New Nissan Navara to adopt Mercedes-Benz X-Class chassis, suspension changes? How the world's first premium ute will live on

The next Nissan Navara could adopt the Mercedes-Benz X-Class chassis and suspension changes, with the now-cancelled premium ute set to live on in at least the next Frontier, according to new reports out of Europe.

The fresh reports out of Spain suggest the next Nissan Frontier (the American answer to the Navara) will adopt the changes made by the German giant when it adapted the Japanese ute to its purposes.

While the X-Class ran the same coil springs, multi-link rear, double wishbone front suspension set-up as the Nissan Navara, Mercedes' engineers gave their car a 7mm wider track front and rear, and completely reworked the suspension tune in the search for better dynamics and ride quality.

"We've basically changed the kinematics, we have optimised the friction in the dampers - we've changed the set-up," said one X-Class product manager at the time. "So in total, we really have created a whole new driving experience for our vehicle."

And credit where it's due, the changes made a difference. Despite the X-Class coping some criticism for the speed of its steering (and its overall reason for existing), most media praised the on- and off-road ride of the Merc-badged dual-cab.

If the reports are accurate, those changes will live on in at least the new Frontier, with a new model expected in 2022/2023.

Fittingly, that's also roughly when a new Navara is due, with the next-gen ute expected to share its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton, as confirmed at the brand's recent financial results announcement. Whether that means that, like the Frontier, the Navara will also make use of Mercedes' engineering changes remains to be seen.

In the meantime, an updated Navara is due in Australia by the end of the year, with the new model expected to usher in design changes, as well as significant new safety and technology features.