All-new Patrol debuts in Sydney
Nissan gives us a look at the massive new Patrol due in 2011, but still gives no word on diesel optionNissan's hunky new Patrol was on display at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney but, although it is clear it will be coming here next year, it's less clear how far Australia will be away from a diesel option.
In the diesel-denial markets where it is on sale, the new generation Patrol currently uses only petrol V8 power.
However in Australia, where diesels account for at least two-thirds of the large SUV market, the company is not saying how close it is to making a decision on a future oil-burner. Talking to the Carsales Network at the Sydney show CEO Dan Thompson said his company was still working on the best "package" for Patrol.
"We haven't found the right packaging and the right engine for the next-generation Patrol when it comes to the diesel perspective," Thompson said. "What that [diesel option] will be we haven't as yet identified."
When asked whether the new 550Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel for Navara and Pathfinder would suit, Thompson admitted: "We have looked at the V9X and we'll continue to look at it as one option."
Eyes are on the recent alliance between Nissan and Renault with Mercedes-Benz, and the possibility that the Patrol could end up with a Benz V6 diesel under its curvy bonnet. Also a chance is the Renault V6 diesel that winds out 550Nm of torque and could be a good fit for the Patrol.
In the end it will no doubt come down to price. Here the wide usage of the Benz diesel V6 across its passenger car and SUV range -- as well as Jeep -- could work in its favour.
The new generation Patrol (dubbed P61G) shares nothing except its name with the current GU series. It is comprehensively bigger (larger than a Toyota LandCruiser) more refined through the adoption of a muscular 298kW/550Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8, constant four-wheel-drive system, seven-speed auto transmission and Hydraulic Body Motion Control System (HBMCS) -- and comes with the promise of being a lot more expensive.
No exact date has yet been set for the Australian launch, but the new generation Patrol is expected to arrive here in the first half of 2011.
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