Back in January at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, Nissan first revealed their 2013 Pathfinder concept. Well, that concept has finally become reality as the next generation SUV (now a crossover) has made its debut online on the Japanese automaker's official Facebook page. The completely redesigned Pathfinder is a seven-seater unibody crossover, a change from its previous editions body-on-frame setup. In other words, the Pathfinder is not the true off-roader it once was, much like the current Ford Explorer.

The 2013MY Pathfinder stays true to the Detroit concept's exterior styling however it adds plastic protectors on the front and rear bumpers as well as the side skirts. "As Nissan has expanded its range of adventure-ready SUVs to include Armada, Xterra, Murano, Rogue and JUKE, Pathfinder maintains its very important position in the heart of the lineup and the market - as a right-size, 3-row/7-passenger SUV with the seating and cargo capacity that growing families need," said Al Castignetti, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. vice president and general manager.

"As families spend more time in their SUVs everyday as well as on weekends, the next-gen Pathfinder is stepping up with enhanced comfort, innovative technology, increased fuel efficiency, and most importantly, more flexibility for the family." Though full details have yet to come out, the new model is expected to make use of the manufacturer's well-regarded 265 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. We'll provide complete details once Nissan makes them public. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts: Has Nissan done the right thing by switching to a unibody structure as opposed to the old body-on-frame setup?