Around the Industry 4WD188 – Part 1

Around the Industry 4WD188 – Part 1

NISSAN NAVARA RESCUE CONCEPT IS FUTURE FRONTIER WE HOPE WE GET

While Nissan have completed the long awaited update to the Titan full-size pickup, we are still a ways off from getting a new Frontier. However the Navara, Nissan’s global mid-size pickup, with strong DNA ties to the North American Frontier, has been redesigned and sold on the world market for over a year now. Considering the similarities between the last generation Navara and the Frontier, one would surmise that the next Frontier would likely mimic the Navara quite closely.

Considering the concept vehicle Nissan recently released based on the Navara, we like what could potentially be coming our way. The EnGuard Rescue Concept was revealed at the Hanover Motor Show and shows a modern Navara with some very attractive modifications to make it more off-road ready. The usual suspects in improved off-road performance include larger, aggressive mud-terrains, fender flares, a 2-in lift, winch, under armour and a ton of LED lights providing 360-degree illumination. Designed as a SAR (search and rescue) vehicle, the addition of cargo drawers, electronics charging and portable power packs also mean this would make a great Overland vehicle. Of course this is just a concept, but hopefully the future Frontier will take some cues.

IS TOYOTA PLANNING AN FJ REPLACEMENT?

While the Toyota FJ Cruiser had its flaws, it never deserved to be tossed aside as it was by the automaker, especially without a proper redesign to help attract new buyers. It was the only vehicle on the market that gave the hugely popular Jeep Wrangler a run for its money. However, for those who wish Toyota to one day bring back a hard-core utilitarian off-roader, we can tell you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Toyota recently filed an application to trademark “Toyota FT-4X” for automobiles and structural parts thereof, suggesting that the company is working on a new off-road, four-wheel-drive model. We know from years past that the “FT” in trademarks stands for Future Toyota and has been used previously with the FT-86 Concept, which eventually became the Scion FR-S and Toyota 86. Likewise, the FT-1 Concept is likely a design exercise for the upcoming Supra. Will the FT-4X be the next Land Cruiser, or just another concept designed to show off what Toyota is capable of? Only time will tell.

FORD SUPER DUTY IS TEXAS TRUCK RODEO TOP TRUCK

Ford trucks earned top honours at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo, with the all-new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty being named “Truck of Texas," the most prestigious award given at the 23rd annual competition. The 2016 Texas Truck Rodeo marks the 13th time the award has been won by Ford F-series pickup trucks.

“ Ford’s all-new 2017 Super Duty and its innovative use of advance materials, as well as improvements in powertrain and features, thoroughly impressed our journalists,” TAWA President Nic Phillips said. “This year’s Texas Truck Rodeo was by far the most competitive in the most categories. More than 70 member journalists put in more than the equivalent of 15 days of driving time in the competing vehicles. After careful evaluation, I believe the results of the competition show just how competitive the truck and utility vehicles are today.”

SAY HELLO TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ X-CLASS MID-SIZE PICKUP

We’ve known for nearly a year now that Mercedes-Benz was working on a mid-size pickup that they hoped to launch in 2017. Our ears always perk up when ever “new mid-size pickup” gets mentioned and our interest was peeked. Well, now we know a whole lot more as Mercedes has pulled the covers off two trucks, the Concept X-CLASS powerful adventurer (seen here) and the Concept X-CLASS stylish explorer. These two concepts based on the Nissan Navara (Frontier… sort of) platforms preview a highly stylized version of the pickup due in dealerships next year.

The Nissan Frontier is one of our favourite (most adventurous) mid-size trucks and we know Mercedes has some great off-road lineage with the G-Class. Mercedes has unfortunately given us no information of the mechanicals, focusing their press release on the design aspects of the truck and proclaiming it a “premium class” truck. However, as it will be built on the Nissan Navara platform, we expect to see the Nissan 2.3L turbo diesel and 2.5L gasoline engines find their way under the hood, maybe even a Mercedes-sourced V-6 for a little extra grunt. The X-Class will be launched in late 2017 in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. No word of any plans to come to Canada at this time.