New Nissan Patrol diesel hopes sparked

The company’s US division has released a Cummins V8 turbodiesel for its Titan pickup, which is based on the same F-Alpha platform as the Y62 Patrol four-wheel drive.

And the local HQ say they’d be keen to see it here if available. “We would be first in line requesting the model for Australia, should a diesel Patrol be developed in the future,” Nissan Australia’s head of public relations Peter Fadeyev says.

However he says Nissan currently has no plans to release a diesel Y62 Patrol. Nissan has instead opted to continue selling the older generation (Y61) 3.0-litre turbodiesel Patrol alongside the 5.6-litre petrol V8-powered newer model. “The (Y61) Patrol continues to appeal to traditional off-road diesel enthusiasts in Australia,” Fadeyev said.

Nissan head office has not confirmed any plans to fit the Cummins diesel to the Patrol. But with a diesel that suits the platform now available, the Patrol is in a good position to become the next recipient of the 5-litre turbodiesel. “There is a possibility that the engineering capability might be there,” Fadeyev says.

In the meantime, Nissan has been aiming to convince buyers of the capability of the petrol unit. Most recently the Patrol set a new Guinness record for heaviest airplane hauled, by towing a 170-tonne Ilyushin II Russian cargo airplane in Shajah international airport in the United Arab Emirates.

The Y62 Patrol, which was launched earlier this year in Australia, was largely developed for the Middle East – by far the Patrol’s biggest market, and one that has low petrol prices. This influenced the decision to not develop a diesel option. In the Middle East alone, where the Y62 launched in 2010, sales figures have soared 47% since last year. The petrol model has also proved popular in Russia and the US, where it’s sold with the Infiniti badge. Like the Middle East, those markets have an appetite for large petrol four wheel drives due largely to low petrol prices.

However, in Australia diesel four wheel drive sales are booming. In 2012 sales were up by 35% for that segment. And the Patrol’s main rivals, the Toyota Landcruiser 200 series and Land Rover Discovery, are enjoying the benefits, posting strong results for their diesel models. Patrol fans have taken to Nissan’s facebook page, forums and other media sites calling for a diesel version of the Patrol. The just-released Cummins diesel in the Nissan Titan could well be the solution to that demand.

The Titan shares not only the platform, but also the current 298kW 5.6-litre petrol V8 with the Y62 Patrol. The new V8 turbodiesel 223kW 5-litre unit packs a healthy 744Nm torque, compared to the petrol’s 560 Nm. Importantly for Nissan Australia, a V8 turbodiesel Patrol means the company could eclipse its arch-rival, the Landcruiser 200 series, which offers a 4.5-litre 195kW/650Nm V8 diesel.

The benefits don’t stop there, with the new engine expected to better its petrol counterpart in fuel economy, range and towing capacity. Cummins vice-president Dave Crompton said at the Titan engine announcement the new power plant “will offer the right balance of power, performance and fuel economy while delivering the dependability that customers expect of a Cummins engine.” The Indiana-based manufacturer is renowned for its heavy duty truck power plants, supplying units worldwide including Kenworth and Mack Trucks of Australia.