Automotive

Nissan puts LEAF power and drone-launching in Sentinel rescue truck concept

Nissan puts LEAF power and drone-launching in Sentinel rescue truck concept
Nissan debuts the Frontier Sentinel concept at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show
Nissan debuts the Frontier Sentinel concept at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show
View 18 Images
Putting the pieces of the Frontier Sentinel concept pickup together
1/18
Putting the pieces of the Frontier Sentinel concept pickup together
The Sentinel is a product of Nissan Brazil's styling studio
2/18
The Sentinel is a product of Nissan Brazil's styling studio
Along with dual battery packs, the Frontier Sentinel bed is filled with a drawer system for carrying rescue gear
3/18
Along with dual battery packs, the Frontier Sentinel bed is filled with a drawer system for carrying rescue gear
Like the exterior, the interior includes Electric-Yellow highlights
4/18
Like the exterior, the interior includes Electric-Yellow highlights
The drawers are meant to hold things like ropes, helmets and tools
5/18
The drawers are meant to hold things like ropes, helmets and tools
More than just a bed cover, this one is a drone launchpad - we're just surprised Nissan didn't release any photos of it with a drone for extra buzz
6/18
More than just a bed cover, this one is a drone launchpad - we're just surprised Nissan didn't release any photos of it with a drone for extra buzz 
The Frontier Sentinel includes a snorkel, emergency lighting system, MT tires and more
7/18
The Frontier Sentinel includes a snorkel, emergency lighting system, MT tires and more
A blank canvas ready for some seriously bright paint
8/18
A blank canvas ready for some seriously bright paint
Sketching together the Frontier Sentinel concept
9/18
Sketching together the Frontier Sentinel concept
Popping the tailgate for supplies
10/18
Popping the tailgate for supplies
A look inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel's drawers
11/18
A look inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel's drawers
The Frontier Sentinel is ready to go wading thanks to its snorkel
12/18
The Frontier Sentinel is ready to go wading thanks to its snorkel
The Frontier Sentinel borrows its look from the Brazilian hyacinth macaw
13/18
The Frontier Sentinel borrows its look from the Brazilian hyacinth macaw
Nissan debuts the Frontier Sentinel concept at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show
14/18
Nissan debuts the Frontier Sentinel concept at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show
The Frontier Sentinel is a rescue truck and rolling power station
15/18
The Frontier Sentinel is a rescue truck and rolling power station
Nissan Frontier Sentinel concept
16/18
Nissan Frontier Sentinel concept
Inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel concept
17/18
Inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel concept
The Nissan Frontier Sentinel on show in São Paulo
18/18
The Nissan Frontier Sentinel on show in São Paulo 
View gallery - 18 images

The Ultimate Service Titan may have the brawn, but it's not the only Nissan truck capable of heading up rescue and response missions. Over at the São Paulo Motor Show, Nissan is showing how the Frontier (Navara) can prove a potent force in search-and-rescue. The Frontier Sentinel concept has a raft of upgraded capabilities and components, including a drone-launching platform, portable power station and gear organization. Its parrot-inspired coloring gives a nod to its Brazilian roots and ensures it pops out like a smoke signal in dense jungle or forest.

We thought the blue paint of the Volkswagen Tarok concept would grab some attention in São Paulo, but that truck disappears into the background compared to the "Thunder Blue" Frontier Sentinel. The electric yellows further help the truck stand out, as Nissan pulls inspiration from the Brazilian hyacinth macaw, a parrot native to parts of South America.

In fact, the Sentinel is a Brazilian-born concept through and through. It was designed at Nissan Brazil's styling studio and built to navigate every corner of Brazil's diverse landscape.

A look inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel's drawers
A look inside the Nissan Frontier Sentinel's drawers

The paint gets your attention, but its the Sentinel's feature set that will help put you at ease should you find yourself in need of rescue. Similar to what it did with the recent Dark Sky Concept, Nissan uses Leaf-derived battery packs as auxiliary power, providing a quick hook-up for tools and devices.

The two battery packs fill the pickup bed with help from a set of drawers for organizing rescue supplies like flashlights, helmets, gloves, ropes and tools. The tonneau cover on top doubles as a platform for launching and landing drones, putting "eyes in the sky" when necessary. The roll bar extensions around the sides create more storage capacity on the bed cover.

The Frontier Sentinel is ready to go wading thanks to its snorkel
The Frontier Sentinel is ready to go wading thanks to its snorkel

Modifications like the snorkel, GT Radial Adventuro MT 285/75 R16 tires and special roof lighting system boost the Frontier's capability for efficient all-terrain navigation and emergency response.

The São Paulo show opened to the public today and runs through November 18.

Source: Nissan

View gallery - 18 images
1 comment
1 comment
YouAre
I stopped reading after “Nissan uses Leaf-derived battery packs as auxiliary power”. I am still more interested in true electrics than a sophisticated paint job.