Nissan Just Partnered With An Iconic Ford Mustang Tuner To Beat The Ranger Raptor

But if you're expecting something like one of Roush's quasi-factory-supported supercharged Mustangs and Ford F-150s, you're going to be disappointed.

The Nissan Frontier Pro-4X R by Roush is going to get some serious upgrades that will help it chase after a Ford Ranger Raptor, but it will be lagging behind, along with the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. This truck won't get any more power, but it will get a stout suspension system installed.

Roush Performance, founded by racing icon Jack Roush, has been making road cars and trucks faster since 1995. Its supercharged Mustangs, F-150s, and others aren't official Fords, but you can buy them at selected Ford dealers, and they come with factory-like warranties.

Roush Goes Wild On Frontier's Suspension
This one, though, is entirely factory-approved and developed by Roush working together with Nissan. It starts with a standard Pro-4X, and then adds upgrades like the new Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tires. A new suspension lifts the Frontier by two inches. That should give the truck about 10.6 inches of clearance, which is enough to be noticeable (and useful) on the trail.

Next come dampers from Swedish suspension experts Öhlins. That company makes shocks for everything from downhill mountain bikes to Formula 1 cars, and it has plenty of experience with off-road vehicles. The Öhlins 2.0-inch diameter shocks have better damping to control wheel motion on the trail. They also come with external reservoirs so the fluid won't overheat and break down when you're pounding down washboard roads for hours.

New Roush upper control arms keep the suspension geometry intact when you're off-roading, and they help increase front suspension travel, too. The red finish is just for looks, but looks matter when it comes to trucks like this.

Other aesthetic changes include a new 17-inch wheel design and a titanium-color paint finish for the front skid plate and lower front fascia. Inserts in the front grille get the same finish for a more cohesive look. Then, of course, there are Roush badges on the fenders, the grille, and on the tailgate, as well as on the wheel center caps. Of course you need to advertise when Roush is involved.

There aren't many changes on the inside, with the R-embroidered headrests making up both of them. Otherwise, you get the up-level Pro-4X leather seats with red accent stitching and Pro-4X logos.

No, there won't be a blower on this one, something Nissan hasn't done since it built the Frontier with forced induction from 2001-2005, save for the occasional SEMA show truck. The truck will get the 3.8-liter V6 from every other Frontier that makes 310 horsepower and pairs with a nine-speed automatic. It will have low-range 4x4 with a brake-operated limited-slip differential. It's a lot less power than the Ranger Raptor, which makes 405 horsepower from its V6, but it probably won't matter for serious off-road excursions.

One thing this Frontier will deliver that we didn't expect is a bargain. Roush says the truck's price will start from $47,960. A standard Pro-4X with the Premium Package (which includes the leather and sunroof in the images), carries an MSRP of $47,040 for 2025. We've reached out to Nissan to ask more about this pricing discrepancy. We're also not sure exactly when the new truck will go on sale, but expect the Mississippi-built pickup to arrive in the next few months.

Update: The Roush Frontier starts from $47,960. That gets you a Pro-4X with the Convenience package, which would be $43,510 without the extras. You can also add the Premium Package as shown for another $3,080. Expect the Mississippi-built pickup to arrive at stores in the next few months.