Next-Generation Nissan Patrol Spotted Undergoing Rigorous Testing on Australian Soil
The highly anticipated next-generation Nissan Patrol, internally codenamed Y63, has been sighted undertaking crucial testing on Australian roads, signalling its impending local launch. An observant member of the dedicated “Y63 Patrol Australia” Facebook group, Bassam Khala, managed to capture images of a right-hand-drive Y63, bearing Victorian registration plates, in a public carpark in Thomastown, a northern suburb of Melbourne. This sighting comes as the Y63 is already available in left-hand-drive markets, including the United States, where it is marketed as the Armada. The Australian-spotted vehicle was finished in an Everest White hue and featured wheels identical to those found on the Platinum model grade, one of the more opulent trims offered within the six-model Armada lineup in the US. This follows a previous sighting of a Pro-4X model grade also undergoing testing on Australian roads late last year.
While the new-generation Patrol retains the current Y62’s 3075mm wheelbase, it boasts a more substantial presence, being taller, wider, and longer than its predecessor. Crucially, the Y63 is not yet available for purchase in any right-hand-drive market. A Nissan Australia spokesperson confirmed to CarExpert that the all-new Y63 Patrol has been subjected to “rigorous testing, evaluation and validation in Australia as part of its preparation for its local introduction.” Nissan officially announced at the Y63’s reveal in September 2024 that local orders would commence in late 2026, with customer deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
The images captured by Mr. Khala also revealed the Y63 towing a Jayco Discovery Outback dual-axle caravan. According to Jayco’s specifications, this particular caravan measures 5386mm in length and has a standard tare weight of 1967kg. It remains to be seen whether the caravan being tested was equipped with any optional accessories that might have increased its overall weight or dimensions.
The US-spec Y63 boasts an impressive braked towing capacity of up to 8500 pounds (approximately 3855kg), a significant increase over the current Y62 Patrol’s 3500kg rating. This enhancement in towing capability aligns with a major mechanical shift: the Y63 will bid farewell to V8 power, following the trend set by its rival, the Toyota LandCruiser. The outgoing Y62’s 5.6-litre petrol V8, which produced 298kW and 560Nm, will be replaced by a more potent 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine. This new powertrain is rated at a substantial 317kW and 700Nm.
Interestingly, the impending discontinuation of the V8 engine has seemingly spurred a surge in Patrol sales, even with repeated price increases over the past year. Nissan Australia acknowledged this trend, stating, “We currently have supply of both the Y62 Patrol and Y62 Patrol Warrior available across our dealer network. We’ll have more to share later this month regarding the final production phase of the V8-powered Y62 Patrol.”
Nissan Australia maintains that the appearance of the Y63 on local roads during its development phase is standard practice. “As with all Nissan vehicles destined for Australia, we undertake extensive local validation and tuning to ensure performance, durability and dynamic characteristics are suited to Australian conditions and customer expectations, both on- and off-road,” the spokesperson elaborated. This commitment to local adaptation is not new for Nissan. The company recently engaged local engineering firm Premcar to develop a bespoke chassis tune for the updated Navara ute range introduced earlier this year. This partnership previously yielded more rugged iterations of both the Navara and the Patrol under the “Warrior” designation.
While a new Navara Warrior has been officially confirmed, the development of a Y63 Patrol Warrior has yet to be formally announced. However, comments from Nissan Australia’s managing director, Steve Milette, suggest it is a strong possibility. When questioned last month about the collaboration with Premcar, Mr. Milette remarked, “I think it’s done well. The Warrior version of it [the Navara] was fantastic. I think it elevated the brand for sure, so I see that’s a very positive relationship.” This positive sentiment indicates a high likelihood of a Warrior variant for the forthcoming Patrol.
