AFTER greater than 18 months of rumours, hypothesis and hinting, Nissan Australia could have simply inadvertently confirmed the Patrol as the subsequent mannequin in line to obtain the Warrior off-road therapy and that it may very well be right here by 12 months’s finish.
The Patrol has lengthy been considered the prime candidate for the subsequent Warrior makeover courtesy of Premcar, with Nissan Australia managing director Stephen Lester including gasoline to the hearth on a number of events and detailing what he’d wish to see in such a automobile.
Now nevertheless, Nissan Australia native product improvement and enhancement senior supervisor Matt Baily has all however confirmed the Patrol as the subsequent Warrior, showing to let the cat out of the bag on the unveiling of the brand new Navara Professional-4X Warrior.
Talking with Australian media throughout a Q&A session, Mr Baily was refusing to surrender specifics as to the subsequent off-road flagship however finally let slip the Patrol was subsequent in keeping with a broader growth attainable after that.
“There undoubtedly is one other Warrior program that we’re on … however I actually can’t give any extra in the present day in any other case there’d be no level seeing you once more, so, wanting ahead to supplying you with extra data over the approaching months,” he stated.
“And probably, you recognize, the Warrior therapy may very well be utilized to different fashions as properly, so it doesn’t essentially simply cease at Patrol.”
Precisely what type the Patrol Warrior takes is anybody’s guess for now however happening earlier feedback made by Mr Lester, it could be secure to count on some extent of energy bump from the 5.6-litre V8 in addition to a raft of off-road-oriented platform upgrades.
Talking to GoAuto on the launch of the up to date Patrol in February final 12 months, the Mr Lester referenced what had been accomplished to the large off-roader in different markets, i.e. Desert Version and Nismo model, and the way that may very well be developed additional.
“I’d truly cease asking, ‘Properly, is the Nismo engine choice (for Patrol) obtainable?’ (and as a substitute ask) ‘What else is there, how a lot additional can we go?” he stated on the time.
“I can’t speculate on all of the issues that may very well be accomplished however actually there’s a variety of alternative with it. And that’s why we see the long run for Patrol so optimistically.”
For reference, the Nismo-tickled Patrol develops 315kW/560Nm in comparison with the usual 298kW/560Nm with the matching torque determine being obtainable over a wider rev vary.
A patrol Warrior can even give Nissan a useful weapon in opposition to the incoming 300 Collection LandCruiser, particularly the GR Sport model that’s tipped to be essentially the most succesful model off-road with its distinctive bumpers, smaller-diameter wheels and meatier tyres.
In the interim then all we are able to actually do is wait and see, though Mr Baily’s reference to “the approaching months” might level to a 3rd quarter-reveal and subsequent fourth-quarter launch of the Patrol Warrior, by the way the identical interval earmarked by Toyota for the launch of the 300 Collection.
