Patrol Warrior production is go

AUSTRALIAN production of the Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar has kicked off with the first examples due in local showrooms from October.

The Australian engineered and developed model – which is remanufactured in Epping, Victoria – will join the Navara Warrior in Nissan showrooms, brings similar levels of enhancement for off-road conditions following what Premcar says is the completion of its final local tuning and manufacturing readiness programs.

The vehicle conversion specialist says its newest vehicle production centre was established to accommodate the addition of the latest Warrior-enhanced Nissan model and will produce Patrol and Navara variants for all national markets following “significant investments” in personnel, manufacturing tooling and production technologies.

“It was a proud moment watching the first Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar models progress along our new assembly line,” said Premcar engineering director, Bernie Quinn.

“To create this amazing off-road SUV, the Premcar team has broadened the award-winning Nissan Patrol’s already impressive abilities across a range of road surfaces, from smooth tarmac to rough terrain and everything in between.

“From October, Australian customers will get to enjoy this eagerly awaited new Warrior model series and we can’t wait to see them in Nissan showrooms.”

Mr Quinn said the Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar has been engineered, tested and tuned for Australia’s “extensive range of unique driving environments”. As with all Premcar-enhanced Nissan Warrior models, the Patrol Warrior has been developed to “perfectly suit the needs of Australian customers and conditions”.

Premcar has developed more than 200,000 vehicles across the past 27 years, most notably the Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) range. It utilised OEM-quality parts – 80 per cent of which are locally sourced – in transforming Nissan models for extended off-road duties and backs all modifications with a full five-year factory warranty.

The Patrol Warrior retains Nissan’s standard 298kW/560Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8 engine, coupled exclusively to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It rides 50mm higher than the derivative model and retains Nissan’s complex Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) suspension system, used to eliminate the need for anti-roll bars, albeit with several enhancements.

Visually, the model is characterised by black 18-inch wheels wrapped in more off-road oriented Yokohama all-terrain tyres, new guard flares, and a beefy bi-modal exhaust system with side-exit outlets. A blacked-out exterior and interior does away with much of the dated chrome accents, while Alcantara upholstery adds a premium flair.

Pricing for the Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar is yet to be announced, but is expected to top the current Patrol Ti-L flagship which retails from $95,115 (plus on-road costs).

The aging, sixth generation Y62-series Patrol – which has now been available since 2016 – received a facelift in 2020 in the form of a new-look front end and additional driver assistance technologies. Alongside the Navara, it is now one of the longest serving models in Nissan’s Australian portfolio.

Watch the Nissan Patrol Warrior by Premcar in action here and visit GoAuto again soon for our off-road review.