Nissan wants Raptor-rivalling Navara NISMO

Nissan has again refused to rule out a Ford Ranger Raptor-rivalling, hard-core dual-cab 4x4 ute that could be called the Nissan Navara NISMO, suggesting a more powerful pick-up truck is already in development.

When asked directly if the global success of the Ford Ranger Raptor would have any impact on a business case for a faster Navara, Nissan’s global light commercial boss Francois Bailly told journalists at the Tokyo motor show yesterday:

"The Raptor is very interesting pick-up truck and a significant success in Australia, but not just in Australia, and we are looking at those trends very precisely," he said.

Bailly didn't elaborate, nor reveal what would power the Japanese brand’s Raptor rival if it was greenlit for production, but as stated by his predecessor Ashwani Gupta in February – when he said Nissan will study the business case for a more powerful Navara at Australia’s request -- the company has many powertrains at its disposal.

Nissan's performance division would pick the punchy 298kW/475Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 that lies under the bonnet of the Infiniti Q50.

Another appealing, if less likely, option would be the full-fat 419kW/632Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 from the flagship Nissan GT-R, although its six-speed dual-clutch transaxle could prove a poor match for an off-road tow tug with a live rear axle.

Either way, to match the popular $75,000-plus Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan’s Navara NISMO would need to come with motorsport-bred long-travel race-truck-style suspension, more under body armour and more aggressive looks.

Clearly, Nissan recognises the growth and profitability in Australia’s pick-up market, which is among the top four in the world, is due largely to demand for top-end dual-cab 4x4 variants priced in excess of $50,000.

That’s why it will introduce the range-topping Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior in December (pictured), based on the MY19 Series 4 Navara released in July and bringing tougher looks and better off-road capability but no changes to the 140kW twin-turbo 2.3-litre turbo-diesel.

Sadly, the Navara is not expected to bring any significant powertrain or safety upgrades in the forseeable future and a high-performance NISMO version is unlikely to materialise within the life of the current generation model launched in 2015.

Not due until the mid-2020s, the next-generation Navara is currently being co-developed alongside the new Triton as part of Nissan’s alliance with Mitsubishi. Both pick-ups will share the same ladder frame chassis, electrical architecture, four-wheel drive hardware and even powertrains, including an e-Power hybrid version by 2025.