LATEST NEWS FROM THE 4X4 WORLD

BUILT FOR EMERGENCIES, FOUR-WHEEL DRIVERS WILL BE JEALOUS.

NISSAN has taken the covers off its Navara Enguard Concept, a rig designed to save lives and survive in the world’s most extreme environments.

Revealed at the 2016 Hannover Motor Show, the durable all-terrain pick-up is based on the double-cab Navara and is packed with equipment necessary for emergency and disasterrecovery work.

To help carry the extra gear over any terrain the Navvie has received a fully adjustable suspension system with uprated nylon bushes, resulting in a 50mm lift.

The front and rear wheel tracks have been widened by 80mm and 94mm respectively, with 285/75R16 off-road tyres on each corner. More sensible 16-inch rims replace the stock 18-inch alloys.

A snorkel has been fitted, as well as bespoke fender flares over the wheel arches. Moulded side steps run along the flanks.

Down back is a load bed packed with rescue equipment stored in two pull-out trays. Each twin-skin fibreglass tray extends by 800mm.

Part of the rescue kit includes a prototype portable battery pack from Nissan. Utilising the brand’s EV battery tech, the packs are “constantly in charge mode, using power generated by the vehicle’s 2.3-litre diesel engine”. This enables the packs to always be ready for emergency use. Integrated into each pack are two charge and five discharge sockets.

Forgetting the rescue uses, such a power pack would be ideal for powering all your campsite toys and gadgets. Speaking of toys, the concept even has its own DJI Phantom 4 drone, to help with search and rescue missions in rugged and hard-to-access terrain.

While not for everyone, the Navara Enguard incorporates some ideas that could be handy for the recreational fourwheel driver.