Is Honda planning a proper ladder-frame ute to take on the Ford Ranger?
The Nikkei newspaper, via Reuters, reports Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with vehicles produced at its under-utilised Canton, Mississippi plant in the US.
Specifically, Reuters reports Nissan will build Honda pickup trucks at Canton.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
ABOVE: A Nissan Frontier at the Canton, Mississippi plant
This plant currently produces, among other models, the Frontier pickup. This vehicle, launched in 2021, is an evolution of what was sold in Australia as the D40-series Navara, featuring a revised version of its platform but fresh styling inside and out, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
While Honda already has a dual-cab pickup on sale in the US with the Ridgeline, this is not only a lighter-duty unibody ute closely related to the Pilot crossover SUV, but also one that has been in production for nine years.
Honda had previously flagged, during aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had several "large class" vehicles it didn't have, and was in discussions on the matter.
"So, if maybe we can exchange some of the vehicles, that would also be a benefit for us in the short term," said Honda Motor Company director and vice president Noriya Kaihara in January.
ABOVE: Honda Ridgeline
"Maybe in the future, we can co-develop those vehicles. But in the short term, if we need we can get some of the Nissan vehicles for Honda as well."
Media coverage at the time indicated Honda was looking at getting its own version of the Nissan Armada (aka Y63 Patrol) and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs, which would slot above its existing flagship SUV, the Acura MDX crossover.
But by launching a version of the Nissan Frontier, Honda would finally have a more traditional rival to the likes of the top-selling Toyota Tacoma in the US.
Whether this would be exported to markets like Australia is unclear, though unlikely. The Nissan Frontier is produced only in left-hand drive, with our market instead getting the Thai-built, diesel-powered Nissan Navara, a new generation of which is due by 2027.
Honda has tapped other brands for product before when it didn't have anything suitable of its own.
ABOVE: Honda Tourmaster
The Crossroad, sold exclusively in Japan, was a rebadged Land Rover Discovery and the only V8-powered model ever sold by the brand. It was discontinued in 1998.
More successful was the Passport, which lasted for two generations in the US market; the second generation of this model, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, was sold here as a Holden Frontera.
Honda's premium Acura brand also rebadged the Isuzu Trooper, known here as the Holden Jackaroo, dubbing it the SLX. In Japan, this was also sold as the Honda Horizon.
The Passport and SLX were eventually replaced by Honda-developed SUVs.
Honda has even put its name on another company's ute, rebadging the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand as the Tourmaster, which was produced from 1996 to 1998.
While all of these aforementioned models were mere rebadges, Honda currently offers the Prologue through its namesake brand and the Acura ZDX, which are both based on General Motors platforms but feature completely different styling inside and out.
MORE: Is Honda looking to take on the Toyota LandCruiser with a rebadged Nissan Patrol?
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Honda-Nissan merger may have fallen through, but a partnership between the two Japanese juggernauts could see Honda finally offer a traditional, body-on-frame rival to the Ford Ranger.
The Nikkei newspaper, via Reuters, reports Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with vehicles produced at its under-utilised Canton, Mississippi plant in the US.
Specifically, Reuters reports Nissan will build Honda pickup trucks at Canton.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
ABOVE: A Nissan Frontier at the Canton, Mississippi plant
This plant currently produces, among other models, the Frontier pickup. This vehicle, launched in 2021, is an evolution of what was sold in Australia as the D40-series Navara, featuring a revised version of its platform but fresh styling inside and out, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
While Honda already has a dual-cab pickup on sale in the US with the Ridgeline, this is not only a lighter-duty unibody ute closely related to the Pilot crossover SUV, but also one that has been in production for nine years.
Honda had previously flagged, during aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had several "large class" vehicles it didn't have, and was in discussions on the matter.
"So, if maybe we can exchange some of the vehicles, that would also be a benefit for us in the short term," said Honda Motor Company director and vice president Noriya Kaihara in January.
ABOVE: Honda Ridgeline
"Maybe in the future, we can co-develop those vehicles. But in the short term, if we need we can get some of the Nissan vehicles for Honda as well."
Media coverage at the time indicated Honda was looking at getting its own version of the Nissan Armada (aka Y63 Patrol) and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs, which would slot above its existing flagship SUV, the Acura MDX crossover.
But by launching a version of the Nissan Frontier, Honda would finally have a more traditional rival to the likes of the top-selling Toyota Tacoma in the US.
Whether this would be exported to markets like Australia is unclear, though unlikely. The Nissan Frontier is produced only in left-hand drive, with our market instead getting the Thai-built, diesel-powered Nissan Navara, a new generation of which is due by 2027.
Honda has tapped other brands for product before when it didn't have anything suitable of its own.
ABOVE: Honda Tourmaster
The Crossroad, sold exclusively in Japan, was a rebadged Land Rover Discovery and the only V8-powered model ever sold by the brand. It was discontinued in 1998.
More successful was the Passport, which lasted for two generations in the US market; the second generation of this model, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, was sold here as a Holden Frontera.
Honda's premium Acura brand also rebadged the Isuzu Trooper, known here as the Holden Jackaroo, dubbing it the SLX. In Japan, this was also sold as the Honda Horizon.
The Passport and SLX were eventually replaced by Honda-developed SUVs.
Honda has even put its name on another company's ute, rebadging the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand as the Tourmaster, which was produced from 1996 to 1998.
While all of these aforementioned models were mere rebadges, Honda currently offers the Prologue through its namesake brand and the Acura ZDX, which are both based on General Motors platforms but feature completely different styling inside and out.
MORE: Is Honda looking to take on the Toyota LandCruiser with a rebadged Nissan Patrol?
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Honda-Nissan merger may have fallen through, but a partnership between the two Japanese juggernauts could see Honda finally offer a traditional, body-on-frame rival to the Ford Ranger.
The Nikkei newspaper, via Reuters, reports Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with vehicles produced at its under-utilised Canton, Mississippi plant in the US.
Specifically, Reuters reports Nissan will build Honda pickup trucks at Canton.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
ABOVE: A Nissan Frontier at the Canton, Mississippi plant
This plant currently produces, among other models, the Frontier pickup. This vehicle, launched in 2021, is an evolution of what was sold in Australia as the D40-series Navara, featuring a revised version of its platform but fresh styling inside and out, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
While Honda already has a dual-cab pickup on sale in the US with the Ridgeline, this is not only a lighter-duty unibody ute closely related to the Pilot crossover SUV, but also one that has been in production for nine years.
Honda had previously flagged, during aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had several "large class" vehicles it didn't have, and was in discussions on the matter.
"So, if maybe we can exchange some of the vehicles, that would also be a benefit for us in the short term," said Honda Motor Company director and vice president Noriya Kaihara in January.
ABOVE: Honda Ridgeline
"Maybe in the future, we can co-develop those vehicles. But in the short term, if we need we can get some of the Nissan vehicles for Honda as well."
Media coverage at the time indicated Honda was looking at getting its own version of the Nissan Armada (aka Y63 Patrol) and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs, which would slot above its existing flagship SUV, the Acura MDX crossover.
But by launching a version of the Nissan Frontier, Honda would finally have a more traditional rival to the likes of the top-selling Toyota Tacoma in the US.
Whether this would be exported to markets like Australia is unclear, though unlikely. The Nissan Frontier is produced only in left-hand drive, with our market instead getting the Thai-built, diesel-powered Nissan Navara, a new generation of which is due by 2027.
Honda has tapped other brands for product before when it didn't have anything suitable of its own.
ABOVE: Honda Tourmaster
The Crossroad, sold exclusively in Japan, was a rebadged Land Rover Discovery and the only V8-powered model ever sold by the brand. It was discontinued in 1998.
More successful was the Passport, which lasted for two generations in the US market; the second generation of this model, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, was sold here as a Holden Frontera.
Honda's premium Acura brand also rebadged the Isuzu Trooper, known here as the Holden Jackaroo, dubbing it the SLX. In Japan, this was also sold as the Honda Horizon.
The Passport and SLX were eventually replaced by Honda-developed SUVs.
Honda has even put its name on another company's ute, rebadging the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand as the Tourmaster, which was produced from 1996 to 1998.
While all of these aforementioned models were mere rebadges, Honda currently offers the Prologue through its namesake brand and the Acura ZDX, which are both based on General Motors platforms but feature completely different styling inside and out.
MORE: Is Honda looking to take on the Toyota LandCruiser with a rebadged Nissan Patrol?
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Honda-Nissan merger may have fallen through, but a partnership between the two Japanese juggernauts could see Honda finally offer a traditional, body-on-frame rival to the Ford Ranger.
The Nikkei newspaper, via Reuters, reports Nissan has commenced discussions with Honda to supply it with vehicles produced at its under-utilised Canton, Mississippi plant in the US.
Specifically, Reuters reports Nissan will build Honda pickup trucks at Canton.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
ABOVE: A Nissan Frontier at the Canton, Mississippi plant
This plant currently produces, among other models, the Frontier pickup. This vehicle, launched in 2021, is an evolution of what was sold in Australia as the D40-series Navara, featuring a revised version of its platform but fresh styling inside and out, and a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
While Honda already has a dual-cab pickup on sale in the US with the Ridgeline, this is not only a lighter-duty unibody ute closely related to the Pilot crossover SUV, but also one that has been in production for nine years.
Honda had previously flagged, during aborted merger discussions, that Nissan had several "large class" vehicles it didn't have, and was in discussions on the matter.
"So, if maybe we can exchange some of the vehicles, that would also be a benefit for us in the short term," said Honda Motor Company director and vice president Noriya Kaihara in January.
ABOVE: Honda Ridgeline
"Maybe in the future, we can co-develop those vehicles. But in the short term, if we need we can get some of the Nissan vehicles for Honda as well."
Media coverage at the time indicated Honda was looking at getting its own version of the Nissan Armada (aka Y63 Patrol) and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs, which would slot above its existing flagship SUV, the Acura MDX crossover.
But by launching a version of the Nissan Frontier, Honda would finally have a more traditional rival to the likes of the top-selling Toyota Tacoma in the US.
Whether this would be exported to markets like Australia is unclear, though unlikely. The Nissan Frontier is produced only in left-hand drive, with our market instead getting the Thai-built, diesel-powered Nissan Navara, a new generation of which is due by 2027.
Honda has tapped other brands for product before when it didn't have anything suitable of its own.
ABOVE: Honda Tourmaster
The Crossroad, sold exclusively in Japan, was a rebadged Land Rover Discovery and the only V8-powered model ever sold by the brand. It was discontinued in 1998.
More successful was the Passport, which lasted for two generations in the US market; the second generation of this model, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, was sold here as a Holden Frontera.
Honda's premium Acura brand also rebadged the Isuzu Trooper, known here as the Holden Jackaroo, dubbing it the SLX. In Japan, this was also sold as the Honda Horizon.
The Passport and SLX were eventually replaced by Honda-developed SUVs.
Honda has even put its name on another company's ute, rebadging the Isuzu TF (aka Holden Rodeo) for Thailand as the Tourmaster, which was produced from 1996 to 1998.
While all of these aforementioned models were mere rebadges, Honda currently offers the Prologue through its namesake brand and the Acura ZDX, which are both based on General Motors platforms but feature completely different styling inside and out.
MORE: Is Honda looking to take on the Toyota LandCruiser with a rebadged Nissan Patrol?
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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Beijing has ramped up infrastructure spending and consumer subsidies, alongside steady monetary easing. In May, the central bank cut interest rates and injected liquidity as part of broader efforts to cushion the economy from US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. Further monetary easing is expected in the coming months, while some analysts believe the government could ramp up deficit spending if growth slows sharply. But China observers and analysts say stimulus alone may not be enough to tackle entrenched deflationary pressures, with producer prices in June falling at their fastest pace in nearly two years. Data on Monday showed China's exports regained some momentum in June while imports rebounded, as factories rushed out shipments to capitalise on a fragile tariff truce between Beijing and Washington ahead of a looming August deadline. China is aiming for full-year growth of around five per cent. The latest Reuters poll projected GDP growth to slow to 4.5 per cent in the third quarter and 4.0 per cent in the fourth, underscoring mounting economic headwinds as US President Donald Trump's global trade war leaves Beijing with the tough task of getting households to spend more at a time of uncertainty. June activity data also released on Tuesday painted a mixed picture - industrial output grew 6.8 per cent year-on-year in June, quickening from the 5.8 per cent pace in May and beating forecasts, but retail sales growth slowed down. Fixed-asset investment grew 2.8 per cent in the first six months from a year earlier, slowing from 3.7 per cent in January-May and missing analysts' forecast of 3.6 per cent. China's economy has grown at a slightly faster pace than expected in the second quarter, showing resilience in the face of US tariffs, though analysts warn of intensifying headwinds that will ramp up pressure on policymakers to roll out more stimulus. The world's number two economy has so far avoided a sharp slowdown in part due to a fragile US-China trade truce and policy support, but markets are bracing for a weaker second half as exports lose momentum, prices continue to fall, and consumer confidence remains low. Data on Tuesday showed China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.2 per cent in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, slowing from 5.4 per cent in the first quarter, but just ahead of analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 5.1 per cent. "China achieved growth above the official target of five per cent in Q2 partly because of front loading of exports," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. "The above target growth in Q1 and Q2 give the government room to tolerate some slowdown in the second half of the year." On a quarterly basis, GDP grew 1.1 per cent in April-June, the National Bureau of Statistics data showed, compared with a forecast 0.9 per cent increase and a 1.2 per cent gain in the previous quarter. Investors are closely watching for signs of fresh stimulus at the upcoming Politburo meeting due in late July, which is likely to shape economic policy for the remainder of the year. Beijing has ramped up infrastructure spending and consumer subsidies, alongside steady monetary easing. In May, the central bank cut interest rates and injected liquidity as part of broader efforts to cushion the economy from US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. Further monetary easing is expected in the coming months, while some analysts believe the government could ramp up deficit spending if growth slows sharply. But China observers and analysts say stimulus alone may not be enough to tackle entrenched deflationary pressures, with producer prices in June falling at their fastest pace in nearly two years. Data on Monday showed China's exports regained some momentum in June while imports rebounded, as factories rushed out shipments to capitalise on a fragile tariff truce between Beijing and Washington ahead of a looming August deadline. China is aiming for full-year growth of around five per cent. The latest Reuters poll projected GDP growth to slow to 4.5 per cent in the third quarter and 4.0 per cent in the fourth, underscoring mounting economic headwinds as US President Donald Trump's global trade war leaves Beijing with the tough task of getting households to spend more at a time of uncertainty. June activity data also released on Tuesday painted a mixed picture - industrial output grew 6.8 per cent year-on-year in June, quickening from the 5.8 per cent pace in May and beating forecasts, but retail sales growth slowed down. Fixed-asset investment grew 2.8 per cent in the first six months from a year earlier, slowing from 3.7 per cent in January-May and missing analysts' forecast of 3.6 per cent. China's economy has grown at a slightly faster pace than expected in the second quarter, showing resilience in the face of US tariffs, though analysts warn of intensifying headwinds that will ramp up pressure on policymakers to roll out more stimulus. The world's number two economy has so far avoided a sharp slowdown in part due to a fragile US-China trade truce and policy support, but markets are bracing for a weaker second half as exports lose momentum, prices continue to fall, and consumer confidence remains low. Data on Tuesday showed China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.2 per cent in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, slowing from 5.4 per cent in the first quarter, but just ahead of analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 5.1 per cent. "China achieved growth above the official target of five per cent in Q2 partly because of front loading of exports," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. "The above target growth in Q1 and Q2 give the government room to tolerate some slowdown in the second half of the year." On a quarterly basis, GDP grew 1.1 per cent in April-June, the National Bureau of Statistics data showed, compared with a forecast 0.9 per cent increase and a 1.2 per cent gain in the previous quarter. Investors are closely watching for signs of fresh stimulus at the upcoming Politburo meeting due in late July, which is likely to shape economic policy for the remainder of the year. Beijing has ramped up infrastructure spending and consumer subsidies, alongside steady monetary easing. In May, the central bank cut interest rates and injected liquidity as part of broader efforts to cushion the economy from US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. Further monetary easing is expected in the coming months, while some analysts believe the government could ramp up deficit spending if growth slows sharply. But China observers and analysts say stimulus alone may not be enough to tackle entrenched deflationary pressures, with producer prices in June falling at their fastest pace in nearly two years. Data on Monday showed China's exports regained some momentum in June while imports rebounded, as factories rushed out shipments to capitalise on a fragile tariff truce between Beijing and Washington ahead of a looming August deadline. China is aiming for full-year growth of around five per cent. The latest Reuters poll projected GDP growth to slow to 4.5 per cent in the third quarter and 4.0 per cent in the fourth, underscoring mounting economic headwinds as US President Donald Trump's global trade war leaves Beijing with the tough task of getting households to spend more at a time of uncertainty. June activity data also released on Tuesday painted a mixed picture - industrial output grew 6.8 per cent year-on-year in June, quickening from the 5.8 per cent pace in May and beating forecasts, but retail sales growth slowed down. Fixed-asset investment grew 2.8 per cent in the first six months from a year earlier, slowing from 3.7 per cent in January-May and missing analysts' forecast of 3.6 per cent.
