Does automatically closing the doors equal party time off-road? She has to Jeep for decades. Now Nissan wants to enjoy the outdoors, at least in an aftermarket way. The automaker took border And I turned it into something you can actually use to explore boundaries. Say hello to the fast runner.
It may not be as “fast” as Chris Forsberg’s Racing Patrol, but the Frontier Rapid Runner is a beast ready to play on any track you throw it at. Nissan is starting the party by seriously updating the underpinnings of this small car. The team borrows larger suspension parts from the larger Titan and swaps them across the entire Titan’s rear axle. This Frontier stands taller thanks to a two-inch body lift, custom Bilstein components, and massive 37-inch tires.
Nissan equips the Rapid Runner with typical Nismo wheels – 17-inch rollers wrapped in 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar mud terrains. That’s a lot of rubber for a midsize pickup, and should make climbing and maneuvering over road obstacles feel as comfortable as a summer breeze.
I mentioned outdoor driving, and you can tell the Rapid Runner loves being outside. The truck ditches its traditional doors in favor of tubular-style doors because Nissan isn’t content with letting Wrangler owners have all the dusty fun. Don’t worry about dirt, the interior is equipped with waterproof seat covers, and Nissan covers the floor and cabin for protection.
Photo by: Nissan
Overseas, Nissan equips the Frontier to haul your adventure gear. The long bed rack is paired with a low-profile roof rack, and they line up well to keep the truck’s design from veering into goofy territory. The roof rack adds side lighting and a forward-facing light bar, which is always a bonus when you’re out of reach of the glare of nearby street lights.
At the top, you have enough space to store up to four kayaks. The bed features a complete storage system with sliding drawers. You won’t need power because the truck has an array of NISMO solar panels. However, I’m curious to know if those solar panels are located underneath the kayak. This means that you will do your best to charge when you are floating in the river. However, the truck has a set of batteries, so you’ll be fine.
You’ll feel good after your river cruise, too. The Rapid Runner has a Nismo shower kit attached to the bed rack.
Photo by: Nissan
Finally, this SEMA build looks ready and truly ready to go off the beaten track. Sturdy front and rear bumpers? Checks. Nismo snorkel for crossing water? Checks. Wider fenders to cover rolling stock? Checks. And the Bilstein/Titan suspension cocktail reads like a recipe for off-road success.
I believe Nismo will offer (or already does) many of these parts to Nissan owners as add-ons. Your local dealer probably won’t replace the Titan’s rear axle unfortunately. But seeing how good the Frontier looks on the ’37 should leave owners wondering how to pull off a similar setup. Checking some of the Frontier forums, it appears that the most ardent fans have been swapping Titan parts for a while.
Nissan is catching up with enthusiasts’ passion, and that’s a good thing.
