Revealed for the first time at the Detroit motor show back in January followed by another appearance at this month's Chicago auto show, the new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is now heading for regular production with a planned sales date in the U.S. this fall.

Since it will be months before we get to see the new seven-seater model in showrooms, the folks at Nissan want to keep our interest in the Pathfinder going with the release of a new video showing the SUV on and off the road.

Nissan may be calling the Pathfinder a concept but we all know that the study exhibited at this week's 2012 Detroit Motor Show is as close as it gets to the production model that will follow in fall this year.

The first thing you'll need to know about the 2013 Pathfinder is that Nissan has abandoned the current, third-generation model's body-on frame architecture and returned to a unibody construction. We say returned because the first generation of the SUV utilized a ladder-type frame with the second generation making use of a unibody construction.

The fourth generation of the Pathfinder also brings less rugged and more crossoverish looks and the promise for a more luxurious interior and a plethora of technological goods. Nissan also says that the SUV will offer excellent legroom in all three rows and ample cargo room behind the 3rd row of seats.

Just moments ago, it was Toyota that teased its upcoming NS4 Concept car, and now it's Nissan's turn to peel some layers off its next Pathfinder before its world debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that begins (for the press) on January 9th.

Following the release of a single darkened image of the Pathfinder concept's profile in the third week of December, Nissan issued two new photos that reveal the crossover's face and rear end.

Even though the Japanese company insists on calling it a concept, it's evident from these photos the Pathfinder that we'll see in Detroit won't differ much if not at all from the production model set to go on sale in North America next fall. And let's not forget that Nissan's luxury arm Infiniti did the same thing with the JX crossover last year.

While Nissan isn't yet ready to completely lift the covers off its pre-production Pathfinder showcar, the Japanese company has issued the first teaser image of the seven-seater model that will make its public debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show beginning in Detroit on January 9th.

With a little digital help, we brightened up the picture to reveal the outline of the Pathfinder study, which looks like it will sport a swoopier body than the current model.

As we're approaching closer to the 2012 edition of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, more automakers are slowly rolling out their plans to create some additional buzz around their products.

Today, Nissan confirmed that it's presence at the show will be highlighted by the worldwide debut of two concept vehicles, including a Pathfinder preview study and an all-electric van prototype.