Nismo Brings a V-8 Frontier Off-Road Concept to SEMA

We are days from the start of the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and automakers are already starting to highlight some of the incredible builds slated to join the festivities. Nissan isn't one to disappoint in that regard, and has plans to bring a bevy of highly modified machines to the aftermarket convention this time around. None of the builds are quite as intriguing as the Nismo Off Road Frontier V-8 concept built by Forsberg Racing.

As the name suggests, this concept off-roader is based on Nissan’s mid-size Frontier pickup. From the factory, the Frontier is powered by a 3.8-liter V-6 engine, which provides a sufficient 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. Of course, sufficient never cuts it at the SEMA Show, so Forsberg decided to take things to another level. In place of V-6 now sits a 5.6-liter V-8 engine borrowed from the full-size Titan pickup. In Titan spec, the naturally-aspirated V-8 lays down 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, representing gains of 90 hp and 132 lb-ft, respectively. While that bump in performance is already stout, the team also strapped a NISMO Off Road cold air intake and cat-back exhaust onto the bigger motor. While Nissan hasn’t specified what sort of gains those parts have brought to the build, Frontier owners should already be jealous of the situation under the hood. Nissan also hasn’t specified which gearbox sits behind the shoe-horned V-8, but chances are it retains the same 9-speed automatic as the Titan.

An engine swap alone isn’t what makes this truck an interesting proposition. In order to make the most use of the more potent powertrain, Nissan borrowed quite a bit of hardware from its larger pickup offering. A wider track suspension has been cobbled together with lower control arms, front spindles, wheel hubs and rear axles right off of the Titan. That setup works in tandem with custom upper control arms, custom rear leaf spring packs, and a set of Nismo/Bilstein coilover shocks. That wider track needs to hide behind some bodywork, so the team installed a carbon fiber widebody kit consisting of front fenders, a hood, and new bedside panels. There’s also a Nismo Off Road front bumper, which is a prototype we might see hit the market in the future. Other build highlights include 18-inch NISMO Off Road Axis wheels, prototype rock rails, a prototype in-bed spare tire carrier, Nismo Off Road LEDs, and a Warn winch. You’ll also find additional storage on the roof, thanks to a Nismo Off Road roof rack.