Nissan Patrol – A never ending story

The story of Patrol in the Gulf region dates back to the very first iteration of this legendary 4WD when the first example appeared in Kuwait. It was the start of a love affair between the desert people of the Arabian Peninsula and the Patrol that continues to this day.

But the story of Patrol itself began in 1951 when the 4W60 was introduced with a 75 hp 3.7L engine which was replaced by the 4W66 featuring the 4.0 L Nissan P-series engine making it even more useable in the desert.

In 1957 the first Nissan vehicle entered the Middle East marketplace where right after the Patrol became central to its offering given the region’s undeveloped road infrastructure at this time. Instantly too, Patrol struck a chord with people in the region who were hungry for a solid, reliable, affordable mode of personal transport that would expand their horizons yet keep them close to their desert roots. The special relationship between Patrol and the desert people had begun!

In 1959 the second generation, 60-series Patrol was introduced and continued to build on the reputation that was then well established of a vehicle that was a benchmark for rugged durability.

The 60-series Patrol received various updates over the two decades it was in production with each version endearing it more and more to the ever-growing ranks of devotees in the gulf who recognised its uncommon prowess in desert terrain and its ability to cope with the region’s harsh climate. The special relationship was by now firmly established between people from this region and the Patrol, as vehicles would be handed down from generation to generation, lovingly maintained and effectively treated as part of the family.

The third generation, known as MQ or 160 arrived in 1980. This was the iteration which saw the addition of features which would make Patrol more of an option for on-road motorists as well as keeping the model’s off-road fans happy. Long trips across the deserts could be taken in greater comfort and the sight of families of the Gulf in fully laden Patrols with smiling children on the rear seats and luggage on the roof became commonplace.

In 1987, the fourth generation Patrol was announced, known as the Y60. This vehicle was a massive success in the Gulf as it was not only a great leap forward in terms of technical sophistication but it featured enhanced levels of comfort which appealed greatly to owners. A rear differential lock, live rear axle and rear disc brakes were among the technical upgrades and as a package the vehicle hit a sweet spot in the region with its amazing off road ability and superior levels of comfort.

In 1997 the fifth generation, Y61 Patrol appeared, bringing the vehicle into the modern age of motoring. Buyers in the Gulf now demanded ever great levels of both comfort and off-road performance and Nissan was more than prepared to deliver. The motoring community in the Gulf loved the enhanced styling, greater luxury and increased levels of technical sophistication which allowed them to take the vehicle where others simply would not dare follow. With its heavy-duty suspension, robust wheels and tough tyres the Patrol Safari was and is more than equipped for the dunes and the strong differential, robust transmission and powerful engines have proved themselves time and again in the hands of skilled and demanding drivers.

In 2010 the sixth generation Y62 Patrol had its World Premiere in the Gulf region. A breath-taking technological tour de force, it instantly captured the imagination of those who crave cutting edge technology, seductive styling and levels of prestige and comfort previously unseen in this class of vehicle. If ever a vehicle was designed to make a whole new generation of drivers in the Gulf fall in love with effortless and luxurious desert and on-road driving, this was it. With a choice of 275 hp in a 4.0L V6 engine or up to 400hp in a 5.6L V8 engine, mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual mode or a 6-speed manual, desert driving has never been so much fun and cross country trips have never been completed with such ease or in such a pleasant environment. Since its introduction, the Y62 broke two Guinness records, one by pulling 3 Ton Cargo Plane in 2013, and one by ascending 100m sand dune in 4.9 secs in 2015.

The location of the world Premiere of the sixth generation Patrol was certainly a deliberate choice. Patrol devotees, especially in the gulf, are always pushing for more from Nissan, and the carmaker in turn is always willing to listen and respond to their demands. That’s why the Desert Edition of Patrol was created in collaboration with the Middle East’s most famous and influential motorsports personality, Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, specifically for owners in the Gulf who like to push their vehicles to the limits in the dunes.

Equally, for those who seek style and performance on the tarmac, Patrol has been given the full NISMO treatment. The NISMO variant ups the engine output to 428hp thanks to the famed Takumi engineers, who also increase the unit’s torque to over 70% of the rev range. Bilstein shock absorbers give improved handling and ride comfort and added styling features include 22” forged alloy wheels, a Zero-Lift aerodynamic body kit.

Patrol was clearly a winner right from the start of its introduction into the Gulf region and it was therefore inevitable that the motorsport community would adopt it as one of their own and use it for competition purposes. And what success it has had in the hands of the region’s rally drivers. Indeed, it is fair to say that Patrol dominates the off-road motorsport scene in the Gulf region like no other vehicle, demonstrating a winning combination of blinding speed, supreme reliability and colossal levels of endurance in the recent Nissan Jeddah Rally, for example, drivers in Nissan cars dominated the list of winners in various categories; Nissan Patrol took the first and third spots in the T1category, and all top three spots in the T2-category. Furthermore, the Qatari Rally Champ Adel Hussein Abdulla was crowned the FIA 2016 T2 World championship with Nissan’s rugged Patrol on top of the championship for the second successive year, after Denis Berezovskiy’s victory in 2015.

So, continuing to conquer the motorsports podium, being a hit with consumers who value both its power and prestige in urban environments and its unmatched prowess in the desert, what lies ahead for Patrol in the region? It is clear that Patrol is here to stay. The GCC and Nissan Patrol are synonymous with each other, inseparable and always looking to the future together, developing, improving and making life better for everyone.

Samir Cherfan, Managing Director of Nissan Middle East: “Since we came to the region, Nissan has been building a strong and mature automotive brand, well known for exceptional quality, performance, innovation and reliability. The Patrol is a highly valuable, credible and desirable car in the Gulf region and we are honoured to bring the brand here where it is most appreciated by the desert riders. There’s a never-ending love story between owners from the Gulf region and the Patrol brand, and the best love stories tend to run and run. That’s how we see the future for Patrol in the GCC.”

Indeed such is the affection in which Patrol is held by the people of the Gulf that they have been known to express their feelings for this incomparable vehicle in poetry, an art form for which the desert people have long been famed. But their affection is by no means illogical, and in poetry they find ways to praise the very features and functionality which have endeared the machine to them and which have allowed Patrol to contribute so greatly to their quality of life. The Patrol as family heirloom is a reality for many families from this region and that is why so many examples from previous decades remain on the roads, lovingly maintained to this day. As a story of a remarkable people and a very special automobile, the continuing narrative of the people of the Gulf and their beloved Patrol is as inspiring as it is unique.