Nissan considering building a NISMO version of Navara
Next-generation Nissan Navara could get a NISMO variant
It's no secret that Nissan is busy working on the next-generation Navara which will be based on the all-new Mitsubishi Triton. While the current generation Navara is due for a full model change, the automaker built what is perhaps the toughest and most capable version of the pickup truck, the Navara Pro-4X Warrior.
Made possible in partnership with Australian engineering company Premcar, the “world's toughest Navara” gets a generous serving of upgrades that include a steel front bumper, a bright red bash bar with underchassis protection, overfenders to protect the wheels & tires, chunky off-road tires, and an upgraded suspension system.
Despite the Pro-4X Warrior already serving as a nice send-off to the current generation Navara, Nissan is supposedly considering building something even wilder. Recently, Nissan Global Product Strategy vice president Ivan Espinosa recently shared with Australian media that a NISMO version of the next-generation Navara will likely come out shortly after the all-new pickup is revealed.
According to a report by CarExpert, the Nissan executive mentioned that the Navara NISMO is something the automaker has been looking into for a while now.
“Well, this is also something that we are looking at [a Navara Nismo] and you could imagine seeing something along those lines with the partners that we are working on that as well. So of course, this is in particular, in Australia, it’s something where we’ve been doing very good business and customers are very happy with what we’re providing. So you could think that we could probably do something along those lines,” said Espinosa.
Like the Navara Pro-4X Warrior, the NISMO version of the pickup truck will likely be developed in Australia for the Australian market with help from Premcar. But given the global appeal of the NISMO brand, Nissan may likely make the Navara NISMO available in global markets should the project get the green light.
As to what will power the souped-up pickup truck, it might get a more powerful engine than the 2.3L twin-turbo diesel inline-four. Some speculated the Navara NISMO could get the all-new Patrol's 3.5L twin-turbo V6 although Espinosa ruled out that possibility – stating that the V6's application is only for the Patrol, for now at least. However, Espinosa did say that parts of the new V6 engine could be carried over to some future models.
Should the Nissan Navara NISMO become a reality, it could go up against the likes of the V6-powered Ranger Raptor which gets its power from a 3.0L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. It makes 392 PS with 583 Nm of torque paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Should the Navara NISMO get the Patrol's 3.5L twin-turbo V6, it will make more power as it generates 425 PS with 700 Nm of pull and is mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
Do you think Nissan should green-light the Navara NISMO project? Let us know in the comments.
