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Missed chance? Muscled-up Nissan Patrol Warrior enters battle
Warrior will take direct aim at arch rival Toyota's Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport Down Under.
The Nissan Patrol Warrior uses the entry-level Ti as a base, but with dimensional changes to the model Nissan has been selling as the internally designated Y62 since 2010. Image: carexpert.com
In what is likely to be the final “tribute” to the current generation Nissan Patrol, the Japanese marque, together with Australian engineering firm Premcar, has officially detailed its most hardcore off-road focused model to date in the shape of the Patrol Warrior.
More success looming?
The third Nissan-approved model to emerge from Premcar’s facility in Melbourne after the Navara Pro-4X Warrior two years ago, the Patrol Warrior, shown for the first time in June this year, also becomes the first Patrol to breach the $100 000 (R1 207 185) mark with an asking sticker of $101 160 (R1 221 188).
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A project originating from 2019 based on the runaway success of the Navara Pro-4X Warrior’s predecessor, the N-Trek Warrior, the Patrol Warrior uses the entry-level Ti as a base, but with dimensional changes to the model Nissan has been selling as the internally designated Y62 since 2010.
Roughened-up
This includes a stretched overall length of 94 mm, a width uptake of 84 mm and height increase of 50 mm. The claimed wheelbase is, however, unchanged.
Besides the dimensions, the inclusion of an off-road tuned suspension, improved springs and bump stops, a 29 mm lift-kit plus Warrior specific 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 34-inch Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tyres, has resulted in a ground clearance increase of 40 mm to 323 mm aided further by a 40 mm widening of the front and rear tracks.
Tipping the scales at 2 884 kg, 72 kg more than the standard Patrol, the Warrior further gains extended wheel arches as a result of the new wheels, redesigned bumpers, a black grille, Warrior badges, a red Warrior branded steel front bashplate, black mirror caps, standard tow bar, recovery hooks and a Premcar developed bi-mode stainless exhaust system.
Still able to tow 3 500 kg, but with an improved gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 120 kg that has culminated in a 48 kg payload increase of 736 kg, the Patrol Warrior retains the same 24.4-degree breakover angle, but sports revised approach and departure angles of 40-degrees and 23.3-degrees respectively.
Look closely
Inside, the changes are more subtle and limited to a Warrior badge on the dashboard, clear-coat gloss black inserts in place of the regular faux wood, Alcantara trim on the doors and seats finished in leather/Alcantra.
Similar to the South African Patrol, the Australian version misses-out on the redesigned interior introduced in 2019 as part of a second mid-life overhaul in the Middle East only.
This also applies to the United States where the rebadged Nissan Armada boasts a completely unique dashboard with a freestanding infotainment system instead of the integrated eight-inch display the Patrol debuted with 13 years ago.
V8 remains
Along with specification sheet being unchanged from the comparative Ti, Premcar has not made any drivetrain modifications to either the normally aspirated 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine, or the seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The latter rumoured to be replaced by 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 for the incoming Y63 Patrol due next year, the unassisted V8 produces 298kW/560Nm and along with the transmission, keeps hold of the limited slip differential, low range transfer case and electronically locking rear differential.
Battle over before it started?
Available Down Under in a choice of four colours; Moonstone White, Obsidian Black, Gun Metallic and Brilliant Silver, the Patrol Warrior is not expected to be sold outside of Australia unlike the Navara Pro-4X Warrior, which until two years ago had been rumoured for export to South Africa following interest and commencing of local production at the Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria.
“We now have South Africa and even the African continent where there is a more robust feel that the Warrior concept or idea fits into what consumers would be wanting or expecting” Nissan Australia Managing Director Stephen Lester told carsales.com.au in March of that year.
“We are at a fairly infantile stage right now in terms of that discussion and what could work or how it could work, but any time you can have those discussions and expressions of interest around what can be possible they are encouraging signs for us.”
As is evident though, nothing has been announced since.
Additional information and images from carexpert.com.au and premcarwarrior.com.au.
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