--- title: "Two Wildly Different Nissan R51 Pathfinders Debut at SEMA" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/11/two-wildly-different-nissan-r51-pathfinders-debut-at-sema/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Patrick Rall" published: "2026-11-07T17:00:00+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/nismo-nick-pathfinder-intro.webp" --- # Two Wildly Different Nissan R51 Pathfinders Debut at SEMA By Patrick Rall Published: 2026-11-07T17:00:00+00:00 ![Featured image]() The American version of the R51 Nissan Pathfinder came to an end in 2012, but as the last generation of the model to feature body-on-frame construction, these SUVs are still popular among enthusiasts. At the 2026 SEMA Show, “NISMO Nick” Scherr unveiled two R51 Pathfinders that showcase the platform’s abilities in two very different ways. One is named the Trailfinder and the other is the Trackfinder, both of which are obvious plays on the Pathfinder name while providing a strong hint at what each of these cool custom SUVs is built to do. > “Pathfinder has always represented adventure to me, but adventure means something different to everyone,” said NISMO Nick. “For some, it’s finding a trail that leads somewhere incredible. For others, it’s finding the limits of what a vehicle can do. These builds are what happens when you give a Nissan enthusiast the freedom to create without limitations, without committees, and without anyone telling you something can’t be done.” Both of these vehicles were displayed at the 2026 SEMA Show in the Silver Lot. ## R51 Nissan Pathfinder Built for the Trails ![]() Nissan Pathfinder turned Trailfinder (Photos Courtesy of NISMO Nick) The Trailfinder is built on a 2005-2012 Nissan Pathfinder, but it has a very different-yet-familiar face. NISMO Nick replaced the original SUV’s front end with components from the current Nissan Frontier pickup, including updated front bumpers, fenders, hood, doors and modern taillights. He did this with the Trackfinder as well, and using these modern components on the R51 chassis provides a look at what a modern Pathfinder might have looked like if Nissan had stuck with the truck-based, body-on-frame architecture rather than switching to unibody construction. Next, the Trailfinder is fitted with a set of hardcore front and rear bumpers along with rock sliders from Hammerhead Armor, followed by LED off-road lights from Rigid Industries tucked just about everywhere across the front end. When all of the pod lights and that light bar are turned on, they must light up the trail like the sun. Of course, this Pathfinder is fitted with aftermarket wheels wrapped in off-road-ready 35-inch Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tires, with a Hammerhead Armor rear swing arm carrying the spare. When coupled with the classic-inspired graphics, there is no question that the Trailfinder is built for some serious off-road fun. Inside, the Trailfinder features Katzkin red leather seats with plaid center sections and a matching dark red dashboard. ## Trailfinder Performance Upgrades ![]() Nissan Pathfinder turned Trailfinder (Photos Courtesy of NISMO Nick) The Trailfinder is powered by the R51 Pathfinder’s factory-available VK56 V8 engine, but NISMO Nick has made an array of changes around the vehicle to improve performance. The 5.6-liter V8 engine has been fitted with a performance air intake and a snorkel, allowing it to breathe better in most conditions. Next, the factory suspension components were replaced with heavy-duty off-road components from Z1 Off-Road, but rather than just running upgraded items for the Pathfinder, the Trailfinder is fitted with the Titan-swap X-Pro suspension setup. This setup provides a ton of ground clearance and improved capabilities in the roughest off-road settings, while a big brake kit helps bring the extra weight of this build to a stop more effectively than the stock braking system. ## R51 Nissan Pathfinder Built for the Road Course ![]() Nissan Pathfinder turned Trackfinder (Photos Courtesy of NISMO Nick) The odds are good that many R51 Nissan Pathfinder owners have modified their rigs to go off-roading, making the Trailfinder a very logical build. On the other hand, the Trackfinder is like no Pathfinder we have seen before, having been transformed into a three-row SUV that can haul groceries one day and head to the local road course the next. Like the Trailfinder, this build started with an R51 Pathfinder sporting the D41 body bits mentioned above, but that is where the similarities end. In addition to the modern exterior parts, the look of the Trackfinder is enhanced with a Seibon carbon-fiber hood, roll-forged wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 All-Season rubber and vintage NISMO-inspired graphics. One particularly cool upgrade of the Trackfinder is that the tow hitch receiver has been removed, and a slick quad-tip exhaust system exits through the space in the bumper that was intended for the towing setup. The interior of the Trackfinder showcases a custom white leather seating layout, red seat belts and red accents around the manual shifter in the center console. That’s right – this Nissan Pathfinder comes with three pedals for the most on-track fun. ## Trackfinder Performance Upgrades ![]() Nissan Pathfinder turned Trackfinder (Photos Courtesy of NISMO Nick) This Nissan Pathfinder is powered by a VQ40, similar to the one that came from the factory, but thanks to a Z1 Off-Road Eaton supercharger and a tune from UpRev, NISMO Nick says the VQ in the Trackfinder delivers 501 horsepower at the wheels. Next, as mentioned above, the original automatic is gone, and in its place is a six-speed manual transmission, complete with a clutch and flywheel from Centerforce. Behind the lightweight wheel-and-tire package that we mentioned above is a high-performance braking package from Z1. The Trackfinder also has a noticeably lower stance than a stock R51. > “TRACKFINDER exists because no one asking whether a supercharged, six-speed-manual, 500-plus-wheel-horsepower, three-row SUV makes sense,” said NISMO Nick. “Of course it doesn’t! I wanted something that would make people laugh, smile, and question everything they thought they knew about a Pathfinder.” ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/11/two-wildly-different-nissan-r51-pathfinders-debut-at-sema/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/11/two-wildly-different-nissan-r51-pathfinders-debut-at-sema/" }, "author": { "name": "Patrick Rall", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/92b81ca7d841b89492bae518badec387" }, "headline": "Two Wildly Different Nissan R51 Pathfinders Debut at SEMA", "datePublished": "2026-11-07T17:00:00+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/11/two-wildly-different-nissan-r51-pathfinders-debut-at-sema/" }, "wordCount": 910, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": 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