New Trucks Maybe Coming Next Year
All right, we’re going to give the some of the rumored trucks some space here. There’s a chance you may see these on the street sometime later next year. Maybe.
2019 Nissan Frontier
It has had the stale, archaic design for years, and we hoped it was going to be a redesign for 2018. Instead, we’ll deal with the boring “most affordable pickup in the United States” for another year. It’s fully expected that, during the 2018 calendar year, we’ll see the brand new 2019 Nissan Frontier. It’s years later than it should be, but it will be welcomed nonetheless.
Like most midsize or compact pickups, the new release is expected to have at least one diesel engine option. It’s not a stretch for the Nissan Frontier, which once used a 2.8-liter diesel in the engine bay. Fancy tech that you see in the Murano and Titan will make its way into the Nissan Frontier. That includes around view monitor, adaptive cruise control and intelligent climate control to state a few.
The Nissan Frontier has staked its claim on true full-frame ruggedness. Combined with Bilstein shocks and the PRO-4X edition, it’s been a good truck despite its age. Should the 2019 Nissan Frontier abandon these foundational components, you can kiss Frontier sales goodbye.
Havelaar Bison
We’re getting futuristic with our new trucks now. This one is going head to head with Tesla. This crazy Canadian startup has successfully developed a fully-electric pickup truck that’s capable of traveling up to 185 miles on a single charge. The Havelaar Bison uses a dual-motor design that creates an all-wheel-drive experience that only uses electric power. And unlike other electric cars, this one has been designed with harsh climate conditions in mind.
It’s not the prettiest truck around, but it sure sounds functional. It’s purely speculation that it will be released in the coming year. The website allows for users to reserve their Havelaar Bison, but there’s no information on pricing, options, or specifications. I’d love to see it actually hit the roads soon, though.
Tesla Model U or Model P
Elon Musk announced earlier this year that he expects a Tesla pickup truck on the road within two years. That means either a 2018 or 2019 model, and it could be the rumored Tesla Model U or Model P.
It’s a unique proposition for the truck market that oh-so-faithfully supports the fossil-fuel suppliers. An electric pickup truck would be a stretch for blue collar America. Will they patiently wait for their truck to recharge, or will they opt for a truck that takes 10 minutes to fuel at the pump?
The argument for performance is intriguing. The truck bed can be deeper because the traditional drive shaft and differential don’t exist to interfere. Electric motors provide more efficient and direct torque. And there are no tailpipe emissions to pollute farmlands. It could offer unparalleled power in a small pickup, perhaps like the Model X’s 259-horsepower front motor and 503-horsepower rear motor.
