New Nissan Patrol 2012 - mister-cars.com

Nissan Australia has confirmed the company's trojan horse – Patrol 4WD – will find it's way to Australia in the first half of 2012. Nissan has brought a Middle East left hand drive Patrol to the Sydney International Motor Show to give Australian fans of the car their first look at the off-road icon in the flesh.

Nissan also confirmed the first of the new Patrols will be in petrol only – a 5.6 litre DOHC V8 churning out 298 kW of power and 550 Nm of torque, through a seven speed auto transmission. A diesel engine for Patrol is under `review' but until such time as that arrives, the existing 3.0 litre Patrol will sell alongside the new V8 petrol in 2012.

The new Patrol is described by Nissan as a `technological tour de force' as well as exuding luxury of a standard usually reserved for European marques of the likes of Lexus. The vehicle Nissan has brought to the motor show has the Middle East specifications, which will be more than 90 per cent the same as the Australian specifications.

Inside the vehicle is decked out with high grade leather, polished aluminium and woodgrain panelling. The new vehicle has a 140 litre, long-range fuel tank. In a first the new Patrol uses a Hydraulic Body Motion Control System which keeps the vehicle flatter with less body roll. New suspension hardware employs 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension, upgraded from the previous rigid axle setup.

Other inclusions are hill start assist – limiting downhill speed to 4 km/h in 4 Low – and hill descent control. The vehicle comes with six airbags. New safety technology includes lane departure warning and prevention, intelligent cruise control, distance control assist, forward collision warning system, vehicle dynamic control, traction control, helical brake limited slip differential, mechanical diff lock, and intelligent brake assist. The vehicle is large at 5.140 m long and tips the scales at 2785 kg.

Nissan also announced a new class-leading 3.0 turbo diesel – complete with a seven speed auto transmission - would be fitted to both Navara and Pathfinder with two new models, Navara ST-X 550 and Pathfinder Ti 550. The 550 stands for a massive 550 Nm of torque from the all-new 170 kW V6 engine. The variants will have increased towing capacity of 3000 kg for the Navara and 3500 for the Pathfinder, which will now rival Toyota's Prado as a vehicle of choice for thousands of grey nomads towing caravans and camper trailers around Australia. The engine will become available in early 2011, the new high-technology engine develops 550 Nm of torque from just 1750 rpm. The Navara ST-X 550 will retail for $60,990 and Pathfinder Ti 550 for $75,990 when they go on sale in January.

Nissan revealed a new Micra which will boast six airbags, two engine options and a choice of manual or auto transmissions. The entry level Micra will be priced from $12,990 before on road costs and is the first Nissan to secure a five star rating in the Green Vehicle Guide. It is powered by a 56 kW 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol engine that sips just 5.6 litres/100 km. There's also a 1.5 litre 75 kW four cylinder petrol engine variant. The new Micra features standard vehicle dynamic control, ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist as well as front, side and curtain airbags on all models. Micra will only come as a five door in three trim levels: ST 1.2L ($12,990 m $14,990 a) ST-L 1.5L ($14,990 m - $16,990 a) and Ti 1.5L ($16,990 m - $18,990 a).