Snow Patrol
As icy weather ravages South Africa, and snow is falling in areas that haven't seen it in decades, Nissan has pulled the covers off the latest incarnation of its flagship luxury SUV. Layered in a fresh new design and bristling with brand-new tech and features, the new Nissan Patrol is set to take on the worst arctic weather that South Africa can throw at it.
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A class leader in power and drive, Nissan brings its "Intelligent Mobility" to this new model, promising an unrivaled driving experience for this long-standing marque here on South African shores.
Let's take a closer look at what you can expect from this new Patrol.
Exterior
At first glance it may not appear as if much has changed but the small changes do add up to a bigger picture. Upfront there is a new V-motion grille and new boomerang-shaped LED headlights. The revised grille completes the effect, giving the Patrol a menacing visage. At the rear, new taillights also sport the boomerang shape. They are seamlessly integrated along with a large chrome nameplate and sequential rear turn indicators, a first for a Nissan vehicle. Rounding out the package, a set of 18” machine cut alloy wheels allow the Patrol to put its power to the ground and look good doing it too.
Interior
The Interior sees the best changes. First on the list is a 13-speaker Bose premium sound system linked to a multi-screen DVD entertainment system, Passengers get 8” screens for rear seat entertainment, independent wireless headphones and remote-enabled passenger vehicle infotainment, Squarely mounted in the expansive dashboard is an 8” colour touch information screen that is Bluetooth hands free and audio streaming enabled and also contains the climate control,
The Patrol also comes with an Intelligent Key with push button start and remote keyless entry and finishes off an interior with anything but diamond-stitch quilted leather seats and a hand-stitched steering wheel would be a crime.
Safety
In a vehicle of this size and opulence it is natural to expect a certain level of driver assistance technology. The new Patrol is equipped with a number of safety systems principal of which is the Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection and the Intelligent Forward Collision Warning system, these systems are coupled to an advanced radar system that is fitted as standard.
The Patrol is also fitted as standard with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. For the best power delivery, a 4-wheel limited-slip diff (LSD) and a Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system are a perfect addition as well as Intelligent Cruise Control and Intelligent Driver Alert, making the Patrol a very safe bet indeed.
Engine and Drivetrain
Power comes from a massive 5.6l V8 engine that allows you to tackle pretty much any terrain, whether it's the parking lot at the local mall or a rocky trail in the mountains. With this class-leading engine boasting 298kW of power, and an exceptional 560Nm of torque there is very little that the Patrol can't conquer. The new Nissan Patrol is equipped with Intelligent 4x4, which allows for on the fly shifting between modes ensuring that you and your passengers can enjoy the drive no matter where the road may take you.
Price
The Nissan Patrol will set you back the princely sum of R1 515 700. That will also get you a 6 year / 150 000km warranty and a 3 year / 90 000k service plan. This is very much inline with its closest competitors, the Lexus LX and Range Rover Sport and is a breath of fresh air in the large luxury SUV segment.
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