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Nigeria-made Nissan Patrol charts new course in upscale market

By on August 31, 2014

Car buffs waiting to catch a glimpse of the latest Nissan Patrol would have every reason to celebrate the quantum of transformation in one of the best-known and longest established nameplates on the global 4WD (four-wheel drive) scene.
Now redesigned with an unprecedented zest and ergonomics, the more than six decades old nameplate has returned with a futuristic look that stands out for its unique combination of the most recent technologies and new design DNA.
Assembled in Nigeria by Stallion NMN plant in Lagos, the new Y62 Patrol as it’s fondly called, epitomises Nissan’s tagline: ‘Innovation that excites.’

President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the beauty and adroitness of the made-in-Nigeria Y62 Patrol when he, in company of some government officials, took delivery of the Patrol in Abuja on Democracy Day.
He said: “I’m quite happy that Nissan has demonstrated the reality of exporting cars from Nigeria is possible which suggest we can soon as a nation export vehicles to other parts of the world.”
Nissan says the new Patrol adapts to the needs of consumers by breaking away from its ‘proper off-roader’ status to become urbane-friendly SUV with far more refined proposition that offers a dramatically improved ride quality and fuel economy than its predecessor.
Mr. Amit Sharma, Stallion NMN (Nissan Motors Nigeria) head of sales and marketing, the local Nissan sales company also attested to the Patrol’s expediency, saying: “the new Y62 Patrol isn’t the previous workhorse but a technologically savvy SUV imbued with all the practicality of a luxury sedan.

“And just as the new Patrol easily conquers a long uphill task with its exceptionally modified V8 torque, so does its multi-mode grip compensates for rocks and loose sand when driven on rough roads and in deep water,” Mr. Sharma explained.
He said the new Nissan Patrol is undoubtedly one of Nissan’s most revolutionary designs ever in the Patrol’s 62-year history and it incorporates the most innovative highest quality, and highest value luxury SUV in Nissan history.
Compared with Toyota’s Land Cruiser, the new Patrol offers substantial ground clearance of 283mm which is 58mm greater and the Patrol matches competition’s maximum wading depth of 700mm, but breathes through the left-side guard vent, simplifying the fitment of an aftermarket snorkel.

Naturally aspirated, the Y62 Patrol comes equipped with a big V8 engine that delivers 298kw of power and 560Nm of torque – 90 per cent of which is available from just 1,600 rpm that makes 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.6 seconds.
International test drivers say the Patrol engine is undeniably a driver’s delight with an advanced seven-speed automatic transmission and sophisticated and electronically controlled all-mode 4X4 system.
“When in auto mode for instance, there’s torque split between the front and rear wheels on a 50/50 variable basis depending on road surfaces and at the touch of a button, a switch activates 4WD high for semi-serious off-road conditions or 4WD low for the really heavy stuff,” test drivers unanimously affirmed.
The Patrol SUV is certainly a fun to drive. It offers four terrain options: Sand, Snow, Rock and On-road – at the touch of a button. This feature makes it unique in its segment as competition does not offer this feature.
At city speeds and crawling around off-road, the broad spread of ratios is perfectly matched to the smooth delivery of torque from the 5.6-litre V8 while on the highway, the Patrol lopes along at 110km/h with the engine seemingly only a tick above idle. And when stoked, it responds with a throaty induction-snarl matched by impressive acceleration, particularly when overtaking.
In a world’s first, the Patrol employs advanced HBMC (Hydraulic Body Motion Control) System with 4-wheel independent suspension that works with the chassis and body frame to give the vehicle superb stability on rugged and sandy terrain, while also delivering comfortable ride in the city. This has greatly enhanced the vehicle’s 3500kg towing capacity that could be employed in towing a luxury cruise boat around town.

Features
Standard in both variants of the Nissan Patrol range are Bluetooth phone and audio streaming; large format front DVD player; a 2GB hard drive music server with 13 speakers; USB and iPod connectivity; steering wheel audio controls; intelligent key access; eight-way power assisted driver’s seat; drive computer, three-zone climate control, front, side and curtain airbags with active front headrests. In addition are around view camera, 600ml cool box with dual side openings.
The Patrol LE however gets separate seven-inch DVD screens in the rear of the front seat headrests with power operated tailgate.
Compared to its luxury rivals, the new Patrol has much off-road capability. And in crowded motor parks, you can be rest assured you won’t bump into other cars with dedicated parking aids such as a reversing camera, all-round parking sensors and a 360 degree around-view monitor. This again is a unique feature, which gives absolute peace of mind.

Interior
The new Nissan Patrol is one of the largest cars in the luxury SUV category. It’s bigger in all exterior dimensions when compared to competition. There are plenty of interior space and comfort levels that you can expect including wood grain finishes, and up-market dash layout and high quality finishes.

The Patrol is also functional. With all three rows of seats occupied, there’s still 550 litres of storage space and when the second and third row seats are folded, the new Patrol can provide 3100 litres with a virtually flat floor.

Driving
The big V8 engine is beautifully quiet and smooth on the road especially in an ideal long-distance journey, where you need to transport up to eight occupants. And at highway speeds, the Patrol’s excellent wind and tyre noise insulation is apparent. No doubt, the Patrol is generally quiet and refined. The Patrol is in spite of this enhanced by Nissan’s new Hydraulic Body Motion Control on the suspensions to reduce body roll and give an exceptional ride comfort for the driver and passengers. You only need to sit in the rear seats to feel the comfort level compared to competition due to most ergonomically sitting posture in which you are comfortable even on long distance drives due to the thigh and back support provided by the Zero gravity seats.

Verdict
Nissan’s latest SUV is packed with the most technologically imbued gadgets ever that wields significant quality and performance over competitions such as Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LX570, Mercedes Benz GL-Class and even Range Rover. Suffice to say the Patrol is absolutely unique in all attributes and totally unmatched by competition. These offerings make it a class above the rest of the SUV’S in its class in technology, comfort and luxury.

 

 

[This Day]

One Comment

  1. raven

    August 31, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    No picture.. your headline says Nigeria Made, your article says assembled.. I don’t get it. I’m glad sha o… as I criticize jona reach, e dey try for this one.