Nissan has unleashed its race-inspired 319 kW Patrol Nismo via a virtual event hosted at Expo 2020 Dubai – but it is available exclusively to Middle East customers.

The SUV will be available exclusively to customers in the region and begins a year-long celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the dawn of the Nissan Patrol in 1951. It also furthers the Nissan NEXT transformation journey in the region, following the recent regional launch of the all-new Nissan X-Terra.

The latest manifestation of the Nissan Patrol Nismo underlines Nissan’s heritage as a motor sport brand and the region’s long-standing love for high-performance vehicles.

While its exterior has been refined to allow for optimized aerodynamics and suspension, as well as achieving zero lift force, it also features enhanced handling capabilities and stylish race-inspired ergonomic upgrades, along with the latest Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) features.

Thierry Sabbagh, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East says: “Since the launch of the Nismo brand in the region, we have listened to our customers to understand their evolving needs, and worked with our global teams to deliver a Nismo product that not only addresses customer demand, but also takes the iconic Patrol experience to a whole new level. With the 2021 Patrol Nismo, our customers can experience the thrill of handling a car with a racing spirit and turn heads as they glide through the streets.”

This launch further underlines the strong demand for the Nismo brand in the Middle East since its launch in the region in 2016. As Nissan’s performance brand, Nismo is responsible for motor sports activities and specialty performance cars and the 2021 Nissan Patrol Nismo joins the 370Z Nismo and the GT-R Nismo to offer motor sports inspired aerodynamics and styling.

“The exciting enhancements to the 2021 Patrol Nismo make it the ultimate mark for performance, luxury and respect, and adds to our strong Patrol proposition and overall business strategy to ensure we remain a class apart in the region. We are proud to launch this product exclusively for our customers in the Middle East, especially as we mark the 70th anniversary of the Patrol – and look forward to seeing our customers discover what this eye-catching SUV has to offer,” Sabbagh continued.

Mitsunori Morita, Chief Designer for Nismo adds: “Designing Nismo road cars is both a challenge and a beautiful opportunity to express our passion for design on a superlative level. We designed Nissan Patrol Nismo with a unique customer in mind, one with a true passion for performance. We consider every finest detail to provide the most exciting and authentic experience to fuel the adrenaline and inspire the imagination of the excitement seekers.”

“Our aim when designing the new Nissan Patrol Nismo was to gives customers a sense of confidence and pride of owning it. It features a sophisticated aerodynamic form and the size and presence of a premium-class SUV – which when combined with its overwhelming power makes it stand out and establishes its higher grade as a symbol of true performance,” he continued.

The dynamic design plays a pivotal role in highlighting the character of the Patrol Nismo – exuding aggression and sportiness with an imposing presence. It features a new front fascia, with a honeycomb three-dimensional mesh that emphasizes the SUV’s front VMotion grille, along with new front lamps and horizontal chrome lines embellished with the Nismo emblem. The rear bumper is more symmetrical in design to accentuate the car width, with dark chrome inserts and new tail lamps. It also includes LED rear fog lights inspired by the Nissan Formula 1 car, which emits the same brightness as the car’s brake lights in adverse conditions.

The signature Nismo red line wrap covers the circumference at the model’s base, the contour adding a boost to its definition, while the 22-inch, two-tone 2 tone aluminium wheels sport the Nismo logo to add a distinctive aesthetic. The SUV’s tuned suspension features Bilstein shock absorbers, which provide a sportier and improved handling.

Inside, Alcantara fabric with side leather, the upholstery of choice for racing cars, is one of the latest design modifications to the Nismo to add to the plushness of the interiors.

The black Alcantara steering wheel also takes its inspiration from racing cars, with red carbon fibre inserts to provide a sporty and dynamic feel, while the headrests are also embossed with the signature Nismo logo. The refreshed centre console and dashboard adds to the signature Nismo interior, allowing drivers to make informed decisions in real time.

Each vehicle is features a V8 engine with 319 kW and a torque of 560 Nm.

The 2021 Nissan Patrol Nismo has also been upgraded with latest Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) technologies to provide drivers with peace of mind while driving. The latest additions include Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Smart Rear View Mirror and a High Beam Assist. Technology upgrades to the Patrol Nismo also include Apple CarPlay compatibility, wireless charging capability and USB ports including USB-A and USB-C.