Nissan has released a snippet of teaser footage showing off its upcoming Pathfinder concept ahead of its official unveiling at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Barring a facelift in 2010, the Nissan Pathfinder has been soldiering on for the best part of 7 years now and it looks as though Nissan will be previewing its replacement at next month’s NAIAS in Detroit.
From the teaser images and attached video clip (click on the VIDEO tab above the images on this article) that Nissan has provided, it has become clear that the Pathfinder will move away from its rugged, boxy design and adapt a more curvaceous and upmarket appearance that borrows a number of styling cues from the Murano.
The move upmarket also appears to mark a move towards better road manners thanks to the adoption of a unibody platform and independent suspension set-up. Although it has yet to be confirmed, initial reports suggest that the Pathfinder will be underpinned by a modified version of Nissan’s FF-L (Front-engine, Front-wheel drive, Large) platform. Essentially an elongated version of the platform underpinning the current Murano, the FF-L will see the Pathfinder sacrificing a modicum of its off-road ability in favour of more car-like ride and handling characteristics.
The Pathfinder concept (from which a potential production version is unlikely to stray too far) will feature seven seats, plentiful cargo space and a new all-wheel drive system. The production version, should it get the go-ahead, will face stiff competition from the likes of the updated Toyota Fortuner as well as the Chevrolet Trailblazer and its potential Isuzu-badged spin-off.
