2005 Nissan Frontier Preview

And how does it compare with the old truck in overall dimensions? Its wheelbase is 249 mm (9.8 inches) longer than the current Frontier which should provide improved

"With the debut of the all-new Frontier, we're solidifying Nissan's truck presence in both the full-size and compact truck segments," commented Mark McNabb. (Photo: Nissan Canada)

ride comfort and great stability overall. The truck's overall length is now 5,220 mm (205.5 inches), longer than the current model by 66 mm (2.6 inches) in King Cab guise and 142 mm (5.6 inches) for the Crew Cab. While larger, Nissan makes a point that its 2005 Frontier "is not as big as the full-size Titan."

"The award-winning Titan sets the standard for innovation in pickup design, regardless of size - which, in turn, set the tone for the creation of the 2005 Frontier," commented Mark McNabb, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "With the debut of the all-new Frontier, we're solidifying Nissan's truck

The 2005 Frontier's new 250+hp 4.0-L DOHC V6 engine is a considerable step up from the current powerplant. (Photo: Nissan Canada)

presence in both the full-size and compact truck segments - essentially giving buyers the same tough truck in large and extra large."

The new Frontier will be available in King and Crew Cab body configurations, plus rear-wheel drive 4x2 and 4x4 drivelines.

What about the rest of its drivetrain? The Frontier's current generation 3.3-L V6 is already a strong performer, but the new 4.0-L DOHC V6 steps up output with 250-plus horsepower and 270-plus lb-ft of torque. That's an improvement of 70 horsepower and 68 lb-ft of torque over the current normally aspirated 180-hp 3.3-litre V6 with 202 lb-ft of torque.