Nissan may take on Ford's Raptor off-roaders with new Nismo models

Nissan’s performance arm could push further into the off-road space with models to take on Ford's Raptor range, as part of a global expansion of the Nismo performance sub-brand.

Known for the hard-edged, enthusiast-focused models it has produced since it was created in 1984, Nismo already offers a version of the Nissan Patrol, having introduced the first Y62 Patrol Nismo in 2015, though it was never sold here.

Nissan Australia is scheduled to launch the new Y63 Patrol locally later this year but hasn't locked in the Nismo model unveiled in 2025, which is currently sold in the Middle East and as the Armada Nismo in the US.

Yet Nismo global CEO Yutaka Sanada told media, including CarExpert, the brand could move further into the off-road space as appetite for such vehicles grows.

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“[The] overall performance expectation is wider and wider and wider. I highlight, the focus market [is] not only Australia, but also the United States and Middle East,” he said.

“Naturally, you can consider Nismo is considering some offer as a business to this. [There is] obviously a big customer [base] behind that, so know that – when, how – as a formal product offer … you can expect some.”

Nissan is working on a new body-on-frame platform for the US market which will reportedly underpin the next Frontier ute and Pathfinder SUV, plus a revived Xterra.

In Australia, the brand is also evaluating two body-on-frame models: the Terrano shown in China earlier this year in concept guise as an off-road-focused SUV with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, and the Frontier Pro ute it's based on. It's unclear whether these vehicles, developed with Chinese joint-venture partner Dongfeng, will receive the Nismo treatment.

The Y63 Patrol Nismo was revealed with a 369kW 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, a boost of 69kW over the standard Patrol, while torque remains unchanged at 700Nm.

Yet a spokesperson for Nissan Australia said the Y63 Patrol Nismo is more focused on on-road performance – like the Nissan Z Nismo coupe, for example – while Australian off-road buyers have different expectations.

Nissan has already addressed those expectations with the Warrior version of the outgoing V8-powered Y62 Patrol, featuring an upgraded chassis developed and produced for Nissan by Melbourne-based engineering firm Premcar.

The company has also tapped Premcar’s local expertise for the D23 Navara Pro-4X Warrior and to help tune all models across the new-generation D27 Navara range.

Premcar may also be in a strong position to collaborate with Nismo after Sanada-san said the company was looking for local partners as it prepares to open its first Nismo Performance Centre in Australia later this year.

The Nismo Performance Centre Melbourne will be one of the first Nismo facilities outside Japan and will be followed by similar sites in other cities across Australia and New Zealand.

It also comes as Nissan Oceania CEO Steve Milette, replying to a question from CarExpert, said the partnership with Premcar had elevated the Nissan brand in Australia and remains an “ongoing” and “very positive relationship”.

Nissan's off-road-focused models will face the Ford Ranger Raptor, which established a niche in Australia and still arguably has no genuine showroom rivals.

Global Ford CEO Jim Farley said in 2025 he wants Ford to become ‘the Porsche of off-road’ performance, expanding the ‘Raptor’ brand across more Ford models. Currently, Ford offers Raptor versions of the Ranger, Bronco and F-150, though only the Ranger Raptor is sold here.

Ford isn't the only brand looking to expand further into the high-performance off-roader space.

The boss of BMW’s M division, Frank van Meel, told CarExpert earlier this year he “wouldn’t say no” to a high-performance off-road model based on the rumoured rival BMW is developing for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

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