Nissan reveals NP300 Navara pickup, is it the next Frontier? [w/videos] [UPDATE]

Wed, 11 Jun 2014

UPDATE: Statement from Nissan added, below.

After plenty of teasing, Nissan has finally revealed the NP300 Navara pickup, previewing America's next Frontier. Now, before we dive into all the info on this new midsize pickup, it's important to note that we don't quite have the official details on the American-spec truck, so there's quite a bit of information here that might not carry through to the North American market.

Depending on the market, the Navara will offer either a four-cylinder diesel or a four-cylinder gas engine, both of which displace 2.5 liters. Nissan claims both engines have been improved, with the oil-burner producing 188 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. There aren't specific figures on the gas engine, although we should expect that it will see a nice bump from the current Frontier's four-cylinder, which offers up 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. It's not clear if a V6 will be available in the US, as there's no mention of it in the Navara's literature.

A seven-speed automatic or a six-speed manual are the sole gearbox options, marking the first time in quite a while that a new Nissan wasn't sporting a continuously variable transmission. Regardless of gearbox, power is fed to a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system. Once again, it's unclear if there will be a two-wheel-drive model for the North American market.

The styling, meanwhile, is fairly typical of Nissan nowadays, with a subtle evolution of the current Frontier's grille and headlamps. The front fascia is taller, which along with the shorter hood kind of gives the Navara an out-of-proportion look that isn't too flattering. It's a similar story around back, where Nissan has taken an evolutionary approach to the new design.

Inside, we can see plenty of typical Nissan fare, with a number of items we recognize from the brand's other products. Like the exterior, Nissan didn't go too crazy in redoing the pickup's cabin.

We've got a huge gallery of images of the NP300 Navara, as well as a pair of videos and a press release, which are available below. As for the Frontier, we've reached out to Nissan's American operations to see what the deal is regarding the US-spec truck. Naturally, as soon as we hear from them, we'll update this post.

UPDATE: Nissan North America spokesperson Dan Bedore reached out, saying, "The Navara, which is designed for global markets, including Thailand, is not an indication of an impending launch of a new Nissan Frontier for the US market." Bedore added that "we cannot comment on future plans for Frontier," nothing that the midsize truck "is a very important part of the Nissan lineup and of our truck growth strategy for the US." In the meantime, the automaker is "focusing on selling our current Frontier and gearing up for next year's launch of the all-new full-size Nissan Titan."

THE ALL NEW NISSAN NP300 NAVARA: THE NEW GENERATION PICKUP RAISING THE STANDARD IN THE SEGMENT

Backed by Nissan's 80-year legacy of pickup truck experience and leadership
Engineered for greater durability and more efficient performance
Designed for productivity, style, comfort and convenience

YOKOHAMA, Japan (June 11, 2014) -The all-new Nissan NP300 Navara is the 12th generation of its hard-working pickup, embodying Nissan's legacy of excellence and trust in this highly demanding segment, and now with new levels of comfort, convenience and advanced technologies. Backed by Nissan's 80 years of global pickup truck know-how and legendary reliability, the NP300 Navara meets the needs of demanding individuals and business owners alike.

The all-new model boasts highly competitive fuel economy, improved acceleration and easier operation, a more rigid and durable frame, as well as modern yet tough and strong design.

The new Nissan NP300 Navara achieves lower overall running costs through a combination of improvements in powertrain performance and a reduction in body mass. Exterior refinements include a reduction in roof height and higher ground clearance, as well as a larger loading area

The Nissan NP300 Navara is represented by a wide range of body types and powertrain options according to individual market demands, through narrow- and wide-body type, king and double cab models, as well as all-wheel drive and two-wheel drive types.

The Nissan design team focused on delivering a sportier and more emotional expression on the NP300 Navara, while maintaining Nissan's distinctive design DNA. The view from the side is marked by the smooth silhouette thanks to the high beltline and blacked B-pillar, which lends the NP300 Navara a unique character. The door section with dynamic convex and concave surface boldly expresses its energetic and dependable appearance along with the massively sculpted fenders. Nissan's signature "V-motion" motif flows from the grille and into the hood through to the front fender, giving a smooth and dynamic character line.

The visual appeal of the NP300 Navara is also enhanced thanks to the boomerang shaped lighting signature created with LED daytime running lights that gives a prominent and distinctive impression. Additional visual spice comes from chrome waist line moldings and turn indicators mounted in the door mirrors. The unique new color choices - Savannah Yellow and The Earth Bronze - are designed to underscore the unique character of the NP300 Navara: vital yet urban.

Life on board has also been upgraded. Here the designers have styled the dashboard featuring a gentle sweep from the center panel to the door side with 3-dimensional rich sections in order to offer a feeling of spaciousness. In addition, the Nissan designers have styled the interior to represent a new quality benchmark in the segment, with finely designed meters and a tactile steering wheel, as well as the use of an aluminum-like finish on the center cluster and console as well as the finely crafted stitches on the seat.

Occupants will feel the clear influence of Nissan's SUV leadership, through the intuitive ergonomic design and use of high quality materials, and thanks to easier ingress and egress as well as improved refinement and visibility. Overall, the interior is spacious and comfortable, offering convenience for hard-working entrepreneurs and the quiet relaxation of a well isolated space for family journeys. The material selection and elaborate treatment such as double stitching fully express its high quality and sophistication.

"Since we built our first pickup in 1933, over 14 million customers around the globe have come to depend on a Nissan pickup to transport their families, workmates and cargo, sometimes in the toughest of circumstances, "explained Andy Palmer, Nissan's Chief Planning Officer. "Nissan pickups are often the lifeblood of their communities, and they need a broader range of abilities than almost any other vehicle. Engineering a good one isn't easy, but with the NP300 Navara, we've added to our accumulated 80 years of Pickup know-how, more comfort, convenience and SUV-inspired features, in-order to build a great one."

"The Nissan New NP300 Navara sets new benchmarks for performance, toughness, versatility and running costs; all the qualities that are critical for pickup users," adds Andy Palmer, Nissan's Chief Planning Officer.

The dashboard sports multiple easy-to-read dials, plus a large center console with a full array of intuitive features that combine with steering wheel controls to enable easy and safe use while driving. Included are high-resolution color TFT instrument displays with access to compass and turn-by-turn navigation support, fuel economy indicator and audio track and radio content. Customization features provide driver assistance in a variety of languages, as well as alerts, maintenance reminders and more.

While life-on-board is comfortable and convenient, the NP300 Navara has been designed and developed to easily and confidently handle heavy loads, while allowing ease of loading and unloading. Underneath, the NP300 Navara's high-strength chassis and leaf suspension have been engineered to take the punishment of intense daily usage, reflecting the expectations of pick-up customers around the world among the other improvements to the NP300 Navara's characteristics are a reduced turning circle, reflecting the importance of agility and maneuverability in city driving.

The NP300 Navara's powertrain boasts improved performance, with reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as a dynamic control braking system that makes for a leader in segment performance. Engine options have been developed for best in class fuel efficiency and emissions ratings, yet with impressive power output and acceleration. Models come equipped with improved versions of Nissan's 2.5-liter DOHC in-line 4-cylinder Diesel engine or 2.5-liter in-line 4-cylinder Gasoline engine. The new 2.5-liter DOHC in-line 4-cylinder Diesel engine features maximum power of 140kW and 120kW at 3600rpm, maximum torque of 450Nm and 403Nm at 2000rpm, and higher boost from a turbocharger with electrical actuator. Fuel economy has been improved by as much as 11% over the previous model.

Shift-on-the-fly 4x4 driving can be engaged while the vehicle is in motion. The VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system helps improve 4x4 driving performance and safety, along with ABLS (Active Brake Limited Slip), HSA (Hill Start Assist) and HDC (Hill Descent Control).

The NP300 Navara's transmission options include a seven-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmission. The seven-speed automatic provides for low fuel consumption at slow speeds as well as better acceleration, expanded gear ratio for wider range of speeds, and smooth acceleration and shifting. The six-speed manual features enhanced fuel efficiency from low to high gear, while its optimized shift stroke makes for quick and effortless gear changes.

Overall, the new Nissan NP300 Navara provides fleet and individual owners improved productivity in the field and comfort on the road. This is thanks to the high quality engineering that has delivered a tough and durable frame along with a high performance powertrain, and a striking design inside and out for a premium ownership experience.

"We are confident that the all-new Nissan NP300 Navara will go straight to the top of pickup buyers' shopping lists in all of the markets where we will sell it. Its combination of striking looks, efficient performance, robustness and durability will allow owners to work and play harder – enriching their daily lives. The NP300 Navara continues the legacy of Nissan's long pickup history and, like all Nissan models, it will deliver excitement through innovation," concluded Andy Palmer.

About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.

By Brandon Turkus