CAR Middle East - February 14, 2010

The all-new V8-powered 2010 Nissan Patrol has had its global debut in the Middle East, with Nissan President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, attending a glittering reveal last night at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi (see the video here).

With over 40 Japanese engineers having completed a total of 13,265 hours of testing in Arabian deserts and on our local roads, Nissan knows how important the GCC market is for the latest generation Patrol and the new All Mode 4x4 system can be tailored to on-road driving, sand or rock-crawling conditions. It can also be turned to snow mode – should freak weather conditions befall us.

Under the bonnet is a 5.6-litre V8 mated to a 7-speed auto with manual shift mode. On sale across the region from April, the Patrol sheds its cheap and basic image and goes fully loaded with kit and equipment.

Tough looks

The seventh generation has evolved over 50 years and boasts a massive following in the region, particularly amongst young locals who love nothing better than a bit of dune-bashing on the weekend - see it in the dunes here.

‘The new Patrol is built with the high level of safety, performance and quality that characterises the Nissan brand, and we paid special attention to the needs of GCC drivers and passengers,’ said Ghosn.

As expected the new Patrol is huge and maintains it tough and bluff exterior with strong, plain surfaces keeping a clear link with previous editions, whilst giving it contemporary sheen.

Luxury Inside

Inside there’s lashing of leather, polished aluminium and wood grain panelling as the Patrol takes a giant leap up the luxury ladder with a huge emphasis on comfort and space for the new car. It boasts wider, higher and deeper front seats and 100mm more legroom for second row passengers as well as a roomier third row of seats.

V8 Power and Gizmos

Nissan claims the new Patrol is the most powerful vehicle in its class with a 5.6-litre V8 with direct injector and variable valve technology that generates 400 hp and 413 lb.ft of torque.

As mentioned the Patrol has a selectable all-terrain style system along with Hydraulic Body Motion Control System for the new suspension which now employs independent ssuspension upgraded from the previous rigid axle setup.

There’s Hill Star Assist, Hill Descent plus an extensive list of driver’s aids including lane departure system, active cruise control and collision avoidance. There’s traction control, helical brake LSD (limited slip differential) and mechanical differential lock as well as clever braking.

Nissan today confirmed in an email to Motor Trend that it would be bringing U.S. production of the three large vehicles to an end by 2010. The vehicles are currently built in the U.S. at the Canton, Mississippi plant. Future models of the QX56 and Quest will be built in Japan, but the Armada's future remains in doubt. Similar news regarding the QX56 and Armada had been circulating as early as December of last year.

Nissan's earlier production phase out of the Infiniti QX56 and the Nissan Armada SUVs at its Mississippi plant was claimed to have been done to free up production for the Nissan NV2500 commercial vehicle, but many commentators suspected that Nissan could be dropping these two underperforming models.

Now, spy shots from the Middle East seem to depict a new Nissan SUV, the Nissan Patrol, which is usually only sold in non-American markets but that could be hitting the States if the Armada and the Infiniti QX56 are removed from the lineup.

The 5.6-liter V-8s will go into the full-sized Infiniti QX56, which has been produced in Canton, Miss., until now. But Nissan is moving the low-volume luxury SUV to an assembly plant at Shatai Kyushu, Japan. Ben Poore, vice president of the Infiniti business unit for Nissan North America, says QX56 inventories have been too low for Infiniti dealers this summer, and he has asked the company to increase production of the model.