Aside from the addition of the Frontier SVE (Supercharged Value Edition), Nissan has redefined the term 'innovation' when it comes to compact pickups with the newcomer, the Frontier Open Sky.
"Open Sky" models incorporate a sliding retractable rooftop (much like that of the old Mini Coopers) on the Crew Cab body. Once again, we are seeing signs of the average work-horse pickup truck fading into history with the oncoming of the daily-driver variety. Not only can you now carry your immediate family in your truck, but also have the vaulted ceiling freedom formerly only found on cars with huge moonroofs, or convertibles. To futher add to the car-like truck ideology, Nissan will also make the Vehicle Dynamic Control and Tire Pressure Monitor systems available. I suppose the name 'Frontier' has more to it than just a feeling of raw nature; this little pickup really IS scouting the uncharted technological territory for other trucks to follow.
It will be interesting to hear what the critics have to say about the new roof--will it be affected by aerodynamics at high speed, when either open or closed? Will it provide adequate security from forced entry or suffer like some convertibles do? Hell, can you take the whole thing off as is the case with some aftermarket slide/retracting roofs? How about affecting headroom? From the looks of it, the design seems to be a safe bet, but we will all know in due time. The Open Sky will be available this Fall as a 2003 model.
03-15-2002, 07:24 AM
