Nissan Unveils All-New 2005 Xterra in New York City

Powerful New Four-Liter V6 Joins 6-Speed Manual and 5-Speed Auto Transmissions

Nissan unveiled its all-new 2005 Xterra compact sport utility in downtown Manhattan last night, covered in mud and perched high atop a makeshift rocky crag. Two New York "campers" were set up just underneath, tent up and sleeping bags out in the open, while onlookers sipped wine and snacked on appetizers and cheese plates at Morrells Wine Bar & Café just underneath Rockefeller Plaza.

Its the New York International Auto Show once again, a recurring spectacle unlike any other during the calendar year. Automakers reserve this final major event of the season for those special cars, trucks and SUVs that deserve a little extra attention.

The vehicle everyone came to see looks so similar to the full-size Armada SUV, at least at first glance, that most needed a double take to put it into its much smaller perspective. Nissan is making no excuses about giving its trucks and SUVs a familiar familial resemblance, the Xterra being that last to conform since the next-generation Pathfinder was revealed earlier this year.

The Xterras bold grille and masculine front fascia feature all the toughness of its larger siblings, accentuated even further with substantially sized wheel arches front and back. From the rear it continues the rough and tumble appearance package, highlighted with an asymmetrical rear window and tailgate. Altogether the new model incorporates elements of the larger Armada design language, but does a pretty good job of infusing them with current Xterra traits to give it just enough of its own perky personality.

The new Xterra is said to be roomier, as expected, with more utility and greater off-road capability than the outgoing model. Thats impressive, as the current compact SUV is quite handy at gobbling up people and cargo while escorting them from civilization to the wild unknown in relative comfort.

Where the 2005 model improves on the past is, well, just about everywhere. For starters it gets a fully-boxed all-steel frame for a much stiffer structure overall, resulting in better on- and off-pavement handling and more manageable maneuverability, plus higher crash tolerances.

While rear seat riders will notice the "biggest" changes, with regards to head, shoulder and legroom, the larger cargo area includes a washable floor with adjustable channels integrated within.

The upgraded model also gets more power, with a 250+ horsepower 4.0-liter V6 putting out more than 270 lb-ft of torque now available. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or 5-speed electronically controlled automatic.

Its part-time four-wheel drive system remains, which is a good thing as the Xterra is one of the last true 4x4s around. The system includes 2WD mode for fuel economy savings, plus 4H (high) and 4LO (low) for extreme adventure.

Nissan has been working hard to improve its interior plastics quality, with the recently updated Altima sedan being the first fruits of its most recent efforts. The new Xterra looks to be a solid step ahead in this department as well.

The Japanese automaker has scheduled the 2005 Xterra to go on sale in early 2005.