Nissan has launched the all-new Frontier Pro pickup truck in China, featuring a modern and rugged exterior design. The automaker also introduced the Frontier Pro Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) alongside the all-new truck, which marks Nissan’s first pickup to feature a PHEV powertrain.
The all-new Frontier Pro and Frontier Pro PHEV are pickup trucks that are designed, developed, and manufactured in China for the global market. The Nissan Frontier Pro comes with a striking exterior highlighted by its distinctive LED headlight design, which gives the truck a futuristic appeal. It also comes with Nissan’s signature V-motion front grille and a muscular bumper integrated with silver trims and beefy black cladding.
Meanwhile, the all-new Frontier Pro’s rear design is integrated with what Nissan describes as “3D taillights,” which gives a modern vibe as compared to the usual design one can see on pickup trucks. The Frontier Pro PHEV adds more style points to its rear since it has a light bar that runs through the length of the tailgate, a design detail that we can also see in the BYD Shark 6 pickup truck.
At first glance, one can instantly notice that Nissan applied a different design approach to the all-new Frontier Pro in comparison with the next-generation Navara, especially when you look at the two trucks’ front end. The Frontier Pro combines modern looks with rugged appeal, while the new Navara has a more contemporary, bold design that heavily shares similarities with the truck it is based on, which is the Mitsubishi Triton.
The all-new Frontier Pro was developed by Nissan in partnership with its Chinese joint-venture partner, Dongfeng. To put things in perspective, if the next-gen Navara shares similarities with the Mitsubishi Triton, the all-new Frontier Pro, on one hand, shares similar design cues with the Dongfeng Z9.
The design DNA found on the Dongfeng Z9 can be seen more evidently when you step into the cabin of the next-gen Frontier Pro. It has the same interior design, seen on the dashboard layout, the massive infotainment touchscreen, the digital instrument cluster, the center console, air con vents, and even the steering wheel design. The only distinction that can tell you that you’re aboard the all-new Frontier Pro is the Nissan logo on the steering wheel.
As such, the all-new Frontier Pro has the same fate as the next-gen Navara, as these two Nissan pickup trucks are based heavily on their respective counterparts, the Dongfeng Z9 and the Mitsubishi Triton.
Powering the all-new Nissan Frontier Pro is a 2.3-liter diesel engine that delivers 189 horsepower and 500 Nm torque, connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Nissan said that the Frontier Pro PHEV features a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a high-output electric motor delivering over 402 hp and up to 800 Nm of torque. The EV mode is claimed to offer a maximum range of 135 kilometers.
It’s unclear if Nissan Philippines will ever bring this new-age Frontier Pro to the Philippines. But given the advantages of importing from China, and the advent of plug-in hybrid pickups in the country, we can’t help but wonder. Plus, Nissan itself has confirmed that the Frontiter Pro will be sold globally. The only question now is: where?
