Nissan Armada Dune Patrol Teases Actual Nismo Off-Highway Goodies We’d Really Purchase : Automotive Addicts

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Nissan introduced some warmth to SEMA with the Armada-based Dune Patrol, and it’s precisely the form of wild, parts-rich idea that makes you begin mentally constructing a purchasing checklist. The complete-size SUV appears goal constructed for quick desert work, however the headline right here is not only the stance or the lights. It’s the lengthy menu of prototype Nismo bits that really feel one step away from an actual elements catalog.

Begin with the suspension. The Dune Patrol runs a customized long-travel setup with 10.0 inch 2.5 Bilstein M9200 coilovers, revised higher and decrease management arms, new drive axles, entrance spindles, trailing arms, and tie rods, plus prolonged brake strains. Nissan quotes as much as 16.0 inches of articulation from the CJD Racing long-travel geometry, the form of quantity that makes whoops really feel small and landings drama free.

The rolling inventory is equally critical. Prototype bronze Nismo AXIS beadlock wheels measure 18 inches and put on 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar M/T rubber. To clear the tires and preserve method and departure angles clear, the truck will get prototype high-clearance bumpers with an built-in entrance skid plate and restoration shackles. There are rock sliders alongside the sills, a low-profile roof rack, A-pillar lights, a 40 inch entrance LED bar, a 30 inch rear LED bar, and MOLLE panels for tying down the little stuff that all the time rattles round on path days. Out again there’s a modular accent mount and swing-out spare provider that appears prepared for dunes, deserts, or each.

Powertrain adjustments are stored low key, which is sensible given the brand new Armada’s manufacturing unit muscle. The manufacturing SUV already packs a twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 with as much as 425 hp and 516 lb ft, routed by way of a 9 velocity automated. On the idea, Nissan provides a prototype Nismo cat-back exhaust, however in any other case leaves the robust VR35DDTT to do its factor. That ought to make the Dune Patrol really feel fast sufficient to match its suspension bravado.

Not all the pieces here’s a prototype. Inside, the Dune Patrol reveals a handful of off-the-shelf equipment like high-wall ground mats, door scuff protectors, and seatback organizers. That break up character is the inform. Nissan is utilizing SEMA to drift the concept that the remainder of the {hardware} may comply with these equipment onto order varieties if the response is robust. The corporate has already leaned into Nismo Off Highway elements for different fashions, so increasing to Armada house owners who really use their vehicles off pavement seems like a pure subsequent step.

SEMA ideas are sometimes pure fantasy, however this one reads like a check mattress for real-world upgrades. Bilstein bypass dampers, true beadlocks, long-travel geometry, sensible lighting, and restoration options are precisely what house owners bolt on anyway. Bundle them with Nismo engineering and validation, and you’ve got a bundle that would flip an already improved Armada right into a legit desert runner with no mountain of customized fab work. That may be a compelling thought for anybody who spends weekends airing down and chasing horizons.

Nissan additionally confirmed a handful of different builds in Las Vegas, however the Dune Patrol is the one which feels most attainable. If even a slice of those prototype elements makes it to the Nismo catalog, count on a wave of sand-ready Armadas to comply with. Till then, this idea does its job. It vegetation a seed, reveals what suits, and will get house owners dreaming up their very own model the second they see it.

Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on this planet of automobiles. Whether or not it’s exploring the most recent developments in automotive expertise or maintaining an in depth pulse on breaking trade information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or beneath the hood, Lloyd enjoys check driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.