Nissan USA has been developing its Titan XD and so-called standard duty Titan pickup trucks. However, once the new model hits the market, the company’s focus will switch to the Frontier. The Frontier is in its second generation, and it was introduced for the first time back in 2004. The 2011 MY received a facelift, and now Nissan already has the next version of this truck called the NP300 Navara. The Navara, which has been on sale for two years cannot be bought in the US, but the other countries can enjoy this great vehicle. The Japanese carmaker will apparently offer a US-spec version of the NP300 Navara and here is the rendering based on the current pickup truck.
Exterior Design of new Frontier
The global Navara can show us what to expect from the next-generation Frontier. Nissan is almost certainly going to change the looks of the global model to appeal to the US customers and comply to the NHTSA crash ratings. Two cab configurations will be offered – the King Cab and the Double Cab. The former one is smaller, with rear-opening suicide doors, whereas the latter is larger with traditional doors.
The front grille will be chrome rich and with sport horizontal inserts. Speaking of chrome, it will be added around the license plate, whereas the redesigned fog light mounts will be finished in dark chrome. Meanwhile, the wheel wells are encompassed by large fender flairs, and thus the ruggedness comes forward. The side mirrors are large, and the turn signal indicators on it increase safety, whereas if you wanted to access the cabin easier than before, you would have to buy optional side steps.
The new 2018 Nissan Frontier will come with an assisted tailgate and backup camera in the rear end, but the same tailgate design will be featured on the US Frontier as well. A traditional step bumper is not an option, but their innovative cargo bed technology will make a difference. In-bed cargo rails will be implemented on the sidewalls and on the floor while Nissan plans to offer bed extenders, dividers, toolboxes and LED lights.
Nissan Frontier 2018 Interior
Here, big changes are expected because the global Nissan Navara has a car-like cabin. In order to keep the ruggedness we were getting from US model, the company is going to need a more brutish dash, bigger knobs, larger buttons and a four-spoke steering wheel. If they need an inspiration, they can turn to the Titan XD, but on the other hand, the Navara’s interior might just get transferred without huge changes.
Be that as it may, the Frontier will sport front bucket seats, whereas the rear seats in the King Cab are going to be small jump seats with the ability to be folded from the rear bulkhead. On the other hand, the rear bench in the Double Cab version will be more comfortable since there is more legroom. Cargo storage under the rear seat is expected while it would be great if Nissan offered a flat load floor.
Higher trims will most definitely be available with the company’s 360-degree Around-View Monitor camera system with bird’s eye view. Both lower and upper trims will have a backup camera, whereas blind-spot monitoring, automatic braking, lane departure warning and other safety techs will be integrated into the new Frontier.
2018 Frontier Diesel, Engine & Transmission
Talking about the engines that will power the next-gen truck is difficult. Speaking of the Navara, there is a 2.5-liter I4, which might return with more horsepower and torque and improved fuel economy. A 2.5-liter I4 turbodiesel is not going to be offered in the States, but Nissan might cooperate with Cummins to produce a specific diesel unit for the Frontier. What is likely to come is an ongoing 4.0-liter V6, which will also get a power boost. It is important to mention that Nissan is reworking the 5.6-liter V8 powerplant for the Titan XD, so there are really a lot of options and possibilities.
The engine will be mated to the seven-speed automatic, which is also found in the current Navara, but the six-speed manual will be offered too. Manual gearboxes would be great to see, but only the base model could feature those. The next-gen Frontier will be equipped with a 4WD system, but the driver can send power to the front wheels only. In the meantime, the PRO-4X version will come with an electronic locking rear differential.
2018 Nissan Frontier Release date & Price
The Frontier trims will not be changed. In other words, the King Cab will be available in S and SV trims, whereas the Double Cab is offered for the S, SV and SL models. There is no doubt that the new Frontier will be more expensive than the current-generation, but we don’t know the exact price yet. The 2015 Nissan Frontier costs $18,290, whereas the top—shelf SV with the Double Cab will set you back $25,680. The starting price of the new entry-level Frontier will be around $19,500 with the range-topper reaching $28,000.
Thanks to the people from topspeed.com we now have and image of just how new Frontier is going to look. The only question remaining is when it will be available? According to an unofficial source, 2018 Nissan Frontier is expected in late 2017. The date of sales (also rumored) is scheduled for first months of following year. Like you can already guess it will be sold as 2018 MY. Stay tuned as we bring you more info about upcoming Frontier.
