Nissan Unveils 3 Frontier Concepts in Chicago
Nissan has had great success with the frontier new generation. Taking advantage of the wave of popularity it is currently enjoying, Nissan is unveiling three concept vehicles based on it at the Chicago Auto Show.
Not only do these three concept vehicles set the stage for vast accessory possibility, but they also take a look back at the brand’s past, specifically the 1980s to 1990s. at the Chicago Auto Show that Nissan puts its Frontier front and center. We remember that, at this same event last year, we finally discovered the new generation of 2022 Nissan Frontier. This is also where the manufacturer presented the Frontier concept with a Cummins turbodiesel engine in 2014.
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Three interpretations
Back in 2022, the next-gen Frontier is in the spotlight with no less than three vehicles interpreted in completely different ways. Due to the fact that they are all based on the 4-door version, Hiren Patel, project manager for Nissan, explains that there are also three levels of equipment, S, SV and PRO-4X. In his opinion, this choice highlights the possibility for all consumers to configure their pickup truck according to their needs or desires.
The Hardbody Project
Here, the nod goes straight to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The link is direct to the beefy D21 generation and the very early debut of the Nissan Pathfinder. To give it greater off-road capabilities, this SV version gets 3-inch raised suspensions, black plastic wheel arches, a bed support as well as a black-painted front bumper. For affiliation to the D21, decals are affixed to the bottom of the doors as in the 1980s, but the highlight of the show is certainly the return of the three-block rims equipped with 33-inch tires.
Project 72X Frontier
After the 1980s, we go back a little earlier with inspiration from the Datsun 720 marketed in the United States from 1980 to 1986. For him, it was the S version that served as the basis for his design. This return to basics is manifested by the almost complete absence of accessories and equipment. There are even steel wheels painted white. The most important aspect that ties in with the past is the integration of decals all over the body. Important historical fact for Nissan, it is the Datsun 720 which is the first vehicle to have been produced at the plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, where we still assemble a collection of vehicles in the range.
Project Adventure
At the top of these concepts, we discover the Project Adventure built on the basis of the PRO-4X. The objective of the latter is to highlight the capabilities of the Frontier for those who like to camp in a different way, from “overlanding”. To enhance the van’s skills, it offers a host of accessories including running boards, LED strips, a Yakima-designed roof and bed rack to accommodate both the tent and storage boxes. For entertainment, the Project Adventure even gets a Kicker speaker system with Bluetooth connectivity.
In Chicago
Nissan is not known to be a car manufacturer with a large catalog of accessories like Toyota, with TRD, or Dodge, with MOPAR. However, with the popularity of the Frontier, perhaps Nissan will reconsider this position. For now, the only way to admire these three concept vehicles is to go to the Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois.
