The Honda-Nissan merger may have fallen through, however a partnership between the 2 Japanese juggernauts might see Honda lastly supply a standard, body-on-frame rival to the Ford Ranger.
The Nikkei newspaper, through Reuters, experiences Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to provide it with autos produced at its under-utilised Canton, Mississippi plant within the US.
Particularly, Reuters experiences Nissan will construct Honda pickup vehicles at Canton.
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ABOVE: A Nissan Frontier on the Canton, Mississippi plant
This plant presently produces, amongst different fashions, the Frontier pickup. This automobile, launched in 2021, is an evolution of what was bought in Australia because the D40-series Navara, that includes a revised model of its platform however recent styling in and out, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated with a nine-speed automated transmission.
Whereas Honda already has a dual-cab pickup on sale within the US with the Ridgeline, this isn’t solely a lighter-duty unibody ute carefully associated to the Pilot crossover SUV, but in addition one which has been in manufacturing for 9 years.
Honda had previously flagged, throughout aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had a number of “giant class” autos it didn’t have, and was in discussions on the matter.
“So, if perhaps we will alternate a number of the autos, that might even be a profit for us within the quick time period,” stated Honda Motor Firm director and vp Noriya Kaihara in January.
ABOVE: Honda Ridgeline
“Possibly sooner or later, we will co-develop these autos. However within the quick time period, if we’d like we will get a number of the Nissan autos for Honda as properly.”
Media protection on the time indicated Honda was taking a look at getting its personal model of the Nissan Armada (aka Y63 Patrol) and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs, which might slot above its current flagship SUV, the Acura MDX crossover.
However by launching a model of the Nissan Frontier, Honda would lastly have a extra conventional rival to the likes of the top-selling Toyota Tacoma within the US.
Whether or not this might be exported to markets like Australia is unclear, although unlikely. The Nissan Frontier is produced solely in left-hand drive, with our market as an alternative getting the Thai-built, diesel-powered Nissan Navara, a brand new era of which is due by 2027.
Honda has tapped different manufacturers for product earlier than when it didn’t have something appropriate of its personal.
ABOVE: Honda Tourmaster
The Crossroad, bought completely in Japan, was a rebadged Land Rover Discovery and the one V8-powered mannequin ever bought by the model. It was discontinued in 1998.
Extra profitable was the Passport, which lasted for 2 generations within the US market; the second era of this mannequin, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, was bought right here as a Holden Frontera.
Honda’s premium Acura model additionally rebadged the Isuzu Trooper, identified right here because the Holden Jackaroo, dubbing it the SLX. In Japan, this was additionally bought because the Honda Horizon.
The Passport and SLX have been finally changed by Honda-developed SUVs.
Honda has even put its identify on one other firm’s ute, rebadging the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand because the Tourmaster, which was produced from 1996 to 1998.
Whereas all of those aforementioned fashions have been mere rebadges, Honda presently provides the Prologue via its namesake model and the Acura ZDX, that are each primarily based on Normal Motors platforms however characteristic utterly completely different styling in and out.
MORE: Is Honda looking to take on the Toyota LandCruiser with a rebadged Nissan Patrol?
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