When is a Nissan Armada really a Patrol? When it’s been transformed into the Nissan Dune Patrol. Nissan’s latest concept and SEMA Show build takes its name from its more international near-twin, because the brand clearly knows the value of a good play on words.
Burly Beast Gets Awesome Suspension Upgrades
It’s not exactly made for jumping over obstacles like a Ford F-150 Raptor. But Nissan has given its big SUV an almost complete makeover and transformed it into a beast. It also serves to bring it to your attention that this time around, the U.S.-spec Armada has been beefed up to be almost identical to the internationally iconic Patrol.
The build starts with a custom long-travel suspension from CJD Racing. It’s custom for this vehicle and gets Bilstein M 9200 race shocks with a 10-inch stroke. Those same shocks are installed at both ends and feature an externally adjustable bypass, as well as loads of adjustment.
Fitting those massive shocks was no easy task, so CJD Racing built new upper and lower control arms, new front spindles, and tie rods, and even new axles. The new setup delivers up to 16 inches of travel, and that means new brake lines as well as extended shock towers at the back end.
37-Inch Tires Get Prerunner Flared Fenders
The new suspension leaves plenty of room under the Dune Patrol, and Nissan has filled it with some huge tires: 37-inch Yokohama Geolander MT rubber on a set of prototype Nismo AXIS beadlock 18-inch wheels.
Those big tires also need bigger fenders. The wide fenders are a prerunner-style design from FiberWerx, and they’re custom for the Dune Patrol front and rear. They’re 4 inches wider than factory and have an extra 2 inches of tire clearance around them.
Nissan Dune Patrol Has Prototype Parts All Over
The high-clearance bumpers at both ends come from Nismo. The prototype off-road parts have room for plenty of off-road lights, also from Nismo. The front bumper gets an integrated skid plate attachment and recovery shackles, while the rear gets a customizable spare tire carrier, even more LED lights, and a multi-use accessory mount. In this case, it’s holding MaxTrax traction boards for the sand.
There are even more Nismo parts, including frame-mounted rock sliders, A-pillar mounts with LED lights, and a universal radio antenna mount. The result is an Armada that looks ready to go just about anywhere.
On the inside, the Dune Patrol wouldn’t be complete without the integrated on-board air compressor from the Patrol. How else are you going to air up after the dunes?
It also gets Nissan accessory door scuff protectors and all-season floor mats. You know, the real performance parts.
With Enough Interest, This Could Become Real
We kid, but the accessories play a part in why Nissan builds vehicles like the Dune Patrol. It wants to show off how cool it can make the Armada, and that the Armada is closely related to the Patrol — this concept even gets Patrol rear badging.
But the company also wants to show stuff it might build and sell. As a Nissan spokesperson told us, “When it comes to prototype Nismo parts, we always look at what could be possible for production.” If there is enough interest at the show, they could make the catalog. Nismo already offers accessories like racks and complete suspensions for its models, like the Frontier pickup.
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