Pickup trucks
are the workhorses of many car manufacturers, in more ways than one. These trucks drive American sales, and brands have to keep their trucks looking and feeling fresh to meet consumer demands. Nissan is no exception. The 2022 Nissan Frontier will have a much-needed facelift that helps the light-duty truck measure up in the highly-competitive American truck market.
Nissan showed off their concepts at the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show ran from February 12th through the 21st. During that time, everyone had some new to show, but Nissan turned a few heads with their retro-inspired concepts. The Nissan Frontier finally got an update.
Nissan brought three concept trucks based on the 2022 Nissan Frontier. All three trucks were built to different specifications, and for different uses, but they all had the same thing in common. They were built from an improved version of the Nissan Frontier.
CNET
took particular notice of a Hardbody build, which harkened back to off-road racing in the 1980s. This is a throwback to the truck that predates the Nissan Frontier. Officially tagged the D21, the Hardbody truck of the 1980s and 1990s featured a double-walled bed and aggressive styling. The concept Hardbody ran with that same aggressive style. The concept, which is built on a 2022 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SV, has a 3-inch lift, along with adjustable upper control arms and skid plates.
Styling cues include black finishes on much of the trim, including door handles, body fascias, and fenders. Instead of bolt-on steps, the truck features a black step rail. There's a sport bar in the bed along with retro graphics. It's topped off with 17-inch wheels and 33-inch all-terrain tires.
It's a beefy, rugged looking truck that any enthusiast would love to get their hands on.
What updates were made on the 2022 Nissan Frontier?
MORE: Consumer Reports Thinks That the 2022 Nissan Frontier Was 'Worth the Wait'
The 2022 Nissan Frontier is a third generation Frontier. According to CNET
, it's the first generation that is built with the American customer in mind. The exterior styling has been reworked. Blocky, unchanged styling has been replaced with sharp lines. The interior has been revamped as well, with updates made to displays and controls as well as quality of life updates to add both more room and more storage.
With all these updates, and a few others to drivetrain and to safety tech, the Nissan Frontier can compete in a segment of the market that it hadn't been able to in a long time.
The Nissan Frontier hasn't gotten a significant update since 2005, which means this new 2022 model is long overdue. It's a touch ironic that they decided to update with so many retro styling cues, when the Nissan Frontier hasn't had a facelift in so long.
What other concepts did Nissan bring to the Chicago Auto Show?
MORE: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder vs. Kia Telluride: An Upgraded Transmission Isn't Enough For Nissan
Nissan went all in on the retro concept when they unveiled the Project 72X truck. This one is based on the Datsun D20, which was the generation before the more well-known Hardbody, or D21, of the 1980s and 1990s.
It's the more affordable trim level, with a 2.5-inch lift and less striking black trim. It still features the sport bar and the beefy 17-inch wheels, though.
Project Adventure is the third concept build. It's an overland build, which sports an impressive 5" lift, a Yakima bed rack, a rooftop tent, and even a snorkel. It comes with a 50-inch LED light bar, loads of storage, and everything you would need to tackle the backcountry.
The new Nissan Frontier packs a lot of nostalgic punch, no matter which build you prefer. The 2022 Frontier could be the mid-size truck that you've been waiting for, whether you're a Hardbody enthusiast or not.
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