2004 Detroit Auto Show: Nissan Debuts All-New 2005 Frontier Pickup, Pathfinder SUV and Nissan Actic Concept

DETROIT--Jan. 5, 2004--Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today unveiled the all-new class redefining 2005 Frontier compact truck and the all-new 2005 Pathfinder sport utility vehicle (SUV) at a press conference at the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Both vehicles are scheduled to go on sale late this year as 2005 models. Also making its debut at NAIAS was the Nissan Actic concept vehicle, a dramatic "content rich" small crossover sport utility vehicle design exercise.

"We're keeping the new product introductions coming in 2004 and the unveiling of three all-new vehicles here in Detroit gets us started on the right foot," said Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "The all-new 2005 Frontier and Pathfinder are ready to raise the bar in their segments once again and the Nissan Actic is a concept car that truly propels design and technology to a whole new level."

2005 Nissan Frontier

Following the recently introduced Nissan Titan full-size pickup, the all-new, larger, more powerful Nissan Frontier is poised to lead the way in the compact truck market.

The third generation Frontier, which is offered in both King Cab and Crew Cab body configurations, shares a number of significant features with the award-winning Titan, including its innovative spray-in bedliner and Utili-track(TM) bed channel tie-down system, rugged truck styling and fully boxed, all-steel frame based on the Titan "F-Alpha" platform.

Like Titan, the new Frontier is designed to deliver exceptional levels of acceleration, handling and braking, towing capacity and off-road capability. The Frontier features a newly designed 4.0-liter DOHC V6 rated at 250-plus horsepower and 270-plus lb-ft of torque and a choice of 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive with advanced off-road technology. The new engine is part of the acclaimed Nissan VQ engine series utilized in the Nissan 350Z, Maxima, Altima, Murano and Quest. A base King Cab model with an inline 4-cylinder engine also will be available.

The 2005 Frontier, like the previous generations, will be assembled at Nissan's award winning manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. The Frontier King Cab and Frontier Crew Cab are scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in winter 2004.

2005 Pathfinder

The all-new 2005 Nissan Pathfinder returns to its roots as a powerful, authentic family adventure-enhancing sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a larger interior, three-row seating, a new 4.0-liter V6 and an all-new platform based on the "F-Alpha" platform utilized on the full-size Pathfinder Armada and full-size Titan pickup.

The 2005 Pathfinder features independent double-wishbone front and rear suspension, standard 4.0-liter engine rated at 250-plus horsepower and 270-plus lb-ft of torque, and a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. Pathfinder is available as a 4x2, or 4x4 with an advanced off-road traction system.

The addition of a standard 3rd row seat gives the new Pathfinder 7-passenger seating, along with outstanding passenger/cargo flexibility. The split fold-down 2nd and 3rd row seats can be folded down individually, combining with the fold-down front passenger seat to provide 64 different seating/cargo configurations.

Advanced safety technology features include Zone Body Construction, Nissan's Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), and available roof-mounted supplemental curtain air bags for side impact and rollover protection to outboard passengers in all three rows.

The new Pathfinder will be assembled at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. It is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in fall 2004.

Nissan Actic Concept Vehicle

The Nissan Actic is a "content rich" design exercise created by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA) in La Jolla, Calif. It combines a simple, confident exterior form with flexible, modular seating and a unique "digital canvas" interior.

Actic makes a visionary statement from Nissan about how vehicle owners will approach technology in the future. In place of traditional content-heavy vehicle control systems that become outdated immediately, Actic's handheld "key fob"-based Information Technology (IT) system allows the user to "grow" the interface with infinite flexibility and updateability. Actic provides nearly unlimited opportunities for its users to explore and challenge the relationship between exterior and interior environments and to introduce elements of personalization by projecting video displays on a series of six roof-mounted flat LCD screens.

Other Actic innovations include dual sliding side doors, a "cross trainer"-style wheel and tire design (patent pending) with tread-wrapped 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and a versatile, matching trailer with inflatable walls that converts to a comfortable sleeping space for three.