. But instead of actually being a a modern day Hardbody, it will be a revamped modern truck.
Nissan had planned to give North American truck buyers something truly unique, but it was not to be. We will be getting what is arguably the better, more modern option, but this new approach will just add more time, effort and expense to the program. The goal of a low-cost, fuel-efficient pickup is still in sight. Nissan will just be approaching it in a different way.
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
The current Frontier will soldier on until 2018, when the new truck arrives. A diesel variant arrives a year later.


They've had this body for a good while and they know they're pushing their luck. They'll release it before 2018. If they are able to secure a deal with Cummins then it'd be made available from the beginning. It wouldn't make much sense to not do it given the potential niche it could have in small business service trucks.
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
They've had this body for a good while and they know they're pushing their luck. They'll release it before 2018. If they are able to secure a deal with Cummins then it'd be made available from the beginning. It wouldn't make much sense to not do it given the potential niche it could have in small business service trucks.

2016 is the next frontier... And maybe Xterra..

And it is based in the same frame now just a newer drivetrain think better looking narvara
Most have seen now..
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Didn't know it was a done deal for the 2.8l. We don't hear much news about the trucks & suv since they were shipped down to Canton in '12

Sent via NSA satellite USDOD-1322
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Didn't know it was a done deal for the 2.8l. We don't hear much news about the trucks & suv since they were shipped down to Canton in '12

Sent via NSA satellite USDOD-1322

Yep...

They have 3 in current frontiers at hq..
Showing them off the the press
 
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