2024 Nissan Rogue, Sentra Concepts Have Tantalizing NISMO Add-Ons

sema project rugged rogue
Nissan Rogue, Sentra Get Sweet NISMO TreatmentsNissan
  • The 2024 Nissan Rogue is transformed into an off-road SUV with the Project Rugged Rogue concept for SEMA.

  • The 2024 Nissan Sentra concept channels past SE-R models with myriad performance upgrades, such as a highly modified turbo four and manual gearbox.

  • The 2024 Nissan Frontier at SEMA isn't a concept, it's a real-life off-road race truck that's packed with NISMO equipment.

Right now, the most exciting models in Nissan's portfolio are the GT-R and Z—both offer track-focused NISMO models. With this year's SEMA show kicking off next week, Nissan has transformed two of its most mainstream models into tantalizing concepts that are turnt up with NISMO add-ons.

A Truly Rugged Rogue

The regular Rogue has no business tackling tangled terrain or venturing very far from paved roads. Now imagine a world where the compact SUV had a jacked-up ride height and mud-terrain tires like the Ford Ranger Raptor—it even has amber running lights above the grille. That's the Project Rugged Rogue that Nissan is NISMO fitted with all manner of NISMO equipment.

sema project rugged rogue
Nissan

Wearing a livery with a Reese's cups' color scheme and a topographical design, the Rogue concept has a roof rack packed with a bike and a kayak. There's a total of six front-mounted fog lights, carbon-fiber fender flares, and side rock rails as well as a front brush guard. NISMO also supplied a three-inch suspension lift and 18-inch wheels that are bronze up front and black out back. Those mount on a set of 32-inch Yokohama Geolander M/T G003 tires.

sema project rugged rogue
Nissan

While there's no mention of any powertrain changes, the Rogue's 201-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder breaths through a custom center-exit exhaust that, frankly, looks badass.

A Modern-Day Sentra SE-R

The NISMO-badged Sentra was killed off after the 2019 model year, and if there had been funeral, we doubt many would have attended. The Sentra DET concept that was built for SEMA is worth shedding a tear for. It features a host of prototype NISMO parts as well as a heavily modified powertrain—that it pairs with a six-speed manual versus the standard CVT is the cherry on top. "DET" is an acronym for Nissan's past performance engines, but it's wordy enough to not be worthy of writing out.

sema nissan sentra det concept
Nissan

Sure, we could do without the cheesy graphics, and we prefer the wheels on our cars to have matching colors on both sides, but a Sentra with hood-mounted heat extractors has our attention regardless. Beneath those slots sits the standard cars's MR20DD 2.0-liter turbo four. Normally it makes a wimpy 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, but this isn't the normal engine. It has been souped-up with a higher compression ratio, a bigger turbo, stronger internals, and an upgraded fuel system. If you don't see this Sentra coming, you'll likely hear its cat-back exhaust setup. Nissan didn't mention the Sentra's new output, but rest assured its considerably more than the stock engine.

In addition to the overhaul under the hood, the Sentra DET concept has a revised chassis that benefits from brakes pulled from the Nissan Z and coil-overs and anti-roll bars courtesy of NISMO. It grips and rips on a set of 18-inch Yokohama Advan Neova summer tires, with front-seat passengers being better held in place with Recaro competition seats.

Frontier for Off-Road Racing

The Frontier is a fine mid-size pickup truck, and we did the new retro-inspired Hardbody model. The Forsberg Racing-developed Frontier that's heading to SEMA is more than fine, it's frickin' sweet! It's also not a concept, it's a race-proven rig that competed in the NORRA 500 (look it up).

sema nissan frontier off road race truck concept
Nissan

The Forsberg Frontier features more stickers than a Lisa Frank booklet, but they're all tastefully applied. The look is completed by black beadlock NISMO wheels wrapped with gnarly Yokohama Geolander mud-terrain tires, which are buoyed by a lifted and enhanced suspension. Anyone who owns a Frontier can also find some parts such as the roof rack, light bar, and rock sliders in the NISMO catalogue to copy the off-roaders look.

You Might Also Like