Nissan Isn’t Building A Third-Gen Xterra, But This Superfan Is

Nismo Nick is obsessed with all things Nissan, as you probably guessed by the name. Last time we talked, he told us all about his quest to put Nissan Zs in the hands of as many joyful owners as possible. Now, he’s got a new mission. He’s resurrecting the Nissan Xterra with a fresh, modern build.

Back when it was on the market, the Xterra had a simple appeal. It was a chunky, rugged off-roader that the company said was “designed to look better dirty than clean.” Sadly, times changed, but the Xterra didn’t. By 2015, it was uncompetitive in the market, and with new safety and emissions regulations just around the corner, Nissan made the decision to put the model to bed.

As a die-hard Nissan fan, Nick has been waiting for the Xterra to come back for a decade now. With no sign of a new model on the horizon, he took matters into his own hands. It wasn’t long before the project snowballed into something even bigger.

“I’m a lifelong Nissan fanatic,” Nick told me on Tuesday night. “My life, my career, even my wardrobe revolves around the brand.” More than most people in the industry, he’s keenly aware of where the Japanese automaker stands right now. “With all the negative noise surrounding Nissan lately, I wanted to do something that reminded people why so many of us fell in love with the company in the first place,” he explains. “This build is my way of showing that Nissan passion is alive and well.”

The Xterra first hit the US market for the 2000 model year. Essentially Nissan’s take on something like the Toyota 4Runner, it established a foothold in the off-road and SUV markets. The first generation stuck around until 2004, with the second generation debuting a year later. It was very much of its time, wearing its chunky pumped arches and a bit of black plastic to complete the rugged look. The model had an impressive run, even getting an update in 2009 with more options, colors, and the addition of Bluetooth to keep up with the times.

Come 2015, the second-generation model celebrated a decade in production. However, the writing was on the wall at this point. The second-generation model had sold 73,447 units in its first year on sale, and kept that momentum for a good few years. In 2015, though, it sold just 10,672 examples. Indeed, the Xterra hadn’t shipped more than 20,000 units since 2010. Sales had basically cratered after the Global Financial Crisis, and Nissan didn’t see replacing the model as worthwhile. The model was killed, and the Xterra name has not returned to dealerships since.

Regardless, the Xterra wasn’t soon forgotten by the diehard fans. There were those that remembered it as a decent off-roader, and it has since become cheaper on the used market—mostly by virtue of not wearing a Toyota badge. There are those that wished to see Nissan bring back an SUV that wasn’t just built for hauling kids, groceries, and grandma. Nick counts himself among them.

“We’ve been asking Nissan for over a decade for a new Xterra, and I just had to be the one to do it,” Nick explains. The plan was simple. He’d grab a second-generation Xterra and heavily modify it, creating his idea of what a third-generation model should be. Naturally, that meant finding a way to somehow take the older model and give it the design language and style of a Nissan from 2025. “Knowing a little bit about the platform, and about the new platform of the Frontier, I was like… there’s got to be a way to combine the new truck and the old Xterra and basically build a new one,” he says.

Nick started the project off his own back in the fall of 2024, musing over the idea after a trip to last year’s SEMA show. However, it soon caught the attention of some important people. “Nissan caught wind of the build and wanted to be a part of it,” Nick explains. “I had the incredible opportunity to meet with some top-level Nissan execs earlier this year who not only loved the idea, but believed in it.” That connection led to a grand opportunity—with Nick’s build set to appear at the 2025 SEMA show at Nissan’s own booth. Beyond that, the automaker was also happy to provide critical parts for the build. “Thanks to their support, and the amazing folks at NISMO, this project now includes authentic OEM parts, NISMO wheels, and accessories to bring the vision to life,” he says.

Nissan wasn’t the only company keen to get involved. “This has truly become a collaboration of passion,” he says. “Over fifteen other companies have come onboard to sponsor pieces of the puzzle.” However, Nick won’t be drawn on all the specifics—not just yet, anyway. “I won’t give away everything just yet, especially the color, but what I can say is this—I’m beyond grateful for the support, and I hope this Xterra makes a bold statement—both at SEMA and to Nissan themselves.”

Still, there are some juicy details Nick is willing to share with us. “This build started with one of the most enthusiast-approved platforms out there—a 2008 Nissan Xterra S 4×4, factory-equipped with the 6-speed manual,” Nick says. “Originally powered by the four-liter V6, it’s now been transformed with a 6.2-liter LS swap, expertly handled by LOJ Conversions earlier this year.” No word on power yet, but the V8 looks powerful and mean mounted snugly in the Xterra’s engine bay.

Nick isn’t intending to build something crazy with spinners, odd gadgets, or weird novelty features to draw eyes. Instead, he’s going for a little more realism. “The overall theme? OEM-plus,” he explains. “Think lifted suspension, big brakes, serious power, and modern touches the Xterra never came with, like power seats. It’s the Xterra reimagined for today’s enthusiast.”

“Of course, no custom build is without its challenges,” says Nick. It’s a big job turning an SUV from 2008 into something befitting the immediate future. “The rear end takes some creative work, but believe it or not, the front clip from a 2025 Frontier bolts right up to the Xterra frame—no modification needed,” he says. “Even the dash fits, and the hood? Just swap the hinges and it latches like factory.”

So far, the new Xterra is still very much a work in progress. The interior has been stripped out for a complete update, body panels have been removed, and those remaining are covered in marker indicating where styling updates will be made. There is a lot yet to do before SEMA rolls around later this year.

Still, even with just a few parts of the new front end in place, it’s possible to envisage what might be coming down the line. Particularly of interest is how Nick handles things up top. The Xterra features a prominent step in the roofline that was a bit of a hallmark of the model. We can’t wait to see how that translates to this theoretical “third-gen” model.

There is a mountain still to climb, but Nick’s enthusiasm can’t be downplayed. “There is a lot of stuff going into this build,”  he says with pride. “When I tell you it’s going to be basically a brand new Xterra, I’m not kidding.” It’s a passion project, through and through. “This is the definition of my career, my love, my everything for the brand,” he says. “I’m doing this for the enthusiasts, I’m doing this for Nissan, I’m doing this for me.”

Three months are on the clock, and Nick has one hell of a truck to build. Come what may!

Image credits: Nismo Nick (supplied/via Youtube screenshot)