Nissan boss downplays X-TRAIL Warrior prospects

Nissan Australia has downplayed the prospects of an X-TRAIL, QASHQAI or Pathfinder Warrior coming to fruition, despite the recent spate of Warrior-related trademarks.

According to local boss Andrew Humberstone, “conversations” are underway with partner Premcar about how the Warrior program could expand beyond potential second-generations of the highly successful Navara and Patrol projects.

“We are looking at the full product range and seeing where other opportunities are,” he said.

“Lots of stuff on the drawing table to be discussed, but specifically in the 4x4 space.

“We can have a conversation around X-TRAIL but that is very much customer-driven, I am not sure the business case would fly there.

“Less likely with QASHQAI because I really don’t see an off-road component to that.

“The problem I think with Pathfinder is the critical mass isn’t there with the volume – would it make sense to have a sub-segment? Probably not.”

The Pathfinder reference is particularly noteworthy right now seeing as Hyundai Australia has just released a pair of XRT off-road packages for the three-row Santa Fe and Subaru’s ongoing promises to deliver the rugged Wilderness portfolio locally.

The North American availability of the Pathfinder Rock Creek also muddies things somewhat.

Humberstone clarified that while the Y63 Patrol has now made its global debut and is set for a 2026 Australian release, a Warrior version wasn’t guaranteed just yet, with the same true of the next-generation but yet-to-be-seen Navara pick-up.

“Nothing is signed at the moment,” he said.

Nissan Australia trademarked the X-TRAIL, QASHQAI, Pathfinder and even Z Warrior nameplates last month, the latter predictably sending local media into a frenzy over the potential for a cut-price, rear-drive Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato alternative.

Humberstone poured cold water on the idea last week, however, as he announced a new product onslaught over the next few years, on that would bring four new and seven updated models to Australia by March 2027.

The roll-out will form a key part of a new long-term strategy to cement Nissan’s future as a top six brand in Australia.

Premcar has already assembled more than 10,000 Warriors for Nissan at its Epping facilities in Melbourne since 2019, with both the Navara and Patrol projects still having at least another 12-18 months on the market to drive the tally higher.

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