I See You: Next Nissan Z, Frontier Make Brief Appearances

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Nissan’s new 4-year plan, despite aiming for efficiency and value, doesn’t leave sporty driving in the dustbin of history. Sports cars still exist as one of the automaker’s core products, and the very long awaited next-generation Z will be among that global cohort.

On the volume side of things, the brand’s compact and midsize crossovers are due for a rejuvenation, along with Nissan’s midsize pickup, which last gained a new body during the Bush administration.

In a teaser video accompanying its business plan, Nissan rolls out the entirety of its near-future product introductions. Most notable is the new Z, a sport coupe bearing a distinctive teardrop shape and immediately recognizable retro features. The camera zooms in to the new Z logo adorning the C-pillar.

There’s trim proportions and clean bodywork to be seen, with bulging rear fenders and a pronounced chin. If Toyota’s new Supra is too ungainly for your tastes, Nissan might have what you’re looking for. Expected to appear next year as a 2022 model, the next-gen Z might carry the 400Z name.

While the video showed no sign of the low-volume GT-R, as associated presentation outlining Nissan’s market strategy does indeed show the model inhabiting one of Nissan’s four core products (C- and D- segment vehicles, EVs, and sports cars). That’s no guarantee of its continued existence in the lineup, what with Nissan planning to shed 20 percent of its models over the next 4 years.

The next revamped models to appear in the Nissan lineup will be the next-generation Rogue and Pathfinder, joined by the updated Frontier (a model which saw its new powertrain debut in an old body for 2020) and full-size Armada. An electric SUV heralded in January by the Ariya concept vehicle will also make an appearance in the coming year. Besides that, the automaker’s woefully underperforming Infiniti division stands to gain a new QX60, which is something that might sell.

It seems Nissan felt comfortable giving us a taste of the 2021 Frontier, which appears in the video for just a brief moment. There’s not a lot to tell. The Frontier remains a midsize pickup, one that’s expected to ride atop an updated version of its existing platform.

[Images: Nissan]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on May 28, 2020

    Assuming Nissan will be around in 2037 but if they are they might be part of Geely. The more I read articles about Nissan's cost cutting the less faith I have in Nissan. Nissan needs to start with better quality and better quality will bring in the customers. Getting out of less profitable markets is a good plan but without quality and relying on just less models and higher prices will just accelerate their problems.

  • El scotto El scotto on May 28, 2020

    Could Nissan build a light, fast, nimble Z car again? Or gasp! lower, yes actually lower, one of their CUVs and come out with a modern front wheel drive 510? One hit vehicle, Nissan just needs one hit vehicle.

  • El scotto No rag-top, no rag-top(s) = not a prestigious car brand. Think it through. All of the high-end Germans and Lexus have rag-tops. Corvette is really its own brand.World-leading engines. AMG, M, S and well Lexus is third-world tough. GM makes one of the best V-8s in the world in Bowling Green. But nooooo, noooo, we're GM only Corvettes get Corvette engines. Balderdash! I say. Put Corvette engines in the top-tier Cadillacs. I know GM could make a world-class 3.5 liter V-6 but they don't or won't. In the interior everything that gets touched, including your butt, has to feel good. No exceptions.Some think that those who pay above MSRP and brag about it are idiots. Go the opposite direction, and offer an extended 10-year 100,000-mile factory warranty. At a reasonable price. That's Acura's current business model.
  • Carrera 2014 Toyota Corolla with 192,000 miles bought new. Oil changes every 5,000 miles, 1 coolant flush, and a bunch of air filters and in cabin air filters, and wipers. On my 4th set of tires.Original brake pads ( manual transmission), original spark plugs. Nothing else...it's a Toyota. Did most of oil changes either free at Toyota or myself. Also 3 batteries.2022 Acura TLX A-Spec AWD 13,000 miles now but bought new.Two oil changes...2006 Hyundai Elantra gifted from a colleague with 318,000 when I got it, and 335,000 now. It needed some TLC. A set of cheap Chinese tires ($275), AC compressor, evaporator, expansion valve package ( $290) , two TYC headlights $120, one battery ( $95), two oil changes, air filters, Denso alternator ( $185), coolant, and labor for AC job ( $200).
  • Mike-NB2 This is a mostly uninformed vote, but I'll go with the Mazda 3 too.I haven't driven a new Civic, so I can't say anything about it, but two weeks ago I had a 2023 Corolla as a rental. While I can understand why so many people buy these, I was surprised at how bad the CVT is. Many rentals I've driven have a CVT and while I know it has one and can tell, they aren't usually too bad. I'd never own a car with a CVT, but I can live with one as a rental. But the Corolla's CVT was terrible. It was like it screamed "CVT!" the whole time. On the highway with cruise control on, I could feel it adjusting to track the set speed. Passing on the highway (two-lane) was risky. The engine isn't under-powered, but the CVT makes it seem that way.A minor complaint is about the steering. It's waaaay over-assisted. At low speeds, it's like a 70s LTD with one-finger effort. Maybe that's deliberate though, given the Corolla's demographic.
  • Mike-NB2 2019 Ranger - 30,000 miles / 50,000 km. Nothing but oil changes. Original tires are being replaced a week from Wednesday. (Not all that mileage is on the original A/S tires. I put dedicated winter rims/tires on it every winter.)2024 - Golf R - 1700 miles / 2800 km. Not really broken in yet. Nothing but gas in the tank.
  • SaulTigh I've got a 2014 F150 with 87K on the clock and have spent exactly $4,180.77 in maintenance and repairs in that time. That's pretty hard to beat.Hard to say on my 2019 Mercedes, because I prepaid for three years of service (B,A,B) and am getting the last of those at the end of the month. Did just drop $1,700 on new Michelins for it at Tire Rack. Tires for the F150 late last year were under $700, so I'd say the Benz is roughly 2 to 3 times as pricy for anything over the Ford.I have the F150 serviced at a large independent shop, the Benz at the dealership.
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