INCOMING emissions laws could drive a change of tack for the Nissan-Premcar Warrior program, with Premcar Australia director Bernie Quinn telling GoAuto this week it can look past the Navara and Patrol ranges with regards to future product.
Whereas remaining dedicated to providing Navara and Patrol Warrior variants for so long as is practicable, Mr Quinn doubled down on feedback made in June final yr when he stated different Nissan fashions – together with these with electrical motive energy – wouldn’t be dominated out as emissions guidelines tighten.
“Our model non-negotiables can simply be utilized to a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or an EV. You may think about an EV SUV with torque vectoring and so forth, that’s an excellent rally machine – an aspirational automobile developed in Australia for Australians,” he enthused.
“Why wouldn’t we apply the Warrior therapy to one thing that provided these non-negotiable model DNA parts. It doesn’t should have an inner combustion engine as its main vitality supply. Warrior doesn’t imply that in any respect.”
Whereas Mr Quinn stopped in need of saying which autos could also be subsequent in line for Warrior-isation, current trademark filings counsel nothing is off the desk within the Nissan line-up, with fashions from the X-Path to the Z branded with the Warrior stamp.
“It’s doable we might see different nameplates put on a Warrior badge, I feel given Warrior gross sales have gone from an preliminary 1500-unit run to a enterprise that has now delivered over 11,000 models – to then going worldwide – exhibits that Nissan needs to cowl each base,” he stated.
“I feel it’s a clever transfer, however simply because it’s trademarked doesn’t imply it’s a accomplished deal.”
Whereas different fashions could be on the agenda, additionally it is probably the electrified future to which Mr Quinn is referring applies to the forthcoming Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara which, like its spinoff, is anticipated to supply a plug-in hybrid different inside the subsequent 18-24 months.
Talking with GoAuto again in 2022, Mitsubishi Motors Australia executives stated it was probably the sixth-generation Triton would utilise a model of the petrol-electric PHEV system providing within the Outlander, permitting it to rival the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and incoming Ford Ranger PHEV.
On the time, it was prompt a PHEV different can be provided to coincide with the arrival of the next-generation Navara, suggesting Nissan – and probably Premcar – is certainly engaged on one thing particular.
However for now, Mr Quinn stated his main focus is on making certain the Warrior program as utilized to Navara and Patrol continues to go from energy to energy with out impacting upon Premcar’s different purchasers.
“Nissan is just one of our prospects … if we didn’t produce other purchasers, we might not solely be left uncovered had been that program to finish, however we wouldn’t be taught as a lot as after we expose ourselves to different purchasers,” he added.
“Now we have to tailor our engineering know-how to these completely different purchasers and to completely different people who use these autos. So, are we working with different producers and different purchasers? Completely, sure.”
