Is this a test truck for an upcoming new 2021 Nissan Frontier? It appears to be a camouflaged Renault Alaskan truck prototype. The latest Renault pickup truck is currently available for sale in the Europe and some other regions. It’s built at the same plant in Spain where the overseas market Nissan Navara is produced. Could the next generation of the Nissan Frontier borrow some of this truck’s design?
2021 Nissan Frontier
The current Nissan Frontier is still maintaining a competitive sales volume, but the midsize truck market in the U.S. is now much more competitive. The Ford Ranger and the Jeep Gladiator are also in the fight against the Toyota Tacoma and the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon. The next Frontier will need to bring many innovations and technology features to have a shot at growing sales.
Renault Alaskan 
Renault Alaskan
The overseas Renault Alaskan is currently using a small Renault turbo-diesel engine. It’s unlikely that Nissan will be able to use this engine in the United States. What will power the next Frontier? We will have to wait to get an official answer.
My guess is the next-gen 2021 Frontier will use Nissan’s newest variable compression turbocharged 2.0-liter gas engine that is currently also available in the new Nissan Altima. The engine is called the VC-Turbo and it’s capable of producing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. In the Infiniti QX50, a version of this 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, Nissan may also go with a totally different engine choice, including a hybrid option.
The next Frontier is also like to offer a base 2.5-liter gas engine as a value proposition.
On the inside, the Frontier may use the latest 9-inch infotainment system that made its debut on the 2020 Nissan Titan and Titan XD. Once again, this is my guess. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 driver assistance technology package is also very likely.
Here is our recent Nissan Frontier vs. Toyota Tacoma comparison.
