Of the three SEMA Concepts, Project Rugged Rogue seems the most likely to influence a production vehicle. The Nissan Rogue will almost certainly not get a three-inch lift kit and Geolandar mud-terrain tires. However, some of the accessories seen here, such as the roof rack, lights, wheels, and seat covers, will be made available. Nissan was also surprisingly candid about how the Rugged Rogue might influence a future Rogue Rock Creek.
“Obviously, you have to go a bit overboard for SEMA to grab attention,” Phillips joked. “That is why we have the wrap, the big tires, the spoiler, and the center exhaust. That exhaust is actually a throwback to the Krom Special Edition.” The Rock Creek has been “a great addition to the Pathfinder lineup,” he added.
Nissan has plenty of off-road competitors in the compact crossover segment, including the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road and the Subaru Forester Wilderness. Building a more rugged Rogue Rock Creek makes perfect sense in today’s crossover-obsessed market.