Despite its age, the Nissan Frontier is still looking good. Drivers still consider the midsize pickup as one of the best in the market despite the lack of current innovations both on the inside as well as the outside. Be that as it may, there is a positive note that the Frontier can tag along a fair amount of enthusiasts when it comes to its ruggedness, drivability and overall appearance. One source is now saying that the Frontier is on the verge of a major overhaul now that the competition is starting to get stiffer.
According to "sources briefed on the company's plan", Automotive News echoed that Nissan is rooting for a new version of the Frontier. It won't come out this year, though, but it is claiming that it will roll out of Nissan's garage as early as September 2020 and will be sold as the 2021 model of the Frontier. While Nissan North America division Vice President of Regional Operations said that the pickup hugs a lot of "heritage" and a "cult-like following", it's been 14 years since the Frontier saw a major upgrade.
This particular following may be considered as one of the reasons why Nissan wants to reinvent the Frontier. The source claims that the next iteration of the Frontier will come with a "futuristic" appeal - a "modern" design will mostly be at the helm, but it will still "look like a truck" that truck guys would want to have. The old 4.0 liter V6 engine of the Frontier will also be taking it leave. Instead, Nissan is looking to replace it with a new V6, 300HP engine.
CNet also sees that the previous five speed automatic configuration of the previous Frontier will be swapped with a newer seven speed automatic transmission. The new Frontier will also incorporate rear leaf springs and will do away with the more expensive coil springs found on the Navara. The website adds that Nissan has yet to make an official comment about whether the 2021 model of the Frontier will come with all the aforementioned bells and whistles. Though it's normal for auto makers to hide the juicy details of an upcoming model, it build a much needed anticipation that buyers look forward to.
Nissan hopes to bounce back from a rather lopsided sales performance this year. For the first three months, numbers were down 11% from the same period last year, selling 20,221 Frontier units. Last month, Nissan saw 7,868 Frontiers. The pickup, despite the early slump, still commands a decent 15.2% market share
