Nissan Patrol 2013 News

Nissan engineer apologises to Australia: no diesel Patrol.

Diesel "classic" set to continue alongside new petrol Patrol indefinitely.

Nissan has put together a new value-added Plus version of its venerable Y61 Patrol 4WD wagon, bringing added features and drive away pricing until the end of the year.The Patrol Plus Special Edition adds leather accented power seats, satnav, reversing camera, and white stitched floor mats to the existing ST spec, which Nissan values at $5,575 worth of extra kit.The Plus is priced at $57,990 drive away with a five-speed manual, compared to the regular manual ST’s $57,390 before on-road costs.Nissan is also offering drive away pricing on regular Y61 Patrol ST manual variants until the end of the year, with a $54,990 all-inclusive tag representing a significant cut over the normal before on-roads figure.With Nissan dropping the top-spec Ti model from its Y61 Patrol lineup after the arrival of the new Y62 Patrol in January, the Patrol Plus Special Edition could appeal to those seeking a few of the old Ti’s comforts, with significantly more attractive pricing than the $70,890 (manual) and $73,890 (auto) the Y61 Ti carried when it exited the market.Like all current Y61 Patrol ST manual models, the Plus Special Edition comes with a 118kW/380Nm 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine,  rugged solid axles front and rear with coil springs, low-range 4WD drivetrain, and seating for seven.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn  

Watch the updated Nissan Patrol video

The safety recall is part of the global recall of 909,900 vehicles announced yesterday, for a defect that coulld cause them to stall while running.The fault is with defective accelerator sensors that may become unstable and stop responding to the driver's foot, slowing and even stopping even if the accelerator pedal is pushed to the floor.Nissan Australia says the recall is on 24,700 of Y61 Nissan Patrols with the ZD 3.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder engine built between June 2006 and July 2013. "However, there have not been any incidents reported in Australia," Nissan spokesman Peter Fadayev says.The fix will involve replacing the accelerator pedal and changing the engine control programming. "We estimate it will be less than an hour's work," Fadayev says.In addition to the Nissan Patrol, the global recall affects the X-Trail and Infiniti M sedan in overseas markets but not in Australia.  

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. 

Just as Nissan redeems the Tiida/Pulsar faux pas, it makes another one by failing to offer the new generation Y62 Patrol 4x4 with a diesel engine.Nissan is covering its tail by continuing to offer the ancient Y61 diesel Patrol for the time being alongside Y62. Presumably that will be until there's so much pressure from Patrol buyers for a new diesel that Nissan finds one from somewhere. It's been 14 years since the previous model was introduced - a long time and the result has been two pronged - considerable pent-up demand for a new Patrol from existing owners and a sales haemorrhage to other makes.LUXURYBut the new (7-8 seat) model will have appeal in the luxury end of the market up against Toyota's formidable Landcruiser. New Patrol comes in three grades, ST-L, Ti and Ti-L priced at $82,200, $92,800 and $113,900 in ascending order.POWERTRAINAll share the same powertrain which consists of a 5.6-litre, V8 petrol engine (basis of the new Nissan V8 Supercar donk), a seven-speed conventional automatic transmission and Nissan's clever All-Mode 4x4 system with 4H and 4L incorporating Sand, Rock, Snow and On-road modes. There's a rear diff' lock and the vehicle scores hill start assist and hill descent control.Everything is selected from a dial on the dash. The engine is good for 298kW/560Nm thanks to direct fuel injection and variable valve timing and lift on the inlet side. It gives fuel economy benefits and a claimed 14.5-litres/100km on premium. That's much better than the earlier 4.8-litre petrol six in the Y61 model which drank prodigiously.SUSPENSIONSomething that will be liked or loathed by new Patrol owners is the all independent double wishbone suspension that replaces the 'old skool' live axles. Traditionally, the latter is preferred in arduous off-road driving because live axles lift the vehicle up out of a hole or over a rock whereas independent suspension sees the wheel disappear into the wheel well with the body hitting the dirt.On the two high grade Patrols, there's a clever new suspension featuring adaptive dampers that act to prevent body roll in cornering and also to maintain clearance off road. It's called Hydraulic Body Motion Control. Driver assist technologies are available on the higher spec' models such as Blind Spot Warning and Lane Assist among others. A body on chassis design is retained.STYLINGThe body (on chassis) is larger than before with styling that you either like or not. We fall into the latter category suggesting that the front looks too much like a Pathfinder and the overall look is bland and uninspiring. Inside are three seat rows with plenty of room for all passengers and an esky down the back with the third in place.The Y62 Patrol has been around for some time already in Arab countries and features a raft of goodies designed to cater for those looking to be pampered.GOODIESStandard kit includes Bluetooth phone, a DVD player (two in the higher range models), two gig music register, multiple steering wheel controls, intelligent key access, dual zone climate control, rear view camera, front and rear park assist, drive computer and an eight way power adjust driver's seat. Ti and Ti-L get more.New Patrol has a 140 litre fuel tank and can tow 3500kg braked. Some local development work went into the design effort which sees low levels of noise inside the cabin and a single lift up tailgate among other refinements.VERDICTWe'll take it into the bush before forming any conclusions. It would have been a better proposition from our point of view with a new, high-tech 3.0-litre turbodiesel six under the bonnet. There's one in the Pathfinder. 

A favourite name badge will return to Australian roads next year, but the celebrations will begin at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show when Nissan officially unveils the all-new Pulsar small car locally. The covers will be taken off the born-again iconic Pulsar, which left the Nissan line-up in 2005 and motoring enthusiasts are counting down the days until its return. The all-new Pulsar showcases Nissan’s newest design language with its smooth and modern exterior lines, combining a spacious interior and the latest technology and performance to deliver impressive fuel-efficiency and driver satisfaction. Joining the all-new Pulsar on stand will be the 2013 Patrol SUV, complete with full specification and pricing information, ahead of its on-sale date early next year. The all-new Nissan Patrol will be on display to impress with its luxury and spacious interior, powerful V8 engine and advanced operating systems.  The unveiling of the 2013 Nissan Patrol at the Motor Show will mark the first time Australians will be able to see the right-hand-drive local specification vehicle, with an overseas model displayed at Melbourne last year. “Next year will be one of the biggest years for Nissan Australia in recent times, with the launch of the 2013 Pulsar and Patrol, as well as updates on other key models,” said Russ Tyrie, Show Director. “Nissan will display a comprehensive range of its latest and future models at the Motor Show and visitors will also be able to learn more about its newest motorsport involvement prior to it entering the V8 Supercars Championship in 2013 as a third manufacturer.” The 2012 Australian International Motor Show will be held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour and will open daily at 10am from October 19 to 28.  

It also has the compact Almera, a Diesel Dualis, and the battery-powered Leaf, as well as another sharpening tweak to the GT-R supercar to fold into a richer product mix. Then there are four upscale Infiniti models in a big brand stretch at the top end of the Nissan family. The flood of new models is intended to get Nissan onto many more Australian shopping lists, as the company looks to overtake Hyundai and Mazda to become the country's favourite pure import brand."We will be putting eight new products into the market in the next 12 months. We have four on the Nissan side and four from Infiniti," says Dan Thompson, managing director of Nissan Australia. "There are also the regular updates across the other models like the 370Z. It's all coming together within two years. It's great." Thompson is nearing the end of his time in Australia before taking up a promotion in Europe in April, but is clearly still committed to a product update that's easily the biggest since Nissan closed its local manufacturing operation in Australia. "We've got a lot happening. Leaf is in June, that's the next one to come," Thompson says. "Then Almera, then Patrol, then Pulsar. It's all in the next 12 months. Probably the biggest challenge is probably prioritising things. It's going to be a busy, busy period."Thompson says the return of the Pulsar nameplate - which was dumped byJapanese management in favour of the Tiida - is a big event. "We've got big plans for the Pulsar and there is a lot of good stuff we're going to do, especially with the hatch," he says. Right now, he says Nissan is working towards the end of the Japanese financial year and its target of overtaking Mitsubishi in Australia. "We're also up there again in the top three fastest-growing brands. We're starting to get there. We've had seven percent-plus market share for a while now."But Thompson says it's the new cars that are going to make the biggest difference. "We've got the new GT-R landing this month. And that's a pretty big update for just a running change. "We've got the update to the Z, which is the US cycle. We've got Dualis diesel coming towards the end of the year. And we have some other big stuff. "We've got lots of good little running changes for all the core product. We've got a new Navara product coming this month out of spain. With the capacity constraints in Thailand we moved the ST, our best selling variant, to Spain. We're scrambling to find capacity."