Chicago 2020: New Engine, Transmission for the 2020 Nissan Frontier

Sometimes in the automotive industry there's news you just have to cheer, and the arrival of a new engine and transmission in the aging Nissan Frontier is one of them. The changes being brought to the short-model-year 2020 edition of the model were unveiled today at the Chicago Auto Show.

Typically, when a product is about to be redesigned, automakers don't make many changes to it. With the Frontier 2020, Nissan is obviously taking a different approach.

New engine
A new 3.8L direct-injection V6 with 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque has been placed between the front wheels, and sends force to the rear axle or all four wheels via a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This is not, to be clear, an evolution of the 4.0L engine used with the model since its debut in 2005, nor is it derived from the 3.8L twin-turbo V6 found in the sporty GT-R.

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Nissan didn't specify whether the new powertrain is designed for a full hybrid or light-hybrid (48-volt) powertrain. There’s no word on a possible move to the larger Titan pickup, either.

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