Nissan’s Luxury arm, Infiniti, has used the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to showcase two possible directions for its Patrol-based luxury SUV, and one comes packed with Aussie know-how.
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The next-generation Nissan Patrol may not see an Australian debut until 2027, but at the high-end Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance car show, Nissan’s luxury division dropped a strong hint of what’s in store for the next Patrol Warrior.
The Infiniti QX80 Track Spec and Terrain Spec concepts offer a glimpse at two different design themes for the three-row SUV.
Of particular note to Australians though, is Nissan Australia’s development partner Premcar’s involvement in the Terrain Spec concept.
Responsible for the modifications required to create the Navara Warrior and Patrol Warrior, Premcar has led the development of the upgrades to the off-road-oriented QX80, providing strong hints of what to expect from the next Patrol Warrior.
Modifications to the QX80 Terrain Spec include raised suspension, off-road wheels and custom Infiniti-branded all-terrain tyres, and wider wheel arch flares, plus a carry-over from the current Patrol warrior that looks set to become a Premcar design theme: a side-exit exhaust system.
While the modifications aren’t anything unusual for vehicles prepared for off-road use, they provide a strong hint at what Premcar may have in store for the next Patrol Warrior.
Other changes made to the concept, but less likely for showroom release, include a rooftop tent, front guard ‘limb risers’, and a roof-mounted light bar.
Front and rear bumpers also receive additional lower cladding, but retain the shape and profile of the production QX80 bumpers.
Premcar CEO, Bernie Quinn said, "The Premcar team is proud to have worked with Infiniti USA to create the QX80 Terrain Spec concept."
In contrast to the Terrain Spec, the QX80 Track Spec showed a more road-biased alternative with 24-inch wheels, lower bumper and side step extensions, and a quad-tipped exhaust.
The 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 has been retuned to produce more than 485kW and 1017Nm, a significant boost compared to the standard QX80’s 336kW and 700N, itself more than the 317kW/700Nm of the Patrol, but down slightly on the 343kW of the North American Patrol Nismo, sold there as the Armada Nismo.
Unlike the Terrain Spec, the Track Spec has been developed in-house by Infiniti and doesn’t feature Premcar’s involvement.
While the Infiniti QX80 won’t be offered to Australian customers, thanks to the brand’s withdrawal from the Australian market in 2020, the QX80 Terrain Concept gives the best preview yet of what to expect from an Australian-developed Patrol Warrior.
The Y63 Patrol is expected to be available to order from late 2026, with deliveries beginning in early 2027.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
