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Nissan Frontier pickup pops out as new made-in-America truck
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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BALD KNOB, Ark. -- Driving down back routes in a rural region where practical pickups outnumber passenger cars, the new truck from Nissan looks like it belongs on these roads.
It's a sturdy thing, rigged with a strong ladder-type chassis, rugged suspension system and a lively engine that spits out more than enough throttle power. It has a comfortable cabin, and behind the cab there's a big bed that's flexible enough to accommodate a load of gear stacked in twin tiers.
It's also a good-looking little truck.
Flashing a bold front grille underscored by bright chrome bumper, Nissan's pickup reveals flowing lines which sweep rearward in streamlined but muscular fashion, with side bulges evident from black fender flares on the 4x4 and colorful door decals too.
Call this one Frontier, newest nameplate in the stable of Nissan.
The truck, which fits in the compact class and provides both rear-wheel power and 4-wheel-drive plus regular and an extended cab variation, has been extensively reworked over Nissan's preceding pickup in an arrangement that measures longer and wider, contains more standard equipment yet lists for a few hundred less dollars when tallying comparably equipped old and new versions.
Design esthetics and power quotients aside, the price points for Frontier indicate there's good value here.
Nissan, an automaker of worldly scope but originating in Japan, brings the new truck to market at such favorable prices because it skirts the cost of imports by building Frontier in the United States at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., production facility.
It represents the seventh generation of trucks sold in the United States by Nissan and the third series pulled together at the Tennessee assembly plant.
Frontier presents a variety of options for power, trim and traction.
Models commence at the price-leading Standard Frontier configured as regular-size cab with rear-wheel traction mode and engine equipped with manual 5-speed shifter. Frontier's 4x2 issues also include XE Regular Cab and King Cab in XE and SE editions, while 4-wheel-drive Frontiers show up as XE Regular Cab plus King Cab XE or SE.
The brawny exterior styling starts at the composite grille with flanking wrap-around headlamp clusters set atop chrome bumper. This leading edge rakes rearward in aerodynamic concession as lines flow over the rounded hood and up the windshield to a flat cab roof.
Sides, drawn tautly with several shapely contours, emphasize strong horizontal lines sweeping rearward to an aggressive rear end with corner lamps and forceful bumper.
Fender flares become part of the standard exterior treatment for the 4x2 SE version and all 4x4 models.
The back bed, a flat rectangular box stretching more than six feet long and spreading wide to five feet, is also deep -- 17 inches.
Within the bed, Nissan's flexible loading system functions through the installation of partition boards in special slots to create two-tier loading plus three sectional divisions for front, center and rear areas.
Frontier's tailgate can be removed quickly in a simple manual maneuver. Also, it closes easily in a one-hand lift-and-lock operation.
Organization of Frontier begins with a sturdy ladder-type chassis reinforced with strong cross braces to enhance torsional rigidity. The body measures half an inch wider than Nissan's previous pickup, and it's longer -- with 9.7 inches more length for a regular cab and 6.1 inches more for the King Cab.
To the steel platform suspension elements attach, with double wishbone arrangement up front and in the rear a solid axle with leaf spring.
The steering mechanism, using a recirculating ball mechanism, adds power assistance for all models above the 4x2 Standard entry model.
Brakes for the 4x2 include a rear anti-lock system.
When picking the optional 4-wheel-drive system, brakes improve to 4-wheel anti-lock with smart computer capacity that can read road surfaces via special sensors and then modulate brake pressure during bumpy situations with loose traction caused by gravel, sand or road dirt.
Other safety elements include dual airbags, with a key-activated shut-off switch at the passenger's side for installation of a child's seat. The structure was designed with a front crumple zone, protective steel beam in each side door and an energy-absorbing steering column inside.
For the initial models of 1998, only a 4-cylinder engine will be available.
The twin-cam 2.4-liter 4-in-line plant produces 143 hp and combines with either manual 5-speed stick or an automatic 4-speed.
All 4x4 variations get the manual shifter exclusively.
The engine, drastically reworked from Frontier's predecessor truck, has lighter pistons, thinner piston rings and a single timing chain, plus revised valve timing and air intake ducting.
As a result, noise and vibration have dropped substantially, and it behaves with more response, thanks in part to torque skewed low toward slower speeds.
Late in the model-year, Nissan will import a 3.3-liter V6 from the Pathfinder sport-utility wagon and offer it as a power option on Frontier. Boost for the upcoming V6 will increase output to 168 hp.
The 4-wheel-drive system on 4x4 models has as the standard a 2-speed transfer case with high and low ranges for off-road trekking. With top-trim SE King Cab, automatic locking front hubs appear, enabling driver to shift-on-the-fly into 4x4 mode at speeds up to 50 mph.
Frontier's cabin contains the kind of comfortable amenities you'd expect to find in a fine sedan. Bench or bucket seats are available, as covered in vinyl for base model or woven cloth or velour in upgraded trims. The stretched King Cab applies twin side-mounted and side-facing rear jump seats.
Prices for Frontier expand from a base of $11,990 to $21,000 or so for an ultimate 4x4 King Cab SE.
1998 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER Specs |
| Description: |
Compact pickup truck |
| Model Options: |
Compact pickup truck |
| Wheelbase: |
Regular: 104.3 inches
King: 116.1 inches |
| Overall Length: |
Regular: 184.3 inches
King: 196.1 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.4-L I4
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| Transmission: |
4x2: Manual/5, Auto/4
4x4: Manual/5 |
| Drive: |
Rear 4x2, part-time 4x4 |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
4x2 M/5: 22/26 mpg
4x4 M/5: 18/21 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 12,000 to $ 22,000 |
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