As of January 2011 -

(Inside Line Article)

Nissan Xterra

* 2013 Nissan Xterra: Like the Pathfinder, the Xterra is based on a version of the F-Alpha truck platform that underpins the Frontier and Titan pickups. With major redesigns of those trucks currently underway, the Xterra will most likely undergo minor updates until a full redesign is ready in 2013.


http://www.insideline.com/nissan/future-vehicles.html

Guesses on the redesign? My gut feeling is 3rd Gen = soccer mom edition with a longer wheelbase.

Good find TJ! Five trucks for you!



-G

I'm just taking this to mean they are not killing it off until 2013.

Probably the only sure thing is that it'll be even farther removed from the original "Everything you need, nothing you don't" Xterra.

X 1,000,000

LOL

Yeah, if they do a remake, it would not surprise me if it looks like a bulbous hatchback.


The makers have gone full circle.

They had station wagons back in the day that allowed a family to throw the luggage in the back, and head off on vacation, etc....and they were about as economical as the same sized cars of the day.

Then, some people had the genius to reinvent the volkswagon minibus, and the Minivan was born.....and suddenly, the yuppies swarmed to Chrysler to get minivans.

Minivans ruled the earth until some people looking at trucks but wishing they rode like cars got the genius idea to make trucks more like cars, and SUV's started to get popular.

At first, they were just trucks with AC std and nicer seats, etc....but, then, customers wanted a cushy ride, etc.

So they had ANOTHER burst of inspiration, and took a minivan, and reshaped it to LOOK like an SUV...a la the Mazda MPV.

Well, everyone jumped on THAT, because NOW you can have an SUV that rode like a car...but looked like an SUV....satisfying the need to LOOK like an SUV.

Well, minivan SUV's were popular, but gas was expensive....so, Subaru blew the markets mind by taking a economy car and making the roof taller, and CALLING IT an SUV.

So, now we had a car with a taller roof being an SUV...

...and because it was an "SUV", that meant people could BUY IT, as NOW it was cool.

So, great gas mileage and car - like ride and handling for SUV's was here.

Everyone jumped ON THAT, as all they had to do was take any econo sedan, make the roof taller, and, Presto-Chango, its an SUV!

Then, a funny thing happened...people wanted an SUV that rode and performed like a car, was still an SUV, but wasn't so BOXY.

So, they started making the SUV's swoopier, and, well, not EXACTLY SUV's, but, no WAY did you want to call them station wagons and KILL sales...so, they called them CROSS OVERS....and they flew out the dealer doors.

As gas was still expensive, many sold the SUV's and even cross overs to get economy cars....but, they just don't have enough ROOM in them for luggage for family trips, etc...

What to do, what to DO?





I just saw an ad for a honda accord station wagon on TV last night....

...so, it looks like the circle is completed.

Yep, I'm betting the truck-based Xterra will be gone.

I think with a recovering economy, gas prices will be on the rise again and the target buyer for the Xterra will not be able to afford gas for it unless they lighten it up for better gas mileage.

So how is the Xterra selling now compared to back in 2000?

I'm betting it will "seat seven"

What it needs is to be a TDI, all seats need to be stow-and-go so it can be completely flat on the inside, solid F&R axles, steel roof rack, pre wired for roof and hood outlets/lights (like the snow plow package for large trucks) battery in the back but have plenty of room under the hood for a 2nd, alternator on TOP of the engine!!!, F&R lockers, and at least 33"s all stock. Is that too much to ask? Did I miss anything?