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Australia: Nissan Patrol DX set to go Walkabout
Click image to enlarge
Automakers making rough-and-ready versions of their SUVs is nothing new, but it's clear that some of these are more serious than others. Nissan Australia has whipped up a machine that falls solidly into the latter category with the special-edition Patrol DX Walkabout. In Walkabout trim, Nissan's venerable off-roader receives a laundry list of accessories as standard equipment, including a bull bar, snorkel, cargo barrier, side steps, alloy wheels, and $2,000 (AUD) worth of camping equipment. (Oh yeah, it gets a CD changer, too, so you can blast your Midnight Oil records while rumbling through the bush.) Power comes from a 158-hp/280 lb-ft 3.0L turbodiesel mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. It's available in silver or white and is priced at AUD $49,990 (manual) and AUD $52,990 (auto). That money buys you a vehicle that's pretty much ready to frighten kangaroos and traverse the island continent at a moment's notice. Just pack a couple extra jerry jugs of diesel and hit the road (or lack thereof).
[Source: Nissan]
PRESS RELEASE:
Nissan Launches Limited Edition Patrol 'Walkabout'
Nissan's tough-as-nails Patrol DX wagon is now available with a limited edition 'Walkabout' pack designed to make it the perfect getaway vehicle.
Boasting a comprehensive list of extra features, the five-seat Patrol 'Walkabout' has all the gear you need to get you on your way to your next touring, fishing or camping trip.
On top of the Patrol DX's standard features, the 'Walkabout' adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-disc in-dash CD player, alloy side steps, snorkel, cargo barrier, alloy bullbar, towbar and $2000 worth of camping and outdoor equipment.
Combined with the Patrol's 118kW 3.0-litre common-rail intercooled turbo diesel engine, cruise control, dual front airbags, part-time four-wheel drive system, heavy-duty suspension, limited slip differential and air-conditioning, the 'Walkabout' is ready for anything.
Available in two colours, white and burnt silver, the 'Walkabout' is priced from $49,990* for the five-speed manual model and $52,990* for the automatic.
*All prices quoted are recommended retail pricing and do not include, metallic paint, dealer delivery and on-road costs.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lemmiwinks 6:55PM (11/12/2007)
What the hell is that black thing above the front fender?
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AK 7:03PM (11/12/2007)
That's the snorkel.
Doogs 7:09PM (11/12/2007)
Me: I can has turbodiesel Nissan Patrol?
Nissan: No. You cannot has Nissan Patrol. You live in America. Not yours. But here's a shiny craptastic Armada for you.
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james f. 8:13PM (11/12/2007)
ditto that doogs.
Back in 2000 I was down under and saw MANY Nissan Patrols rambling about, quite a few with snorkels even, and I could not help but wonder why this cruiser fighter wasn't in the U.S. A few years later the poorly named borefest that is the ARMADA debuted and nobodies cared yet.
On a side bar I wondered, every time I saw one, why GM and Ford kept all the cool RWD V-8 cars down there and how subie could give Oz the WRX and withold it from me.
Some companies seem to get it and then theres Nissan who ruins nearly every good idea they once had. GT-R and occasional Infiniti badged brilliance aside. Where's your affordable rwd car that all these drift kids would snatch up? or capable offroading mini-truck? Is a sludgey CVT what all your cars really need? Or what the hell did you do to my beloved maxima?
wow this turned into a rant. sorry
toronado455 7:45PM (11/12/2007)
The hood scoop kinda defeats the snorkel doesn't it? Unless that's a non-functional hood scoop.
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Sam 9:03PM (11/12/2007)
fairly sure the hood scoop is for the top mount intercooler of the diesel.
Revhed 9:03PM (11/12/2007)
Different functions - The hood scoop cools the intercooler - The snorkel is for the air intake
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toronado455 5:52AM (11/13/2007)
Thanks for clarifying.
Cool. (no pun) :-)
Sam 9:04PM (11/12/2007)
* turbodiesel engine, that should say..
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far jr 9:15PM (11/12/2007)
I'll take a Jeep J8 instead!
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/jeep-j8-marks-brands-return-to-military-duty/1#comments
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Guenther 9:38PM (11/12/2007)
The patrol is pretty cool- mechanically a throwback to the old FZJ80 or the HZJ105 (HD version of our last cruiser) The little Turbo Diesel is cool, but they also have a BIG I6 gas motor, that could make an awesome entry level engine for the Titan. In Europe, these things (alongside Landcruisers) are the favorite tow-barge for big stuff, no matter what VW claims the Toureg will tow.
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steve 10:44PM (11/12/2007)
Guenther, a turbodiesel will kill an equivalent gasser - towing, torque and mileage. Why would anyone want a gas engine if there's a diesel equivalent? I've raced my stock 4 ton diesel truck against a subaru WRX over 11,000 ft passes in Colorado. They could not gain any distance on me. Hilarious!
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Guenther 11:37PM (11/12/2007)
Why- because it costs a fortune to make a diesel pass emissions standards in the US. And its not an equivalent gasser- its a 4.8L I6 vs a 3L 4 cyl. Once you do make it meet US regs, the fuel economy advantage is down to about 15-20%. I know what diesels will pull, but I also know that only the gas motor could be adapted to US regs w/o serious investment.
strongbadinator 1:22AM (11/13/2007)
YAAAYYYYY! Not a mustang!
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toronado455 5:51AM (11/13/2007)
LOL.
Yea, lately every other freakin post on Autoblog has been a Mustang.
sigurgeirhs 5:03AM (11/13/2007)
There are also many interesting Patrols in Iceland. 44" tires and all! (everything but the bling factor)
http://fbsr.is/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=227&Itemid=2
http://www.arctictrucks.com/
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Willem B 8:11AM (11/13/2007)
dude.. you are so cool.
i wanna move to iceland now.
love the pictures on your site
Corey W. 1:41PM (11/14/2007)
Ouch... that thing is hard on the eyes!!
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Jim 7:59AM (11/13/2007)
Wonderful mid 90's design.
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mikomi 10:17AM (11/13/2007)
I almost bought a Nissan Patrol last year. But the Patrol weighs nearly 6000lbs with a full tank and the driver. Now start loading up passengers and cargo... that 3L seems pretty anemic now. Don't get me wrong, the Patrol is nice on the inside, but that's too much weight for the 3L from Nissan. The engine is not durable under a lot of workload. As far as diesel engine goes, the 3L from Nissan, IMO, is fragile. The Landcruiser 100 weighs slightly more, but it packs a 4.2 turbo diesel.
Anyway, functionality on the Patrol is top notch. It even has a factory option for a front-mounted winch. But that engine is not durable. I speak from experience, although maybe my associates all have bad luck with the Patrol. 5 patrols, only one survived beyond the second year, and now it's having engine problems from doing mostly light highway driving. I would had definitely bought a Patrol if Nissan had packed a bigger diesel.
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