Nissan->ke62 has just dropped a massive teaser for its upcoming 2015 Frontier->ke547 midsize pickup truck->ke242. Seen on the automaker’s Instagram feed, the image shows what looks to be a crew-cab, short-bed truck with Nissan’s familiar grille perched between headlights and LED daytime running lights. The social media site also reveals the truck’s debut date of June 11th.

This is big news for midsize->ke1695 truck fans, as the current Frontier as been around, basically unchanged, since 2004. The new truck will also likely usher in a newly redesigned Xterra SUV, which it shares much of its architecture.

Other noticeable changes include a pronounced roof rack, bold ridges along the edges of the hood leading from the headlights to the A-pillars, chrome-surrounded lower fog lights, and a front bumper featuring moderately high approach angle. The truck will likely continue using a body-on-frame design in order to compete with General Motors’->ke1024 upcoming Colorado and Canyon twins.

What’s more, Nissan may further compete with the 2016 version of the GM trucks when they debut the first diesel-powered, U.S.-spec midsize truck in recent history. Back at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show,->ke225 Nissan showcased a 2.8-liter, inline four-cylinder, Cummins turbo-diesel engine. Nissan even admitted back then the concept truck was created to gauge the public’s response and interest in future truck products. I know we sure sang its praises.

Diesel->ke1917 engine or not, an updated -- if not all-new -- Nissan Frontier is a welcomed sight. With General Motors and now Nissan joining the midsize truck category for 2015, we’re greatly anticipating other manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon. Toyota,->ke88 Ram,->ke4211 and Ford->ke31 have been put on notice.

Click past the jump to read more about the future Nissan pickup truck.

Why It Matters

Nissan could not have picked a better time to roll out its new Frontier pickup, though the truck could have used a replacement several years ago. With the looming midsize truck revival coming to America, the category will likely get rather hot in the midst of growing fuel prices, higher-priced full-size trucks, and the continuing growth of the ‘lifestyle vehicle.’

Plus, if Ram can squeeze 28 mpg from its full-size 1500 V-6 EcoDiesel, it seems almost easy for Nissan it jump past 30 mpg with its smaller Frontier and four-cylinder diesel powerplant. That’s a scenario where everybody wins.

2015 Nissan Frontier Speculation

Nissan’s new 2015 Frontier will come to market with (hopefully) an all-new look, both inside and out. While we’ve got a basic idea of what the outside looks like, Nissan hasn’t said anything about what lies under the Frontier’s freshly sculpted hood. Besides the 2.8-liter, I-4, Cummins turbo-diesel, we’re not sure what to expect.

Perhaps Nissan will use a range of engines, including gasoline four- and six-cylinder engines to fill out the trim levels. At the bottom end, maybe a beefed-up version of the Juke Nismo’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder would give ample power while still getting decent fuel mileage. Its mid-range engine might be the ubiquitous 3.5-liter V-6 engineered to fit longitudinally within the truck’s engine bay. Either way, the tired 2.5-liter I-4 and 4.0-liter V-6 currently found in the Frontier’s engine bay are certainly showing their age.

Pricing for the Frontier will likely increase only slightly over the currently generation. The base model Frontier starts at $17,990 and grows to over $32,000 for the crew cab PRO-4X equipped with the V-6.