New Nissan Patrol to be revealed soon

A Japanese brand is preparing a new version of one of the toughest machines in Australia and it’s been developed with us in mind.

The current Nissan Patrol is coming to the end of its life.

Australian four-wheel drive enthusiasts have helped shape the next generation Nissan Patrol, which is expected to be revealed within months, complete with DNA from the GT-R supercar.

Sharing its mechanicals with the Infiniti QX80, the all-new Patrol will trade some of that car’s opulence and luxury for more hardened off-road genes.

Nissan’s global design boss Alfonso Albaisa recently travelled Down Under to learn what Patrol owners want to see in the crucial new model.

“When I (went) to Australia about three months ago they’re just fanatical,” said Albaisa at last week’s New York motor show, where the QX80 was on display.

2024 Infiniti QX80 previews next-gen Nissan Patrol.

“They really are demanding – where’s my car, where’s my car!”

He says Australian Patrol owners want an off-roader that is more of a “thoroughbred” and ready for life on rough roads.

“In Australia it’s all about all the traction, the movement of the suspension and all of these things,” he said, adding that the company had made changes to the approach and ramp-over angles to make the vehicle more capable off-road.

He said the Australian feedback prompted the company to “make sure we are really taking care of the extremes” of the vehicle.

Australian feedback helped shape the new Patrol.

“We know that in Australia the way they behave with these cars is quite different [to other parts of the world]. Those cars people buy it and immediately modify it.”

He said one key change was the high fitment of bullbars and suspension modifications.

“It’s very tricky because we also know they’re going to take the bumper off.”

But he said it was important the new Patrol delivered on ability in the bush.

“The Patrol is not a luxury car, it has luxury,” said Albaisa. “It’s really a thoroughbred, this is a race horse. Going anywhere you cannot make an excuse.”

While Albaisa wouldn’t detail what to expect from the new Patrol he said the company would respect the heritage of what is Nissan’s oldest nameplate.

Nissan is ditching the V8 found in the current version.

One huge change for the new Patrol is the demise of the V8 that has been part of the current model since it arrived here in 2012.

The QX80 has a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo making 336kW, well up on the 298kW of the V8.

The V6 is an iteration of the engine that powers the GT-R supercar.

Nissan has previously said it plans to develop an all-electric Patrol towards the end of the decade, something that will become increasingly important with the imminent introduction of fuel efficiency standards.

Albaisa wouldn’t talk about any EV plans but said the Patrol would live on, whatever was powering it.

“Patrol doesn’t die because of powertrains,” he said, describing it as “one of our most profitable and successful” cars.

“Patrol is a cultural thing, which is much more important than how it moves.”

Originally published as New Nissan Patrol to be revealed soon