http://www.motor1.com/news/63013/nissan ... irst-time/

It's wearing the back half of the old Pathfinder/Terrano, but clearly this is a test for something new.

This is not a surprising move from Nissan, as all the other manufacturers with midsize pickups are building SUV variants that share unmodified frames (i.e., not shortened like the Xterra). Toyota has the Hilux/Land Cruiser Prado/4Runner and arguably Tacoma, Chevy has the Colorado and Holden Colorado 7, Ford has the Ranger and Everest. These new SUVs are, of course, body on frame, but with the longer wheelbases they can seat 7 with a cramped folding row in the cargo area - think current 4Runner, 05-13 Pathfinder, 02-10 Explorers and Mountaineers.

What will they call this one? The Nissan Terrano has historically been the overseas name for the Pathfinder, which is historically the direct SUV variant of the Navara/Fronty (not the case anymore). Right now, Terrano is used to sell the 13+ unibody Pathfinders in Europe, as well as the Dacia Duster-based crossover in Russia and India. On the other hand, Terrano has been used to sell three distinct vehicle lines - Pathfinders, the unique Terrano II (which was a fun-size Patrol), and the aforementioned Duster-Terrano - so who knows. Maybe they'll can the unibody Pathy in favor of this!

If this new SUV is considered a descendent of the Xterra, it might pick up the Roniz/Paladin moniker used in Asian markets (a variant of the 1st gen is still sold overseas under those names). Or, we see the rebirth of the Xterra name as it goes global; second gens are sold in the Middle East and South/Central Americas under that name, so it doesn't have much farther to reach. Or, we'll get a totally different name, but still a spiritual successor to the X.

What do you guys think?