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Nissan 4-Door Frontier Research Vehicle Makes Surprise Appearance at Chicago Auto Show

5 February 1998

Nissan 4-Door Frontier Research Vehicle Makes Surprise Appearance at Chicago Auto Show

    CHICAGO, Feb. 5 -- Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A., a pioneer
in the American truck market, provided a peek into the future today with the
unveiling of a Frontier 4-Door Pickup "research" vehicle.
    The bright red Frontier will be on display at the Nissan exhibit
throughout the 1998 Chicago Auto Show, giving the company a chance to judge
consumer reaction to the truck's full-size, forward hinged rear doors.
    "Nissan essentially created the compact pickup segment in the U.S. in
1959, and has added innovation after innovation, including the creation of the
first extended cab pickup -- the Datsun King Cab -- in 1977," said Tom
Eastwood, vice president, Nissan Division.  "Now we want to gauge public
interest in a new compact pickup configuration, a truck with lots of utility
and a roomy, comfortable family-sized cab."
    The seventh and latest generation Nissan truck, the new 1998 Nissan
Frontier, made its debut just last fall.  The Frontier 4-Door research vehicle
shares the styling of this model.
    "Right now, we're looking closely at the potential demand for such a
model," said Eastwood.  "There's no better place to reach a broad range of
customers than a major auto show like Chicago.  We're anxious-to hear their
reactions."
    The current line of Frontier pickups is available in Regular and King Cab
versions, with a choice of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive models.  All
1998 Frontier trucks are built at Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation
(NMMC) in Smyrna, Tenn.

SOURCE  Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.