They're already doing well in the big truck market, so the small trucks won't be hard to defeat!

 

If anyone has driven a Nissan Frontier, that's not a bad little truck either. My dad has a 2016 Frontier crew cab that felt nice, much closer in size to the old Ranger. Not badly priced either. My one complaint about most mid-size trucks is that when you park it next to a full-size, there's not much difference. Not much difference in price either. For example a Colorado compared to a Siverado; hard to tell the differences. And a decently equipped Colorado gets expensive, too!

 

How can you tell what year a Frontier is by looking at it?

Nissan runs body designs for a long time. They sure are priced right compared to most trucks.

 

Apparently Nissan is going to give the Frontier a redesign for 2019. I assume that will include being bumped up to a midsize truck.

There are already spy pictures of the future Frontier on the internet, in case anyone wants to see them.

 

I agree that the current Frontier has been around now for a long time. I think it's over ten years old. But Ford did the same thing with the previous Ranger, aside from differences in the grille it didn't change at all from 2001-2011. When the Ranger was discontinued in 2011 it was still using the same dashboard as a 1995 model.
I've heard the same thing that Nissan is planning a redesign for 2019. Hopefully it won't resemble the current Titan, that is one ugly looking truck!

 

It will most likely be the Navara. I see them here in Texas with Mexican plates.

Will the Nissan Navara NP300 and Mercedes Trucks Come to the USA? [Preview] - The Fast Lane Truck

I read a rumor a few years ago that Nissan was considering bringing back the Hardbody based truck, that is still sold in Mexico, as a stripper fleet truck. Doubt we'll see that, but it's interesting that those are still sold there. I see newer ones on the road here evey once in awhile. It

 

The Mexico market Navara "4 door" was renamed to NP300 Frontier within the last week. NP300 single cab was given a slight increase in HP and TQ for the 2018 model QR25de vs the 2016-17 model. Car like 6spd manual and lower to the ground for easier loading. It has a nice payload as well.
https://www.nissan.com.mx/np300/

In april ,Christian Meunier, senior vice president at Nissan North America during a roundtable discussion at the New York Auto Show. “We’ll do something better than the Navara,” he said, adding that the Navara is a bit more of a lifestyle vehicle, “like a Honda Ridgeline.”

“We like real trucks,” he added.

Link to Auto Guide dot com news article

Next Nissan Frontier Will Be "A Real Truck" » AutoGuide.com News

 

I get confused when I see 6 lug wheels on a Ranger prototype.
Are they using super duty axles?

 

Super Duty uses 8-lug wheels. F-150 has been using 6-lug wheels since 2004. Toyota's and Nissan small trucks were using 6-lug wheels since at least the 90's (although they used 6 smaller lug nuts compared to Ranger and S-10 using 5 larger lugs). As well as the Dodge Dakota. Where have you been? 6-lug is kinda the new industry standard for half-ton pick-ups.

 

Aluminium body like the F150/Super Duty?

 

My guess is Ford HQ is struggling quite a bit with the new Ranger --- wondering just how much they'll cannibalize F Series sales.

 

Aluminum is overhyped -- the ONLY reason Ford has aluminum is one each Alan Mulally -- former Boeing 777 PM who fell in love with aluminum back in his days as Boeing CEO.

Aluminum (its content is being reduced in modern aircraft) is a major problem from a galvanic corrosion point of view -- you place it in or near contact with stainless and the aluminum corrosive rate accelerates..............next to steel (both alum and steel are close in "activity") and you still get CONSIDERABLE galvanic corrosion in corrosive atmospheres/environments.

 

I'm guessing the Ranger will be steel to keep the price down but might have an aluminum or plastic hood (my 2002 E150 had a plastic hood and it was great--no bubbling paint at the edge, and no rust at rock chips).

I had a 1960 Austin Healey a million years ago, and it had steel outer fenders and lower pan riveted/bolted to an aluminum body center cowl...and when the gaskets decomposed, the aluminum would get holes in it full of oxidation "pus" near the junctions, so yes, Ford has to do it right where they join aluminum and steel.

George

 

Interesting thought...................

When I was price shopping, any Silverado that was a crew cab (big four doors, not the little small rear doors) with a 6.5ft bed was a minimum of $42K for an LT verison.

My Colorado ran me $31,800 for a Crew Cab 6.2ft box in an LT v6.

Too me thats a big difference in price. I actually did not enjoy the Silverado's when I test drove them. I really wanted to like them. I also gave Ford a shot with the F-150, but I couldn't find a 5.0 v8 in the price range I was looking. And the Eco Boost was NOT an option for me, no thank you to the turbo's.

----------------------------------

F350 1990 mentioned they think that Ford may be struggling with the new Ranger.


What struggles do you think they are having? Production?

 

I kinda like what Chevrolet has done with the new Colorado. Not totally sold on it yet, though. The price still seems high to me, but then I'm just a stingy old man who refuses to part with his money!
I have not driven a Colorado yet, but I did sit in one. If your truck is 4wd then the price is sounding more reasonable. I think Ford is insane with the pricing on the F-150. An XLT 4x4/5.0 the way I want it is close to $45k. I'm with you in your lack of love for the Ecoboost engines.
My next truck is going to be whatever older Ranger or S10 I can get for under $10,000; maybe even $5,000. I don't need a fancy new truck to make me look important!