All-new Nissan Patrol makes world premiere in Abu Dhabi

After a prolonged teaser campaign initiated back in March as part of its Arc product roll-out, Nissan officially debuted the all-new Patrol at a gala premiere in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday evening (3 September) attended by The Citizen.

One of the most important markets for the Patrol, the new internally named Y63 heralds not only a return to six-cylinder motivation for the first time since the Y61, but introduces a number of first for the Patrol which this year marks its 73rd anniversary.

Replacing the venerable V8-engine Y62 that has been on-sale since 2010, the Y63 introduces a completely new body-on-frame platform made largely out of aluminium and tested over three years as part of a rigorous test programme involving 5 000 engineers in the design phase alone, and some 100 000 km of multi-terrain conditions.

Trial by fire for Nissan Patrol

Subjected to extreme desert driving testing equal to one-and-half year continues thick sand driving, Y63 incorporates a numbers of features from its upscale Infiniti QX80 sibling, but with a distinct Nissan appearance both inside and out.

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Measuring 5 205 mm long, 2 030 mm wide and 1 955 mm high with a wheelbase of 3 075 mm, the Y63 gains 35 mm in length and width. The wheelbase and length stays the same.

While rated to tow 2 000 kg in the Middle East, Nissan has stated that revisions will take place for other markets where towing is prolific. As such, expectations point to the same 3 500 kg tow rating as the Y62.

A touch of class

Incorporating an appearance Nissan describes as elegant but aggressive whether off-roading or parked outside a five-star restaurant, the Patrol offers the option of 22-inch alloy wheels and a comparatively softer looker than the QX80.

Retaining the C-shaped headlights from the facelift Y62 that debuted in 2019, the arrangement now sports a double design with the now trademark V-motion grille featuring dual chrome bars, the upper being illuminated in another Patrol first.

Although seemingly similar to the Navara in the most recent teaser image, the rear facia reverts back to a stacked light cluster design also connected via a central LED light bar.

Along with the rear window being bigger, a floating roof becomes a new addition, “separated” from the D-pillar by a Patrol badge.

What’s more, a homage paying “Since 1951” script features on the window itself, while a puddle lamp animation displays projects a silhouette of the Patrol on the ground complete with 1951 wording.

In total, six colours have been made available; Pearl White, Mineral Black, Grey Metallic, Silver Metallic, Grand Blue and Forest Green.

Air suspension makes debut

Again offered with up to eight-seats, with the claimed wading depth of 700 mm also being unchanged, the biggest dynamic advance involves the first time air suspension system as part of what Nissan calls Intelligent Dynamic Suspension.

A system able of lowering the Patrol on the move at speeds below 100 km/h to aid aerodynamics and efficiency, it can also raise the overall height, though an official figure wasn’t provided.

Retaining the low range transfer case, rear diff-lock and the all-wheel-drive system, the mode selector offers six modes; Eco, Standard, Sport, Sand, Mud, Rock.

While still without a Crawl function, off-road Hill Descent Control is present, along with a new transparent bonnet view.

Loads of creature comforts

Representing a similar radical change to the exterior, the Patrol’s interior borrows heavily from the QX80, though not everywhere as certain features have been left out.

This includes the nine-inch climate control panel replaced by physical switchgear and a storage hold, plus the actual design of the dashboard itself.

Standard though are the dual 14.3-inch infotainment system and instrument cluster, the former with utilising Google’s software and interface in a first for Nissan, a 64 colour ambient lighting system, a wireless smartphone charger and in yet another Patrol first, massaging seats.

Reserved for higher-end models is Head-Up Display, a pair of optional 12.3-inch rear displays, a 12-speaker Kilpsch sound system and, as with the QX80, the biometric climate control.

In essence, the system uses an infrared sensor integrated into the roofliner to adjust the climate control automatically depending on occupant’s scanned body temperature whether it be hot or cold.

On the safety front, the revised around-view camera system sports front assist and Intersection Detection to provide a 170-degree display from side-to-side. The semi-autonomous ProPILOT assist system also makes its debut for the first time.

Choice of two powertrains

In terms of the mentioned power, the return to six-cylinder power comes in the shape of two engines, both connected to a new push-button activated nine-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

In replacing the old seven-speed ‘box, both engines feature a completely new cooling system Nissan states is also its biggest ever made.

Shared with the North American twin of the Navara, the Frontier, the replacement for the 4.0-litre V6 displaces 3.8-litres and develops 236kW/387Nm.

Previewed by the QX80, the widely known 5.6-litre V8’s replacement forms part of the VH family engines used in the GT-R and Z.

The newest iteration though with twin-turbocharging, the VH35, as its name states, has a 3.5-litre capacity with outputs of 317kW/700Nm.

Although down 18 kW on the QX80, torque increases by two Newton Metres and by 19kW/140Nm compared to the Y62’s 5.6 VK56 units.

For now, no electrification plans exist, with plans on offering a diesel engine, as with the Y62, never received consideration.

‘Under evaluation’

On-sale in the Middle East before year-end, the Y63 Patrol is “under evaluation” for South Africa, but only from 2026.

This mainly resides from right-hand-drive production starting later than left-hand-drive assembly for the Middle East and North America where the Armada name is likely to be used again.

As such, expect clear details for the local market to emerge then. 

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