With the new Nissan Patrol-based Infiniti QX56, Nissan hopes to release a better competitor in the full-size luxury SUV segment than its lumpy, tumorous predecessor. From the pics, it's already way ahead of the game (barring the absurd, swoopy vents and lesion-like tail lamps).
Wearing the manliest face Infiniti has ever put on an SUV while retaining the brand's design language, the new-for 2011 QX56 is visually much more blunt and regal, if that's possible.
Most likely packing Nissan's 400-horsepower 5.6 liter V8 (rated at 405 lb-ft of torque), this looks like it may legitimately be able to go up against Lexus and its Land Cruiser.
Here's hoping Nissan does more to differentiate the QX and the Armada this time around. More information and pics coming soon.
The brand-new, seventh generation of the Nissan Patrol had its world premiere in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The Japanese firm claims that the 2011 model year of its Toyota Land Cruiser rival builds on its history as one of the most capable 4x4s in the market adding a more modern design, enhanced interior comfort and luxury as well as a more powerful V8 powerplant to the equation.
Nissan's product design director, Taiji Toyota (how ironic...), tells us that the Patrol's all-new exterior design, which was previewed by the 2006 Terranaut Concept, is less rugged and more upscale.
"Not as edgy and hardcore as its predecessor, the softer new surfaces are beautiful and add a sense of modernity to the design equation, while still maintaining a ruggedness and commanding road presence" he said.
In similar fashion, the new Patrol's interior is a much more luxurious place to be with the company claiming that since most customers spend less than 15% of the time off-road, it wanted to create "a better, higher quality interior for the whole family".
That translates to a more premium design with generous amounts of leather, polished aluminum and wood grain paneling as well as a bevy of luxury features such as a new multi-screen DVD entertainment system with two rear-facing 7-inch screens embedded into each front seat headrest.
Furthermore, Nissan says that it has improved passenger space with the 2011 Patrol offering over 100mm more legroom for second row passengers, and a roomier third row of seats as well.
The latest generation Patrol is built on a new platform and is offered with a new and more powerful 5.6-litre V8 engine that replaces the previous model's 4.8-liter V8. Featuring direct injection technology, the new V8 produces 400hp and 550Nm of torque. Nissan did not disclose any details on any other future powerplant offerings for the Patrol.
The 5.6-liter V8 engine is linked to a new 7-speed automatic transmission and an upgraded 4WD system that incorporates a variable 4x4 mode package allowing the driver to quickly switch between four drive modes: sand, on-road, snow and rock.
The 2011 Patrol gets a new suspension setup that now employs 4-wheel independent suspension, upgraded from the previous rigid axle setup, while Nissan also equipped the SUV with a Hydraulic Body Motion Control System (HBMC), which is said to reduce body roll during lane-changing and cornering.
Other highlights include the new Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control and a revised brake system with new hydraulic brake booster and a 4-piston opposed front caliper setup with larger 358mm front discs.
While the new Patrol will form the base for the 2011 Infiniti QX (see here) - due for launch in North America towards the end of the year or in early 2011- it remains to be seen if Nissan's luxury SUV makes it on this side of the Atlantic.
The all-new 2011 Nissan Patrol must be one of the worst-kept secrets of automotive industry as the first photos of the luxury SUV snapped without any camouflage whatsoever at some sort of presentation made their way onto the web more than a year before its launch.
And it doesn't end there. Today, we found a whole set of official photos as well as a video of the new Patrol -courtesy of a Nissan forum in the Middle East- that you can check out in all their glory after the jump.
The latest generation of the Patrol is Nissan's largest and most capable 4X4 model and it will compete in most markets with the Toyota Land Cruiser. The new Patrol will form the base for the 2011 Infiniti QX (scooped here) which is due to be introduced in North America sometime this year or early 2011.
The Patrol's exterior styling has been modernized adopting several key design cues from the Nissan Terranaut Concept that was shown at the 2006 Geneva Salon.
Even though details about the mechanics remain scarce, the photos confirm earlier reports that the Patrol will be offered with the Nissan group's new 5.6-liter V8 petrol engine that cranks out 420-horsepower in the 2011 Infiniti M56.
The range is also expected to include six-cylinder petrol and diesel units.
Stay tuned on Carscoop as we'll have the full story on the new Patrol on Sunday after it's official presentation at a special event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The next generation of the Nissan Patrol luxury SUV will have its world premiere on February 14 at a special event that will be held in the United Arab Emirates. For this purpose, Nissan launched an online competition offering an all expenses paid trip to the event for a total of six lucky winners.
However before you go and apply on the dedicated website, note that only residents of U.A.E., Saudi Arabia. Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qata are eligible to participate in the campaign.
We'll remind you that we first had the chance to see the 2010/2011 Patrol without any camouflage whatsoever in December 2008 through a series of photos that are believed to have been shot during an internal presentation.
Coincidentally, the same thing happened last September with the Nissan Patrol's more luxurious sibling, the 2011 Infiniti QX, which is scheduled to be introduced in North America sometime this year or early 2011.
It is expected that Nissan's Toyota Land Cruiser competitor will be offered with an updated engine range comprising of V6 and V8 petrol units as well as a six-cylinder turbo diesel.
Even though it's been a year since we first showed you a set of photos of the next-generation 2010 Nissan Patrol bagged completely undisguised during some sort of internal presentation, the Japanese automaker has yet to release the vehicle onto the market. Apparently, as this video of a prototype Patrol caught testing in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) suggest, Nissan is still continuing the development of its 4x4 model.
The new Patrol, which should make its debut sometime this year, will compete head on with Toyota's latest generation Land Cruiser. It is also presumed that the new Patrol will form the base for the U.S. market 2011 Infiniti QX that you can check out here.
