Nissan has used the Hannover Motor Show to unveil the new Navara EnGuard Concept, an all-terrain bakkie designed to operate as a life-saving rescue platform in extreme environments.
The concept is based on the latest Navara double-cab in Tekna trim, but adds numerous bespoke design elements and performance upgrades. Naturally, it is also crammed full of equipment suitable for emergency and disaster recovery work, including an advanced drone to provide vital intelligence about what dangers rescue crews might face.
It also marks the debut of a prototype portable battery from the Japanese automaker. When docked in place, the battery packs are constantly charging, using power generated by the vehicle’s unaltered 2,3-litre 140 kW twin-turbo diesel mill (which is linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission) to ensure they’re ready for emergency use when required.
Nissan says the battery packs could conceivably be used to operate specialist cutting or heavy-lifting equipment, and have been specifically designed to provide an efficient alternative to a petrol generator.
The load-bed, meanwhile, features a pair of pull-out fibreglass trays. The shallow upper tray contains lightweight items such as two-way radios, ropes and an axe. The lower tray is deeper and narrower, storing larger items such as an oxygen tank and resuscitation kit, life jackets and buoyancy aids.
Compared to the standard Navara, the overall ride height of the EnGuard Concept has been raised by 50 mm. Furthermore, the wheel arches feature bespoke overfenders, with new moulded side-steps between them.
The passenger compartment features a completely redesigned roof line, which is 136 mm higher than on the standard Navara. It incorporates a 360-degree LED lighting rig, with emergency blue strobe lights fitted to the four corners. Matching strobes are integrated into the top of all four overfenders, plus in the redesigned front fog-lamps and redesigned rear light clusters.
The concept is built on a ladderframe chassis, but features a new fully adjustable performance suspension system with uprated nylon bushes to further improve off-road capability.
