To celebrate Nismo’s presence in the Middle Eastern market, Nissan has decided to give its 3,0-tonne Patrol the tuning treatment. The justification for this over-the-top model is based on its belief that a performance SUV of this nature will do well in such a market next to the Nismo GT-R and 370Z that will also be joining the lineup.
Visually, the Nismo Patrol has gone through drastic changes. The front-bumper design is very aggressive and draws a lot of inspiration from the GT-R and 370Z. Red detailing can also be seen along the side skirts, door mirrors and air intakes to fully confirm the Nismo presence. A set of quad pipes have also been added just for good measure.
Apart from the new upholstery, the interior looks pretty much the same with seats, door trim and gauges that now have the Nismo colour scheme of red, white and black.
This new Nismo Patrol will still feature the 5,6-litre V8 that will push out 319 kW, with a configuration that provides it with a full torque potential through 70% of its rev range. Shod with a set of 22-inch Rays forged alloy wheels, this vehicle also features a Nismo-tuned steering system and Bilstein shock absorbers.
Nismo has a history of tuning a selection of quirky vehicles such as the Juke, but this variant definitely comes as a surprise. It’s unlikely that this model will reach markets outside of the Middle East, but what most people can agree on is that the IDx would have been more well received than this very niche SUV.