The new Nissan Armada is a huge improvement over the previous generation. It’s better in every way and could be the basis for an excellent off-road vehicle. Nissan teases this possibility with the Dune Patrol concept, which features a variety of modular off-road parts.
The Dune Patrol has a heavily modified custom suspension, with unique 10.0-inch 2.5 Bilstein M 9200 front and rear coilovers, upper and lower control arms, drive axles, front swingarms, trailing arms and tie rods, with extended brake lines. The CJD Racing custom long travel suspension has up to 16.0 inches of articulation.
The SUV also features a variety of “typical NISMO” parts, such as 18-inch AXIS bronze wheels, which April Wrapped in 37-inch Yokohama Geolander MT tires. There are also plenty of exterior upgrades that we hope to see in the parts catalog someday.
The Dune Patrol features a prototype high-clearance off-road bumper, which has an integrated front skid plate, front tow shackles, and four amber 6-inch NISMO off-road lights. Out back, there’s another high-clearance bumper, a spare tire holder, and an accessory rack that holds MaxTrac traction plates.
Photo by: Nissan
Other upgrades include rock sliders, A-frame lights, and a custom tonneau cover, as well as the typical low-profile roof rack. It has 40.0-inch front and 30.0-inch rear LED light bars and custom MOLLE panels.
Nissan didn’t mention any powertrain upgrades, so we suspect a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque is hiding under the hood. The SUV has a prototype NISMO Cat back exhaust.
Things in the Dune Patrol that are not typical parts include high-wall floor mats, seat back organizers, and door guards. These are real accessories.
Photo by: Nissan
While it’s unlikely Nissan will ever produce an actual desert runner like this, it could turn these prototype NISMO parts into production parts. Someone somewhere is looking at the Dune Patrol, wondering how much more time they’ll need to work to achieve their goal. Armada Looks as cool as this SEMA concept.
The Dune Patrol is one of several Nissan concepts on display at this year’s SEMA Show.
