Last August, Nissan announced plans to install a Cummins diesel in its replacement for its full-size Titan pickup. While we have to wait till the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to see the 5.0L turbodiesel V8 in the flesh, Nissan recently gave Autoblog a Frontier with a Cummins 2.8L diesel four to check out.
Autoblog says the 2.8L Cummins found in this Frontier test mule is often used “for on- and off-highway applications [like] generators, small earth-moving machines, and large turf-management equipment.” Producing 200 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque and paired to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine offers more than enough power for the Frontier moving but the “… tons of torque and eager throttle response at times overwhelms the ZF gearbox and a ‘ka-chunk’ shift squawks the rear tires,” although they admitted the transmission wasn’t properly sorted out.
This Cummins-powered Frontier would be a direct competitor to the upcoming 2.8L Duramax Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Nissan engineers plan to target 2019 diesel emissions and particulate requirements.
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