SEMA 2021: Nissan details one-off builds, plus new Z

Nissan has detailed the six vehicles it’ll be showcasing at the upcoming 2021 SEMA show, set to start on November 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.

They include modified versions of the new Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier, a 240Z, and an Altima – plus the road-going 2023 Nissan Z will also be in attendance.

Two of these vehicles, the Pathfinder and one of the Frontier models, are special ‘Project Overland’ one-off builds using Nismo Off-Road parts for better 4×4 performance.

Others include Sung Kang’s safari rally-inspired ‘DocZ’ modified Datsun 240Z, and Chris Forsberg’s drift-spec Altima sedan.

“The Project Overland Pathfinder and Frontier support our philosophy that ‘adventure starts where the road ends’ using our Nismo Off-road parts to make them more capable than ever,” said Mike Soutter, Nissan Americas Aftersales vice president.

Many of the off-road accessories shown on the ‘Project Overland’ models will start to filter their way through North American Nissan dealers in early 2022.

Here are the six Nissan vehicles that’ll be shown at SEMA:

Nissan Project Overland Pathfinder

Nissan claims this vehicle showcases “what simple modifications owners can install” to help get the Pathfinder further off the beaten path.

Upgrades are the following:

• Prototype Nismo Off Road 2-inch lift kit with Bilstein shocks
• Custom 18-inch Nismo wheels with 265/60R18 Maxxis RAZR AT tyres
• Nismo expedition roof rack
• Roam Adventure Company 83L Rugged Case
• Nismo six-inch driving lights
• Custom front bumper with Rigid 4-inch D-Series driving lamps
• Custom rock sliders
• Egoé Nestbox camper conversion kit with camp kitchen and sleeping platform system

The more conventional 2022 Nissan Pathfinder range has been confirmed for Australia during 2022, at which point it’ll go head-to-head with the Hyundai Palisade, Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger.

Power in the car still comes from a 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V6 with 212kW of power and 351Nm of torque, but it’s now mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Nissan Project Overland Frontier

In a similar fashion to the ‘Project Overland’ Pathfinder, this Frontier pickup truck “is designed to cover even more challenging ground with added confidence and style”.

Nissan isn’t offering the current model Frontier in the Australian market. In the past it was more or less the D40 Navara ute we’re familiar with, but this iteration is a departure.

Upgrades to this model are the following:

• Nismo Off-road performance suspension kit, adjust for +2-inch in front
• SPC front upper control arms with xAxis sealed flex joints
• Nismo Off-road performance shock absorbers with remote reservoirs
• Custom Nismo Off-road rear leaf springs with a 2-inch lift
• 17-inch Nismo Off-road Axis wheels with 285/70r17 Maxxis RAZR MT tyres
• Nismo Off-rad performance cat-back system with polished and laser-etched exhaust tip
• Nismo Off-road heavy duty bumper with Nismo Off-road 4-inch round driving lamps
• Nismo Off-road overlanding bed rack
• Nismo Off-road rooftop tent
• Bonnet-mounted Nismo Off-road ditch lamp mounts with 4-inch round driving lamps
• Front Runner Slimline II roof rack
• Front Runner Hi-Lift jack mount with Hi-Lift X-treme jack
• Two Roam adventure company 83L rugged cases
• TruckVault all-weather bed drawer
• ARB Elements fridge
• ARB twin air compressor
• Garmin Overlander all-terrain GPS system
• Garmin Powerswitch digital switch box
• 67 Designs device mounting system
• Dometic PLB40 portable lithium battery
• Overland Solar bugout 130 foldable solar panel

Nissan Rebelle Rally Frontier

Also on display is the modified 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X pickup truck that competed in the Rebelle Rally, an all-female driven and navigated off-road rally.

Co-captains Sedona Blinson and Lyn Woodward drove this truck over the nine-day, 2253km-long rally through the deserts of Nevada and California where they picked up a sixth position in their category.

This isn’t Nissan’s first time competing in the Rebelle Rally with the automaker competing in all six runnings thus far.

Modifications to this vehicle include the following:

• Nismo Off-road driving lights
• Nismo Off-road performance suspension
• Nismo Off-road cat-back performance exhaust
• Axis wheels

Sung Kang’s “DocZ” Safari Rally-inspired 240Z

This 1971 Datsun 240Z is the of the latest creations by movie star Sung Kang, who is most known for his role as Han in the Fast and Furious franchise.

Kang found this 1971 240Z in Los Angeles where it was broken down, rusted, and in extreme disrepair, and restored it to its former glory as a safari-rally inspired model.

“The DocZ is a representation of the best of my community,” said Kang, who hopes his restoration project will inspire other Z enthusiasts to do the same.

Modifications to this vehicle include the following:

• L24 engine stroked to 2800cc with a custom head
• Triple Weber carburettors
• Custom exhaust
• 16-inch ’78 Nanakorobi Yaoki’ wheels
• Custom red and black two-tone paint with a unique koi fish ghost effect by Coastline Autosport

Nissan “Altimaniac”

This insane looking modified Altima sedan is a mean drifting machine with over 2000hp (1491kW) under the bonnet.

It’s driven by three-time Formula Drive World Champion, Chris Forsberg, who built this vehicle in a partnership with Valvoline and Nissan.

Dubbed the ‘Altimaniac’, this drift vehicle is powered by a Nissan GT-R‘s VR38 twin-turbocharged V6 that’s been fettled by T1 Race Development.

This vehicle started life as a regular Altima sedan in 2021 where it was completely stripped down and 3D scanned to create a digital model.

Modifications to this vehicle include the following:

• Custom tube chassis
• T1 Race Development VR38 twin-turbocharged V6 engine
• RTS 6XD sequential transmission
• Fully-adjustable custom race suspension
• Four Recaro Automotive carbon fibre seats
• Full double-halo roll cage
• Team Valvoline custom livery

2023 Nissan Z

Topping off the six Nissan vehicles set to be displayed at SEMA 2021 is the upcoming 2023 Nissan Z sports car.

This model will launch in Australia in mid-2022 with a single trim level to go on sale, alongside a limited-edition Z Proto Spec flagship.

The Nissan Z sits on a revised version of the 370Z’s rear-wheel drive bones and uses the Infiniti Q60 Red Sports’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 pushing out 298kW and 475Nm.

We’ll also be getting the Z in both six-speed manual and nine-speed automatic forms Down Under.

An undisclosed amount of Z Proto Spec will come here and feature bespoke 19-inch bronze forged alloy wheels, yellow brake calipers and interior accents, and the availability of an ‘Ikazuchi Yellow’ body colour with ‘Super Black’ roof.

All Australian-spec Nissan Zs will have a mechanical limited-slip differential and launch control as standard equipment.

MORE: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder to offer seven-, eight-seat options in Australia MORE: 2023 Nissan Z Australian details revealed