Daimler diesel for Patrol?

The P61G Nissan Patrol will arrive here next year without a diesel engine option initially. That's not to say that Nissan Australia has given up on diesel power for what will be its own best chance of reeling back Toyota LandCruiser sales in the local market.

According to Nissan Australia MD Dan Thompson, Nissan globally is taking a peek at what Daimler AG has to offer among its Mercedes-Benz engine line-up.

Thompson told the Carsales Network that there had been no further progress on a diesel for the next Patrol since our earlier report in March, however, he quickly qualified his own statement with the observation that things were stirring in connection with Nissan and Renault's recently announced alliance with Daimler AG -- the parent company of Mercedes-Benz.

"The one that could be most promising is the Daimler partnership, so that's now an area that the program director and NML (Nissan Japan) are looking into to see if there's a good fit for P61G [Patrol]," Nissan Australia MD Dan Thompson told the Carsales Network during the GT-R drive program at Phillip Island last week.

So the strongest prospect for a diesel Patrol in the new generation model due here next year is a diesel V6 from Benz -- "if there's one that's suitable," concluded Thompson.

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