Ahead of its South African arrival next year, Nissan has released the first images of the right-hand drive Y63 Patrol being assembled at its Kyushu plant in Japan, reports The Citizen.

The images were released through Nissan Australia, with the Australian market set to receive the new Patrol before South Africa.

Australia will be the first right-hand drive market to receive the new Y63 Patrol, which is expected to go on sale before the end of this year. The line-up will comprise six trim levels: Ti, Ti+, Ti-L, Ti-L+, Pro-4X and Ti-L Reserve.

Australia gets it first

All variants will be powered by the VR35DDTT 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6, producing 317kW and 700Nm. This represents an increase of 19kW and 140Nm over the naturally aspirated 5.6-litre V8 in the outgoing Y62.

The new model also features a nine-speed automatic transmission operated via a push-button selector, replacing the seven-speed unit in its predecessor.

The naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 offered in the North American Frontier, which produces 236kW and 387Nm, will not be available. Also excluded is the more powerful version of the VR35DDTT found in the Patrol Nismo, which produces 369kW and 700Nm. Both variants are intended exclusively for the Middle Eastern market.

The Y63 is the first Patrol rated to tow 3 700kg. It has 244mm of ground clearance, increasing to 314mm with the optional adaptive air suspension.

As before, the Patrol retains a low-range transfer case and locking rear differential. A new drive-mode selector offers six settings: Eco, Standard, Sport, Sand, Mud and Rock.

South Africa will become the second right-hand drive market after Australia to receive the Y63 Patrol, although Nissan has yet to announce an exact launch date.

What South Africa can expect

Nissan South Africa managing director Juan Wheeler told The Citizen on the sidelines of the facelifted X-Trail’s launch in July that the Patrol would arrive towards the end of Nissan’s 2026 financial year.

This points to a possible launch in March or April 2027, although this has not been confirmed.

The Y63 will join the special-edition X-Trail Rock Creek as one of two confirmed additions to Nissan South Africa’s line-up next year. The local Patrol will share its powertrain with the Australian model, but is expected to have a smaller range, following the Y62’s single-derivative approach in South Africa.

The new Patrol was previewed in left-hand drive form at the launch of the Tekton last month. Further details of the South African model are expected in the new year.

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