Off road

The Y63 Nissan Patrol release is set for 2025 with the LandCruiser 300 Series rival gearing up to use a twin-turbo V6 and debut a hugely improved interior.

The LDV D90 large off-road SUV has been on sale in Australia since 2017 and this week, a pair of new-look models wearing D90 badges were spotted by CarsGuide at local importer Ateco's Sydney headquarters, adding fuel to the fire that a new model is on the way.In China, the D90's replacement is known as the Maxus Territory – which, naturally, wouldn’t fly here – and was released back in 2022. It gives us an indication of what to expect from a new D90. An Ateco spokesperson declined to comment on whether there is a new model on the way. There have also been no updates for the LDV D90 registered in local compliance documents, either. However, the fact that three of the same model were parked together wearing full NSW registration suggests there is an update coming for the affordable Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Ford Everest and Toyota Prado competitor. Compared to the current model, the new Maxus Territory has a larger, squared-off grille with individual black blocks – the brand refers to as ‘Warframe aesthetics’ on the related Interstellar ute – a jutting lower valance and chunkier wheel arches.There’s a lot more interesting detail with the graphics, certainly on some trims, and a black top section of the tailgate. The vehicles we spotted looked just like the Maxus, though had been 'LDV-ified' with the MAXUS and Territory badges replaced with LDV and D90 items for our market.Many of the oily bits appear to be unchanged for the new model including the eight-speed automatic. Like the current vehicle, it uses a 2.0-litre twin turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 160kW, though it is paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system in China and torque is quoted at 500Nm – up 20Nm. A part-time 4WD system is available and the vehicles we saw were badged '4WD'. In China, the Territory/D90 is available with front, rear and centre locking differentials and a roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake in certain trims. A 2500kg tow rating is quoted – down 600kg on the current Executive model. The new model Maxus Territory measures 39mm longer and a little wider yet stands at almost the same height and rides on an unchanged 2950mm wheelbase from the existing D90. Inside, the LDV D90 was already quite a way ahead of many rivals with big touchscreens and lots of tech. The new Maxus model gets a new 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, digital driver’s display, navigation and an ‘intelligent car system’.Further details, including Australian confirmation, arrival timing and pricing are yet to be confirmed by LDV’s importer Ateco.

Nissan in the USA has finally lifted the lid on the next-generation Nissan Patrol's launch timing, confirming that the American version – the Armada – will hit dealerships before the end of the year.

Electric 4X4 anyone? It kind of makes sense that, as the rest of the car market transits towards an EV future, that the four-wheel drive market would, too. It is, of course, not that simple. The term all-wheel drive electric car is not specific enough, just for starters.

Mahindra's move to make it's Thar off-roader safer could see it come to Australia

The partnership between Nissan and Premcar started in 2018 birthing the first Navara N-Trek Warrior by October the next year. This project was followed up by a new Navara Warrior, based on the facelifted Pro-4X, which blossomed into the three-strong Warrior range available today.Far from Ford’s in-house Ranger Raptor program and Toyota’s Australian-focused – but not executed – HiLux GR Sport, Premcar’s take on tough off-roaders is keeping Australian manufacturing alive.We’ve been invited down to Premcar’s Epping manufacturing facility where Navaras and Patrols are stripped back and turned into Warrior products to see how this – now rare – Australian remanufacturing plant operates.So far, the partnership has produced a little more than 10,000 vehicles – 1500 N-Trek Warriors, 2000 Patrols and a combined 6500 Navara Pro-4X and SL Warriors. This is ongoing with 15-16 more examples rolling out of the doors each day.“It's been a very successful program for us, for Nissan, for the customers, for the dealer,” says Engineering Director and Premcar partner Bernie Quinn.  “It’s not often you get win-win-win-win, so that has been really good and a really good company to work with.“One of the objectives of the program was to lift from being regarded as a challenger into more of a genuine competitor for the likes of Ranger and HiLux that are very well regarded in the market,” he said. A similar treatment has been carried out for the Patrol to make it a rival for the LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport though it’s not as simple as ripping OEM parts off, binning them and buying new. There is careful planning to minimise excess spend and waste.The first step in the transformation of the Patrol starts in the cabin. Mottled wood-look trim pieces, the factory multimedia system and leather accents are all removed.The trims are refinished in gloss black, the accents swapped for ‘Warrior’ embossed Alcantara pieces and it gets the MY24 multimedia touchscreen. These tweaked parts are installed at the end of the production line.Next it’s wheels and tyres are swapped out for Premcar’s alloys and knobbly all-terrain rubber. The Navara SL’s standard steelies become dealer spare parts, the Pro-4X’s alloys are offered as dealer upgrades on regular SLs and the Patrol’s alloys go to the Middle East as spares. The suspension is where Premcar works most of its magic. The Patrol’s springs are sent to be recycle and replaced by heavy-duty front and triple-rate rear items increasing GVM by 120kg and improving road holding. Navaras get new dampers but Patrols keep their factory items. What does change is the Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC). The fluid is dropped, newly-machined parts are attached to the head of the shocks and the reserved oil is then used to top the re-engineered system back off. To oblige the 21mm wheel/tyre lift, Premcar needs different arch liners. Again, instead of buying fresh items the originals are cut up, reshaped and put back to use to minimise waste and cost. Improving capability further is a modified front bumper – one of the key reasons the Warrior is based on the lower spec Ti – that improves approach angle to 40º. A signature red 'WARRIOR' insignia bashplate and two recovery points completes the package.The patrol Warrior’s pièce de résistance is the bi-modal exhaust with side-exit tips. The guts of the exhaust remain the same with the OEM system simply having a new valved pipe added locally. A made-in-Australia exhaust controller is fitted at the same time.It passes stringent drive-by noise tests, naturally, and while there's no button to force the flap open it will always give full noise in the seven-speed automatic's tiptronic mode. Sadly, there's no extra power yet – perhaps one day, says Premcar.This level of compliance, re-use of materials and factory five-year warranty is what makes the Warrior unique. These modifications could be fitted in the aftermarket but if you’re paying for labour the costs will be much higher. Additionally, a non-compliant aftermarket exhaust can land you in hot water with the constabulary.Within the production facility the quality control standards are equivalent to that of an OEM line with spot inspections and torque checks on fasteners. Of the 10,000 Warriors on the road, only two have had warranty claims according to Bernie, both for leaky dampers. The thing is, the Navara and Patrol are entering the end of their sales lives. The Warrior project has elevated Nissan’s standing in the ute and 4x4 segments yet replacements are on the way and negotiations will need to happen. Regardless of the next steps, Bernie and Nissan are excited by their achievements. “As soon as we started getting mentioned in headlines ‘Nissan’s Raptor competitor’, or ‘Nissan’s Rugged X competitor’ we’d ticked that box.“That was part of that objective; get it in the mind of those customers.”With the next generation Patrol and Navara, Nismo versions have already been confirmed by Nissan’s Vice president, Product Strategy & Planning Ivan Espinoza. He told CarsGuide that "Patrol Nismo is something we will keep building on. It was really well received," noting that the nameplate is likely to go beyond the Middle East this time around. Nissan’s newly appointed Managing Director of Oceania Andrew Humberstone was quick to say a Nismo would not be the end of Nissan AU’s relationship with Premcar.“The relationship we have is a solid one. When it comes to future product, it is not something we talk about openly, with full transparency , but we are in discussions with Bernie and the team about what we can do with future products,” says Mr Humberstone. “Nismo? I wouldn’t say . We’re looking at the Australian component and I think of the relationship we have with Bernie and Premcar, it’s the ‘made in Australia’ component that’s more important to us,” he added. It’s a sentiment echoed by Bernie. When asked if he thinks Premcar will be involved in next-gen product development, he said: “I not only hope so, I expect so. Because this has worked for everyone.“The counter to that is, if we get it wrong, then the whole thing can fall apart. So we’re doing everything within our control to make it as successful as possible so that we keep on doing it,” he said. The new gen Y63 Patrol and Navara were included in a teaser video announcing a 30 new models by the 2026 Japanese fiscal year, with the new Patrol and Navara expected sooner, by 2025. We will have to wait and see if Premcar and Nissan’s partnership continues in the new models but on the face of it, things look positive for more Warriors.

The current Toyota HiLux has been on sale for close to 10 years and is nearing the end of its life.

Utes have become the Swiss Army knives of the vehicle world. People love utes because they can be used for a multitude of different real-life purposes. Utes can carry people and loads and do it all safely and smoothly. And Ford Rangers are among the most popular utes around.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon sits at the top-of-the-range and it’s available in a two-door body style for $83,950 and four-door for $90,450.Coming standard on the Rubicon grade are LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, proximity key and push-button start, Nappa leather upholstery, power and heated front seats, 12.3-inch media screen, sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system and dark tint windows.Powering all Wranglers is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder making 200kW and 400Nm. An eight-speed automatic transmission shifts gears and sends the drive to all four wheels.The Wrangler has three-star score from a possible five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Isuzu has revealed its much-anticipated facelifted MU-X off-road SUV in its defacto home market of Thailand.