Looking @ Nissan Frontier and Xterra.Mid-size truck makers are up against a wall of incentive cash that places some full-size models within reach of the typical mid-size truck buyer. How do you keep them in the mid-size fold? "It becomes a matter of giving the buyer capability," says Gene Brown, model line manager, pickups at Nissan North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . Nissan is launching two new mid-sizes, the Frontier pickup and the Xterra SUV. Examples of what Nissan is doing to provide capability while containing costs: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Eliminate a cab style. The Frontier is built either as a King Cab or a Crew Cab Crew Cabs are an extended cab bodystyle commonly found on utes or pickup trucks. This cab design typically has forward-facing rear seating and four front-hinged doors to provide sedan-like accommodations for up to 6 passengers. . The Regular Cab is dead. * Use an existing platform. The F-Alpha developed for the full-size Armada SUV and Titan pickup is used in a modified version (see http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/100402.html). * Limit bed sizes. One for the King Cab (73.3 in.); one for the Crew Cab (59.5 in.). * Use one wheelbase wheel·base n. The distance from the center of the front wheel to that of the rear wheel in a motor vehicle, usually expressed in inches. wheelbase Noun . All pickups have a 125.9-in. wheelbase. * Share parts with other models. The Frontier uses the Pathfinders front clip and doors. It and the Xterra share many interior pieces--including the instrument panel--with the Pathfinder. The available five-speed automatic transmission is derived from the IK unit used in the full-size Titan pickup. * Build an award-winning plant. The Nissan North America Manufacturing plant in Smyrna, TN, is one of the most-productive assembly plants in the world. RELATED ARTICLE: WALK-AROUND * Nissan used to say "Dogs like trucks," Now they say "Real trucks have all-steel double-wishbone independent coil sprung front suspension, and over slung leaf spring solid rear axle, and a front anti-roll bar an·ti-roll bar n. See anti-sway bar. ." Oh, and chrome. * NISMO NISMO Nissan Motorsport NISMO Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Office ? That's short for NISsan MOtor-sports. Both vehicles can be speced with a NISMO off-road package that includes Bilstein high-pressure gas shocks and 265/75R15 BF Goodrich tires on unique 16-in, alloy wheels. * The steering system steering system, in automobiles, steering wheel, gears, linkages, and other components used to control the direction of a vehicle's motion. Because of friction between the front tires and the road, especially in parking, effort is required to turn the steering wheel. is an engine-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion design. * Brakes: four-wheel disc with ABS. * The Frontier's base engine is a 2.5 liter in-line four. Nissan expects most buyers to select the 4.0-liter VQ V6 built in Decherd, TN, that produces 265hp @ 5,600 rpm and 284 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm. It's the standard engine for the Xterra and shared with the Pathfinder. * Four-wheel limited slip, electronic locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control (HDC (Hard Disk Controller) See disk controller. HDC - Disk Controller ), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC VDC Volts Direct Current VDC Venture Development Corporation VDC Vehicle Dynamic Control VDC Village Development Committee (Nepal) VDC Virtual Data Center VdC Verband der Cigarettenindustrie ), and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD EBD Emotional or behavioral disorder ) are available. * Both vehicles have aluminum channels imbedded in the load floor to facilitate tying items down. * Frontier has a spray-in bedliner. * Xterra has an easy-to-clean floor finish. * Frontier King Cab's rear seats flip up for increased storage. * Xterra's rear seats flip forward for same. * Front passenger seats on both vehicles can be folded forward (unless there's leather trim). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Christopher A. Sawyer, Executive Editor |
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