Nissan pulled the wraps off the all-new, upsized Patrol SUV today in Abu Dhabi, and the big Toyota Land Cruiser competitor has ripped a page from its rival. Gone is the ruggedly utilitarian Patrol that looked right at home in white paint with a giant "UN" on each door. In its place, Nissan has delivered a decidedly more upscale, leather-lined, TV-screened blingwagon. You know, just like Toyota.
Power comes from a direct-injected 5.6-liter V8 that's good for 400 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic and a new electronic four-wheel-drive system with four driver-selectable modes (pavement, sand, rock, and snow). The truck rides on a new four-wheel independent suspension, and incorporates features such as a hydraulic body roll mitigation system, hill start assist, and hill descent control.
Inside, there's a roomier cabin with premium features and better overall material quality. Nifty new tech includes what Nissan calls a "curtain vent" - openings above each window that fire cool air straight down to form a layer of air-conditioned insulation between each passenger and the glass. (This is clearly a product of the extensive market research Nissan says it performed in the Middle East when planning the vehicle.)
So, will we see the Patrol here? For sure. We already have confirmation that the Infinitized version bows next month as the 2011 QX56 at the New York Auto Show. And this one? It'd make a fine Armada if you ask us.
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