Nissan’s first electrified pickup
This upcoming electrified Frontier Pro sports a fresh design (designed at Nissan’s Shanghai studio) that looks significantly different from the current model. According to Nissan, the truck was styled around the concept of “Rugged Tech” with a modern exterior design that complements a spacious and refined interior. But whatever it is, the generous lighting on the front fascia reminds us of Hyundai-Kia practices. While the front lighting may pass off as a generic full-width light bar, those three lights in the middle, according to Nissan, were inspired by the distinctive three-slot opening in the hood of the 1980s Nissan D21 hardbody pickup. The wrap-around lights at the rear make an attempt to mimic the front lights. The side profile looks clean and minimalistic. Nissan says that all variants ride on standard 18-inch alloy wheels with 265/65 R18 tires.
The hybrid powertrain will be a combo of a 1.5L 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor integrated into the automatic transmission. Nissan claims combined figures of 300 kW (408 metric hp) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft). For the Chinese market, the truck will offer a pure electric range of up to 135 km (84 mi), the company says. There’ll be an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, of course, which automatically controls torque distribution between the front and rear wheels.
All models will feature a 5-link rear suspension. Off-road capability will be enhanced by the availability of an electromechanical rear differential lock. The driver can play with four modes: Hybrid, Pure Electric, Performance and Snow.
Inside, the design looks chic and minimalistic. But what makes me happy are those physical buttons under the central air vents. The steering wheel appears to have a combo of physical and touch controls, but either way, the design looks pretty clean. Other key highlights include a 10-inch instrument display, a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, front seat heating, ventilation & seat-back massage, and a standard panoramic glass roof.
To make the potential owners happy, the Frontier Pro PHEV will have an electronic retractable cover for the cargo area, and a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) port that can supply up to 6 kW of power.
The truck will be produced in China and will also be exported to other markets from China.
