New Mitsubishi Raider Could Shake Up Mid-Size Truck Market

According to reports, the Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance could give birth to a new Mitsubishi mid-size pickup. Why wouldn’t the Japanese automaker want to capitalize on the fastest-growing automotive segment? When Nissan acquired 34 percent of Mitsubishi, they wanted to get their hands on the brand’s plug-in-hybrid technology. But Mitsubishi will also benefit from the alliance.

The two Japanese automakers are sharing technology and they could also be sharing Nissan’s new pickup. Mitsubishi’s partnership with Nissan could enable the Japanese automaker to return to the midsize pickup game in a big way. Nissan is launching the next-generation Frontier truck next year as a 2019 model and it’s coming with lots of changes. It will help shake up the fast-growing mid-size pickup market and give the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Honda Ridgeline competition.

According to a report by Automotive News, Mitsubishi will pick Nissan’s pocket and rebadge the all-new Frontier with the “Raider” nameplate. This pickup name was last used in 2010 on a rebadged Dodge Dakota. The report says the new Mitsubishi Raider will be launched in 2020 or 2021 after the Frontier has time to breathe and it won’t upset Nissan dealers. It could also get the new-generation Nissan V6 engine under the hood of the new pickup.

Nissan will launch the next generation 2019 Frontier sometime next year. Look for the new mid-size pickup to be rebadged as a Mitsubishi Raider sometime in 2020-2021. This will shake up the mid-size pickup market even more. Stay tuned.

Photo credit: Nissan UK (Navara pickup)