Nissan hints at Navara Nismo as next-generation truck

Nissan is working tirelessly on the next generation of the Navara, which is expected to go on sale next year, but the standard version has not yet been released, and there are already rumors that a Nismo-branded flagship model will be launched. The Nissan Navara Nismo is not just about speed, but is ready to go head-to-head with the Ford Ranger Raptor and bring new power to off-road racing.

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Nissan Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa all but confirmed that the company is seriously considering launching a Navara Nismo, and hinted that it would be done in collaboration with a partner company: “Well, it’s something we are considering as well, and you could imagine seeing us develop something like this with a partner.”

According to Australian media CarExpert, Espinosa highlighted local partnerships as a promising example: “Of course, this is particularly true in Australia, where our business has been very good and customers are very happy with the product we offer. So you can assume that we might take similar steps.”

The Warrior versions of the Navara and Patrol launched in Australia are the product of a partnership between Nissan and Australian company Premcar. The partnership could be key to the development of the Navara Nismo, potentially positioning it as the crown jewel above the off-road-focused Pro-4X versions.

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2021 Nissan Navara Warrior from Premcar

A Nismo-branded Navara could get a more powerful engine to take on the V6-powered Ford Ranger Raptor. Nissan’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, which produces 425 hp (317 kW / 431 PS) and 516 lb-ft (699 Nm) of torque in the new Patrol/Armada twins, seems like a strong contender. However, it’s unclear if this engine would fit into the Navara’s ladder frame.

When asked about that possibility, Espinosa said the only application for the V6 is the Patrol, but he added that “some of the functionality may carry over to some future models.”

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a Nismo-tuned Navara. The first reports surfaced back in 2014, just a few months after the current D23 generation pickup truck made its debut. The idea died down for a while, but it was revived last year.

Driving Experience: Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior: Brash and Fearless

At the 2023 Japan Motor Show, Espinosa, then Nismo CEO, hinted at a Navara flagship model in an interview with Australian media. “This is something I spent a long time thinking about at Nismo,” he said, according to CarSales. “We could think about… not an off-road crawler truck, but something more focused on speed, off-road speed, a Baja type of vehicle.”

As part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the next-generation Nissan Navara is expected to share its ladder-frame chassis, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrain options with the Mitsubishi Triton. Interestingly, Mitsubishi is also rumored to be developing a Ralliart-badged flagship version of the Triton, which may borrow Nissan’s V6 powertrain to up the ante.

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2018 Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept