The original sketches came from Doug Wilson at Nissan Design International (NDI) in La Jolla, California. Wilson had experienced the frustration of trying to carry an oversized plant in his personal SUV. Back at the studio, he doodled the front of the new Xterra with elements of NDI's famous Gobi pickup concept. The casual sketches soon became the concept vehicle you see here.

• Liftgate: The transition zone between the SUT™'s passenger compartment and pickup bed is a tapered liftgate, which measures four feet wide on the lower edge and three feet wide on the top. The liftgate swings upward on a pair of hinges, with heavy-duty gas struts holding it upright.
  
• Time To Haul: With the rear seat folded down and the liftgate open, the SUT™ offers a 42-inch-long bed that accommodates 4x8 sheets of plywood or other materials. Unique features include storage compartments behind each fenderwell, and a removable partition to keep smaller objects from moving around. Towing capacity is rated up to 5,000 pounds.
  
• Specs: Features include a 170-hp 3.3-liter SOHC V6 engine, 4-wheel drive, 4-speed automatic transmission, a 4-wheel anti-lock braking system, custom 18-inch alloy wheels mounted with 285/60HR18 tires, and a special roof rack and step rails.