It’s SEMA Season Again
On face value, the Specialty Equipment Market Association doesn’t sound like much, but if you say it as SEMA, that’s when it catches the attention of enthusiasts. For over 40 years, the SEMA show has showcased some of the latest aftermarket parts, but also showcased some of the best builds and has become a platform for automakers to let their hair down a bit. This year is no exception, of course.
A good number of carmakers have joined the show. Nissan is one of the many, and it has brought three builds for the occasion. There’s the Frontier Ronin Concept, the Armada Jungle Patrol Concept, and the Pathfinder XE-V6 Concept. There’s a good number to cover, so we’ll kick things off with the Pathfinder.
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A D21 Tribute
The Nissan Pathfinder changed quite a lot over the years. It started as a Hardbody pickup-based SUV in the ’80s, then became a unibody in the ’90s that still retained truck suspension. After that, it reverted to a truck-based SUV in the 2000s, this time being based on the Frontier, and now, it’s a crossover.
The current Pathfinder is a decent choice in its class, but we wouldn’t really call it an off-roader by any means. Sure, there’s the Rock Creek Edition, but the trim gives more traction on the rough stuff thanks to all-terrains, and nothing really more. It’s a far cry from the D21 from over 40 years ago, having a completely different set of priorities.
Still, that didn’t stop Nissan from looking back to build a special one-off model. Simply called the XE-V6, it nods to one of the slightly lower trims of the original Pathfinder. While that sounds odd, the XE-V6 was the no-nonsense trim that had enough creature comforts at the time but still retained its ruggedness for not much money.
Nissan
What’s Been Done to it?
The most obvious change that’s been done to it is the suspension. It’s a four-inch lift kit that’s a custom job, while spacers allow the chunky mud-terrain tires to poke out of the body that little bit more. The front and rear bumpers are a custom job, too, along with the rock sliders.
While no longer a frame-based SUV, the XE-V6 moniker still applies somewhat, as the current Pathfinder still sports a V6 engine. That said, it’s been left untouched, but it has a prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust system. No off-roader build would be complete without the accessories that come along with it, so there are driving lights and a roof rack, plus a spare tire carrier, winch, and underbody protection.
The original XE-V6 was offered with a graphics package, and that’s what this SEMA build tries to capture. Those old enough to remember will recall those stickers on the sides of some Pathfinders, and Nissan did a good job bringing it to the 2020s.
Nissan
It’s Cool and All, But…
It’s pretty neat that Nissan finds ways to introduce more fun concepts, but we can’t help but wonder about the future Frontier-based Pathfinder that’s coming soon. We’re not saying that this concept isn’t cool, but our brains imagine an even more rugged and squared-off SUV with such upgrades fitted.
Perhaps it’s a preview of what we can expect from the truck-based Pathfinder and Xterra in terms of customization. That said, those models are still a few years away, but if Nissan is whetting our appetites for those SUVs as early as now, consider us excited.
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About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor