New 2001 Nissan Frontier Lineup Previewed at Chicago Auto Show
10 February 2000
New 2001 Nissan Frontier Lineup Previewed at Chicago Auto Show; Changes Include Aggressive New Styling and Supercharged V6 CHICAGO, Feb. 9 -- The popular Nissan Frontier compact truck
lineup receives a dramatic new appearance, interior upgrades and the addition
of a range of new factory-installed supercharged V6 models for the upcoming
2001 model year. The new Frontier line, which goes on sale at Nissan
retailers nationwide in late summer, was previewed recently at the Chicago
Auto Show.
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The radically redesigned 2001 Frontier offers 14 different models,
including Regular Cab, King Cab, Crew Cab and Desert Runner and three trim
levels, giving buyers the ability to choose a truck that perfectly fits their
needs and budget.
The Frontier's new exterior, created at Nissan Design International, Inc.,
in La Jolla, Calif., offers a simple, tough, "machine" aesthetic with a
powerful front grille and bumper, tall hoodline, oversized headlights and
large fender flares featuring visible divot holes and bolts which hold the
fender flares to the body. Additional enhancements include new fog lamps
(adopted from the 2000 Maxima), new tailgate cover and standard tailgate lock.
For the interior, a new instrument cluster with reversible gauges has been
added, along with new seat fabric (optional leather on supercharged models and
SE Crew Cab), new steering wheel and enlarged knobs and switches. Cruise
control switches have now been located on the steering wheel and a new lineup
of audio systems, including an available in-dash 6-disc CD changer, has been
added.
Along with Regular Cab and King Cab models, the 2001 Frontier line
continues to offer Crew Cab and Desert Runner models.
Introduced as a 2000 model, the Frontier Crew Cab was the first compact
truck with four full-size forward-hinged doors offered for sale in the United
States. It is available in 4-wheel and 2-wheel drive. The 4x2 Desert Runner
is a V6 King Cab compact truck that features the same heavy duty chassis, ride
height and stance as the rugged Frontier 4x4 V6.
In addition to a choice of a 143-horsepower 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder
and 170-horsepower 3.3-liter SOHC V6, a new factory-installed supercharged
version of the 3.3-liter V6 will be offered in select 4x4 and 4x2 models
called SC. The new supercharged engine produces an estimated 210 horsepower
and 240 ft-lbs of torque. Additional details on the supercharged V6 will be
available closer to its late fall 2000 on-sale date.
The full range of 14 2001 Frontier models is outlined below:
2.4-liter 4-cyl. 3.3-liter V6 3.3-liter Supercharged V6
XE Regular Cab 4x2 Desert Runner XE 4x2 Desert Runner SC 4x2
XE King Cab 4x2 Desert Runner SE 4x2 SC-V6 King Cab 4x4
XE-V6 King Cab 4x4 SC-V6 Crew Cab 4x2
SE-V6 King Cab 4x4 SC-V6 Crew Cab 4x4
XE-V6 Crew Cab 4x2
XE-V6 Crew Cab 4x4
SE-V6 Crew Cab 4x2
SE-V6 Crew Cab 4x4
Frontier XE Regular Cab 4x2
The 2001 Frontier model lineup begins with the XE Regular Cab 4x2 model.
It features a 143-horsepower DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with an
electronic multi-point fuel injection system, rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed
manual transmission.
An independent double wishbone front suspension with stabilizer bar and
rear rigid axle with multi-leaf springs provides car-like handling and ride,
while the power-assisted front vented disc/rear drum brake system with
standard rear anti-lock brakes offers secure braking control.
Other standard equipment includes 15-inch styled steel wheels with Bright
Silver Sparkle paint, 225/70R15 all-season steel-belted tires, rear step
bumper, woven cloth bench seat, LCD odometer with two trip meters, tinted
glass, full carpeting, cupholder, power-assisted steering, dual outside
mirrors and 3,500-pound towing capacity (manual transmission).
Standard safety equipment includes supplemental front dual air bags with a
passenger-side air bag shut-off switch, front crumple zone, energy-absorbing
steering column, hood buckling creases, pipe-style steel side-door guard beams
and a 3-point ALR/ELR seat belt system with seat belt pretensioners. Regular
Cab XE 4x2 is available with automatic transmission, air conditioning, Sport
Package and Value Truck Package.
Frontier XE King Cab 4x2
The popular King Cab (Nissan created the original extended cab compact
truck in 1977) comes standard with a 60/40 split bench seat and carries all of
the added equipment found on XE Regular Cab, along with additional seating for
two passengers in the fold-down rear jump seats. Frontier XE King Cab 4x2 is
available with a choice of 5-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic
transmission.
To offer customers an easy way to order the Frontier they want, a number
of value-oriented packages are available on the XE King Cab 4x2 model. Among
the choices are automatic transmission, Sport Package, Value Truck Package and
Power Package.
Frontier King Cab 4x4
The Frontier King Cab 4x4 is available in three different models -- XE, SE
and SC. XE and SE models come standard with a 3.3-liter V6 engine and the SC
model features the factory-installed supercharged engine.
All XE models feature 15-inch styled steel wheels with P265/70R15 tires,
auto locking hubs, woven cloth bucket seats and dual black outside mirrors and
a center console with cup holders.
Adding to the XE model, the sporty SE come standard with 16-inch wheels
with P265/70R16 tires, dual body-color outside mirrors, sliding rear tinted
window, privacy glass, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and
shift knob, fog lamps and variable intermittent windshield wipers.
Besides the supercharged engine, all SC models come with 17-inch aluminum
alloy wheels with P265/55R17 tires, body-color fender flares, knit bucket
seats, 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system and titanium-colored gauges.
Many option packages are available on the 4x4 King Cab models including
4-speed automatic transmission, limited-slip differential, Value Truck Package
(XE), Power Package (XE and SE), Sport Package (XE, standard on SE) and
Leather Package (SC).
Frontier Desert Runner
Frontier Desert Runner is built on the heavy-duty 4-wheel drive Frontier
chassis, giving the 2-wheel drive the same rigidity, ride height, ground
clearance and tough look as the 4-wheel drive model. Standard equipment on
Frontier Desert Runner is the SOHC 3.3-liter V6 engine, and, at roughly 500
pounds lighter than a 4x4 Frontier King Cab V6, Desert Runner offers the best
power-to-weight ratio of any Frontier pickup. Additionally, a supercharged
3.3-liter V6 engine, which produces an estimated 210 horsepower and 240 ft-lbs
of torque, is available with the Desert Runner SC.
Similar to the 4x4 Frontier V6 models, the new Desert Runner is equipped
with standard P265/70R15 tires (XE), P255/65R16 tires (SE) or P265/55R17 (SC),
fender flares, skid plates for the engine and fuel tank, a full-size spare and
4-channel, 4-sensor 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
All Frontier Desert Runners are King Cabs and are available with a 5-speed
manual or 4-speed electronically controlled overdrive automatic transmission.
Special badging distinguishes Desert Runner from other Frontier models.
Desert Runner is available in XE, SE or SC models with many option
packages available, including the Value Truck Package (XE), Sport Package
(XE), Power Package (XE and SE) and Leather Package (SC). A limited-slip
differential is offered on SE and SC models as a stand-alone option.
Frontier Crew Cab
Frontier Crew Cab's exterior was designed to be user friendly, as well as
reinforce the inherent toughness and dependability of the Frontier model.
Four real doors, combined with the rugged look of the Frontier, offer a
stylish statement and effectively combine the practicality of an SUV with the
open-bed utility of a pickup truck.
All Frontier Crew Cabs are built on the heavy-duty 4-wheel drive Frontier
chassis, giving the 2-wheel drive the same rigidity, ride height and ground
clearance as the 4-wheel drive pickup.
Four real doors allow up to five passengers to enter the vehicle with
ease. The bed is about 20 inches shorter than the standard Frontier, but
within 15 percent of the volume of many competitive extended cab model beds.
An optional bed extender enlarges the Crew Cab bed length, rivaling the
competition's extended cab beds.
The interior of the Frontier Crew Cab combines the comfort and convenience
of the current Frontier pickup with many qualities of a sedan. Crew Cab
offers provisions for the installation of a child safety seat in the rear
passenger area, something lacking in today's extended cab compact truck
market.
Standard equipment on Frontier Crew Cab is the SOHC 3.3-liter V6 engine,
with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed electronically controlled overdrive automatic
transmission and a 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive driveline. Also offered is the
factory-installed supercharged engine.
All Frontier Crew Cabs come standard with a 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS), actuating on the front disc and rear drum brakes.
Also standard is air conditioning, privacy glass on the rear door windows
and back glass, rear window defogger, 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system and
heavy-duty skid plates.
Optional on XE is the Deluxe Package, Sport Package and Power Package.
Optional on SE and SC is the Utility Package, Sport Package, Power Package,
Leather Package and Sunroof.
Frontier Crew Cab can be equipped in a variety of ways to maximize the
utility and flexibility of the vehicle, including a tubular-style heavy-duty
roof rack, a first among compact trucks. This rack can be fitted with
Yakima(R) designed attachments to carry skis, snowboards or mountain bikes
while still preserving full use of the bed. Additionally, a variety of
accessories help enhance bed utility such as a Bed Extender and a bed-mounted
bike rack.
