Nissan Frontier Cummins Diesel Runner Teases A Bright Future

NoDak

Senior Member
Nissan Frontier Cummins Diesel Runner Teases A Bright Future


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The freshly-unveiled Nissan Frontier Diesel Runner embodies some great ideas that really gets me fired up about the future of trucks: it's small, it's focused on efficiency, and it's being designed with off-road usage in mind.
Regarding whether or not Nissan will actually build it, VP Fred Diaz only offered "We want to see what the public says."
If it does come to life, a Frontier Diesel launch would likely coincide with a new bodystyle as the current Frontier is good n' ripe.
So to all of you who keep *****ing and moaning that the world needs more little trucks (yes, I am among you) now's the chance to post a barrage of comments about what you think of this cute little hauler.
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This "technical study" Frontier Diesel Runner is running a Cummins 2.8 4-cylinder diesel Nissan says will meet or exceed "future emissions standards." Obviously, they mean short-term future.
They're also claiming "nearly 200 HP and over 350 lb ft of torque" and a 35% fuel economy increase over a V6 2WD Frontier.
This Diesel Runner is also 2WD, driven through a ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic transmission. Rear axle is a 3.13.
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What kind of surprised me was Nissan's choice to kit it out like a 2000's-era tuner car. Pretty sure I used to lust over graphics like that as a middle schooler with a stack of Sport Compact Car magazines, and I'm sure that gauge pod on the dash won't be around in a production version.
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The hood, lower front spoiler, and entire bed cover are carbon fiber. Wheels are borrowed from the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X.
Diaz promised they're going to "beat the crap out of the test mule" in the near future, so I have a feeling that carbon will get swapped for something a little cheaper and more robust before this thing gets let out into the wild.
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As for the 5.0 Cummins Titan, Nissan says we'll be waiting another year.
 
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If this ever does go into production, it will probley and sadly be mated to a automatic transmission, because "Americans only like automatics".

Atleast, this Cummins Frontier and the Diesel Colorado may show other companies, *cough* Toyota *cough*, that Americans are interested in midsize pickups with reasonably sized diesel engines, and we may finally get some of the choices that the rest of the world has.

Funny how the "Truck Capitol of the World" has the worst selection of trucks of any other country in the world...even Mexico gets more options then we do....
 
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Oh TRD...

Imagine if the TRD Pro release was a sick little 4-cyl Cummins in a 4runner how excited we'd be. Hopefully Nissan makes this happen and then we get one. I'm not a huge fan of Frontiers, but I'd surely drive that over a Tacoma now.
 
Good engine in an old chassis.

Toyota, are you listening? Nissan would be glad to sell you their engines.

It'd be a better partnership than that retarded sports car you built with Subaru that no one wants to buy.
 
I am with NoDak on this one. I think this is pretty exciting. I'll give props to Fred Diaz for pushing this idea first at Ram and now at Nissan.

I recently got to test drive the Ram 1500 with the Fiat/Chevrolet Diesel in it and I will have to say it was nice. Quiet (does not sound like the sewing machine of old diesels) and the torque is there right off the light (good for towing). My buddy who is a general sales manager at a Dodge dealership said it gets good gas mileage too.

Chevrolet should have had their 2.8 Duramax in the Colorado for 2015, not 2016. They should not have played the waiting game. But at least it is coming.

My brother has a Nissan Frontier basic 4x4. Nice drivetrain but the interior is cheap plastic. Both it and the Titan need a new design, but with diesel engines offered for both, then that change should be forthcoming.
 

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