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Frontyfan
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| Posted: Sep 15 2010 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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Howdy Fronty fans, been awhile, since I've lurked around the forum, but just read something that I thought I'd pass on and it might be good for discussion.
Take this with a grain of salt, as it's from the web and the only source I've seen, but rumor on http://iguida.com/2011-nissan-frontier says that Nissan might stop making the Frontier after 2012. Not sure how true this is, as I've heard similar rumors to the Titan, diesel option, no diesel, cutting it out of lineup altogether, etc. and it's still around.
However, this seems to make little sense, at least around me, I see Frontiers everywhere, old and newer. It seems to compete well with the Tacoma in sales. I know the fuel price crunch has hurt sales in the last few years probably but it still fills a nice niche for those who need/want a capable truck and don't need/want a full-size truck. It also seems to make less sense when you also consider that the Ranger is going away, and also rumors of the Canyon/Colorado going away. Again, those are just internet rumors just like the only source I saw about the Frontier, so don't get too worked up about it.
As I've said a long time ago, they could probably do fairly well with their turbo-diesel option here in the states if people would just open up to it. Great fuel economy for a truck (check the UK specs), while still remaining powerful enough to get the job done.
Another new wrinkle that has been added in the last couple years (although they are taking forever to release it) is Mahindra (yes, Mahindra the tractor company, I did not know they made vehicles, but apparently have for some time.) is finally planning on releasing their 2.2 turbo-diesel compact truck here in the states. It is planned on having a 140/150 hp, 236 ft/lbs of torque. Payload capacity is supposed to be 2,765 lbs, yes, up there with several full size trucks and also a 5,000 lb towing capacity. Couple all that with around 30mpg highway. Not too shabby if it shakes out. Now it isn't the prettiest truck and they also offer it in SUV package which kinda resembles a Montero IMO. Here is a link if you want to check it out. http://www.mahindrana.com/indian-cars-and-trucks.html
Now why do I tell you this? Well, I am kind of excited about this, because if this truck can make enough noise and be reliable, it might cause other manufacturers to rethink their powerplants in their truck/SUV lineup. Wishful thinking perhaps.
What are y'all opinions on other options such as smaller turbo gas engines in trucks such as what Ford is rolling out with their 3.5 Ecoboost twin-turbo for the F-150 for 2011? It's supposed to have a marked improvement in fuel efficiency, and also still have good power to do what a truck needs to be able to do.
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lakota
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| Posted: Sep 16 2010 at 10:14pm | IP Logged
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..
Frontyfan;
Weclome back!
My 1999 Frontier 3.3 4x4 was Just what I wanted. Another 30 hp would have been nice! I've got the money for a new one but I don't want onr larger than my'99 so i'll just keep it!
Mahindra has been buying a lot of used automotive tooling that is a little out out of date.
Have a good one.. Don S..
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'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
Fort Worth
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thedave360
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| Posted: Sep 17 2010 at 12:34am | IP Logged
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I think if Mahindra starts making a simple little cheap
truck with a stout diesel motor, they're going to make
money! Shortly after Nissan gets taken to school by
Mahindra in mid-size truck sales, they will offer the
Frontier with a diesel. While I don't think the Frontier
will see its demise any time soon, I also don't think its
immune to being brought to the chopping block.
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tablesaw
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| Posted: Sep 20 2010 at 6:20pm | IP Logged
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Nissan makes a diesel for overseas sales, Australia and Africa come to mind, in OZ they outsell the petrol version hands down, just like all the other utility vehicles there. It's practically impossible to find a gasser truck in OZ. I hang around a couple hunting forums from OZ, they are a hoot.
Why they haven't sold it here, is probably due to emissions hangups. I talked to the stealership about them several times, but nothing has come of it. IF we ALL mention that they'd be well-received here, maybe the clamor would help them get the certification needed.
I don't know if the Mahindra will be welcome here, they are very, very basic vehicles, not at all according to US tastes. We like our luxuries.
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Eliana Nissan
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| Posted: Sep 21 2010 at 6:28am | IP Logged
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 i love Nissan Frontier.
The current-generation Nissan Frontier is easily the most
comfortable and civilized Frontier yet. King Cab models
come with space behind the front seats that is better used
for carrying smaller cargo items than for squeezing
passengers of any size into the flip-up jump seats. Crew
Cabs can accommodate adults, albeit nowhere nearly as
comfortably as an SUV or full-size pickup. 
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Frontyfan
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| Posted: Sep 23 2010 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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Lakota,
Thanks for the welcome. Appreciate it. Oh I know. I dig my 2001 SE CC, it's starting to show some wear, but still a great truck.
My point about the diese is there is all this talk about fuel economy, blah blah blah. Nissan can produce a truck that has more than adequate power and get ridiculous fuel economy for a truck and better than a lot of cars as well. Example; let's take the 2011 Frontier V6 for the states and the 2011 V6 Diesel for the UK and compare them side by side.
2011 US Frontier V6 CC
4.0L auto &n bsp;
261 HP
281 ft/lbs torque
16/20 mpg 4x2
15/20 mpg 4x4
6500 lbs towing approx
2011 Frontier (Navara) V6 Outlaw diesel CC
3.0L auto
236HP
405 ft/lbs torque
30 mpg combined
23 mpg city / 37.2 mpg highway
6600 lbs of towing approx
Oh, if you look at the UK version, it looks almost exactly like the US version as far as body style and size.
Now lets look at the 2011 2.5 diesel 4cyl for the UK (with a crew cab)
2.5L automatic
190 HP
298 ft/lbs
31 mpg combined
24.1 mpg city / 37.7 mpg highway
6600 lbs towing approx
So my point is that you don't have to have a truck that is a gas guzzler to get adequate power. While Mahindra may have "outdated" technology, if they can make a small dent in the market here, it might force other manufacturers to take a look at that. Shoot, they could even look at what ford is doing with a smaller turbo V6 in a truck to improve fuel economy. Oh yeah, these diesel models have been offered for awhile in Europe, Australia and South American by Nissan. Nissan also has their own line of diesels that they sell here in the US for commercial trucks, known as UD. In the 70's Nissan was the diesel powerplant for the International Scout. I don't know if the diesels in the models offered elsewhere are Nissan or outsourced.
Yes I understand that Mahindra makes a very basic vehicles by US standards for luxury, etc. However, if you purchase a base model SE, they don't have a ton of features on them either.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for trucks, I love them. However, if you can provide a truck that has the power that is expected in a truck and also made it more efficient, why not? Yes perhaps emissions is one of the hangups, because Mahindra from what I read dumped a lot of money into their vehicles to get it's ok from the EPA on emissions. It delayed the launch by over a year, and has still yet to be seen here. (slated for Dec if I remember correctly)
Yes, there are some drawbacks to diesel but you can overcome them. Particulate filters, urea injection. Low sulfur diesel is now the norm. Biodiesel is another option.
On a side gripe about the fuel economy and why diesel might make some sense.
I have found more and more EtOH signs on local gas stations here. I get the whole it burns cleaner argument. However, it has less energy density and thus you get worse fuel economy. So, what is the difference, burn cleaner fuel, but use more of it because you fill up more, or use less, but burn non-diluted fuel. I don't know the answer to that.
I know I might be wishing and one hand and pooping in the other to see which fills up faster, but Nissan IMHO should take a look at this. If diminishing sales is one reason for even a rumor or thought about Frontiers going away, then they could keep a huge piece of the market with technology they already have.
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Nissan Frontier Forums : General
Topic: Frontier nearing end of run?
