Nissan rolled a Frontier concept into SEMA 2026in Las Vegas that aims straight at the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Ford Ranger Raptor. Called the RONIN 4×4, it pairs a twin-turbocharged V6 with a solid-rear-axle suspension setup and 35-inch tires. Whether it reaches production is an open question, but the build sheet reads like a proper off-road halo truck.
Godzilla turbos on a truck engine
The RONIN’s engine is the Frontier’s existing 3.8L VQ38DD V6, rated at 310 horsepower in stock, naturally aspirated form. For this concept, Nissan bolted on rear-mounted turbochargers pulled from the R35 GT-R, the “Godzilla” supercar. Worth noting for Nissan fans: the engine here is the truck’s own VQ38DD, not the GT-R’s VR38DETT, which shares the same displacement. Nissan has not released a horsepower figure for the boosted setup, though output could clear 400 horsepower.
A Frontier that got the Titan treatment
The suspension is where the RONIN separates itself from anything else in the midsize segment. Nissan performed its own “Titan Swap,” combining a wider solid rear axle, a reworked front suspension, and the wheel-and-tire package to stretch the track 12 inches wider than a stock Frontier. The build also sits 4 inches higher. A collaboration with Bilstein produced a custom set of Black Hawk high-performance shocks, which Nissan describes as “M-9400 70-mm 4-way adjustable coilovers with internal hydraulic bump stops, integrated rebound cut-off, individual high and low-speed compression rebound. and bypass damping adjustments.” These are not the Black Hawk e2 semi-active dampers found on the Ram RHO and TRX. The setup allows up to 14 inches of travel, compared with 11.4 inches on the current Ford Ranger Raptor.
Wheels, tires, and brakes
The truck runs prototype NISMO ASCEND 17×9-inch wheels, which are beadlock-capable, wrapped in 35×12.50R17 Yokohama Geolandar X-AT rubber. Stopping power comes from a custom big brake kit: six-piston front calipers clamping slotted 335x32mm two-piece rotors that fully float, slotted and vented 286x18mm rotors out back, stainless lines, and street/track performance pads.