Checkmate Ford Ranger Raptor!

Nissan and Australia’s Premcar are again collaborating on a Warrior version of the Navara – and this time everything steps up.

Unveiled on the same night that the all-new D27 Navara series made its global debut in Adelaide as the Warrior Concept, the off-road flagship that is one of the few bright spots in the company’s floundering fortunes, is now important enough to get equal top billing with Nissan’s crucial international mid-sized ute.

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For now, only the high-series PRO-4X grade has been announced, though lower versions of the D27 Navara may also come in for the Warrior treatment in time.

Although Nissan is making loud claims about “enhanced off-road capability”, it seems the Warrior Concept might deliver them in production form.

Among the upgrades are a significant suspension lift kit, aftermarket 17-inch wheels that provide a wider track for increased stability and presence, 32.2-inch all-terrain tyres bringing improved clearances and off-road prowess and retuned suspension that takes in both loaded and unloaded conditions. These are functionality advances designed to broaden the Navara’s off-road capabilities.

Premcar has also developed a protection package that includes a Warrior-specific bullbar design with fender flare extensions and finished in trademark colours, extended front overriders for increased approach angle protection, wing undercovers, aftermarket driving lights and a multi-stage bash plate underneath the front of the vehicle and two extra recovery points.

Most of these are finished in a bright red hue known as ‘Lava Red’ for easier identification – handy when the vehicle is partly submerged – while the Warrior adds tailgate assistance, a tub liner, a black sports bar and a variety of decals and emblems denoting the flagship off-road enhancements.

Premcar says all Warrior vehicles undergo a comprehensive testing regime, consisting of on- and off-road validation in remote Australian locations, including Victoria’s Big Desert serving as the primary proving ground. The remanufacturing processes are strict for highest quality control, each vehicle takes one day on the Warrior production line, and are homologated and approved using strict Premcar processes, according to the company, allowing for Nissan’s factory warranty to apply.

“The concept demonstrates Premcar's philosophy that genuine capability enhancement must be rooted in functional improvement, not superficial styling,” Premcar states. “Each modification serves a specific purpose in broadening the vehicle's performance envelope.”

As with the outgoing D23 Navara Warrior, the suspension upgrades are also expected to improve comfort levels, addressing one of the issues that the new platform has copped in the Mitsubishi Triton.

A bigger success than predicted, over 12,750 Warrior upgrades produced by Premcar since 2019, mainly for the Navara but also for the Patrol 4WD.

More information on the D27 Navara Warrior, including launch timing, pricing and final specification, will be divulged next year, so watch this space.