Nissan pulled the wraps off the all-new, upsized Patrol SUV today in Abu Dhabi, and the big Toyota Land Cruiser competitor has ripped a page from its rival. Gone is the ruggedly utilitarian Patrol that looked right at home in white paint with a giant "UN" on each door. In its place, Nissan has delivered a decidedly more upscale, leather-lined, TV-screened blingwagon. You know, just like Toyota.
Power comes from a direct-injected 5.6-liter V8 that's good for 400 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic and a new electronic four-wheel-drive system with four driver-selectable modes (pavement, sand, rock, and snow). The truck rides on a new four-wheel independent suspension, and incorporates features such as a hydraulic body roll mitigation system, hill start assist, and hill descent control.
Inside, there's a roomier cabin with premium features and better overall material quality. Nifty new tech includes what Nissan calls a "curtain vent" - openings above each window that fire cool air straight down to form a layer of air-conditioned insulation between each passenger and the glass. (This is clearly a product of the extensive market research Nissan says it performed in the Middle East when planning the vehicle.)
Source: Autoblog.com
