What do you get when you cross an American SUV, Japanese motorsport, and a few hefty spoonfuls of testosterone? You get Dune Patrol – an Armada that would rather book its summer vacation in the Sahara than the Adriatic.
The last years have been Nissan a kind of medium-sized identity crisis – the farewell of the legendary GT-R R35 left a void that resonated with true “gearheads” like an unfinished poem. But instead of silently crying into the engine oil, Nissan decided: “Let’s put power where the mass is!” And the mass, dear readers, is in SUVs. More precisely – in the Armada. This is the Nissan Armada Dune Patrol.
That's how we got the Nissan Armada Dune Patrol. No, this isn't a spinoff of the Dune franchise, but a special modification of the Nissan Armada that's not afraid of sand, mud or rocks. It's a desert beast, armed with NISMO components and built in a way that would make even the legendary Patrol - the one that saves lives in Australia and transports princesses in the Emirates - nod in respect.
When the family SUV goes on steroid therapy
Nissan takes its own as a basis Armado PRO-4X, which is not exactly a softie as standard: air suspension, rear differential lock, metal underbody protection... but that's just the warm-up. Dune Patrol is a different story.
Added to it: Nissan Armada Dune Patrol
-
CJD Racing long-travel kit with an impressive 406 mm of travel – so the bikes can hug the dunes as gently as an alpaca its cub.
-
Bilstein shock absorbersso you can sip your iced coffee while the car flies over 30-centimeter bumps.
-
FiberWerx fenders and bodywork, which ensure that the SUV has the look of a pre-runner race car – with muscles in the right places.
-
37-inch Yokohama Geolandar X-AT tires on 18-inch NISMO beadlock wheels, which look like they were put together in a Mad Max garage.
To top it off? A special matte beige graphic with the name “Dune Patrol”, which is not just a design detail, but a clear statement: This SUV is not here for Instagram, but for action.
Equipped like an expedition to Mars
The Dune Patrol is not only powerful, but also practical. If you could imagine going to the end of the world with it – which today can be 10 km out of signal – you would probably come back. Surviving, and in style.
Among the accessories we find:
-
roof rack with black containers that just call out for GoPro footage of “Surviving the Mojave”,
-
MOLLE panels for fuel and water (because a liter bottle is not enough),
-
swing-out spare tire carrier and mount for traction boards,
-
of course off-road LED lighting, which turns night into day (and wildlife into panicked silhouettes).
The interior remains comfortably Armadasta, but the sound from custom cat-back exhaust system It's a good reminder that this isn't an SUV for afternoon schoolwork. Although... that would be pretty epic too, wouldn't it?
"Concept today, catalog tomorrow?"
SEMA often serves up car enthusiasts' wet dreams—but Nissan wasn't just here to flex its muscles. The Dune Patrol's vast array of components is NISMO prototypes, which means: if there's enough demand (and enough Instagram posts), these things will end up in an actual catalog.
And that's important. Because with the GT-R's departure, Nissan is looking for new heroes. And perhaps the Armada - once a peripheral ship in Nissan's fleet - will become the new icon for those bored by asphalt and tempted by the wilderness.
Final Thought: All that's missing is a tent and a reason not to come back
Dune Patrol Armada is exactly what we need when SUVs are becoming too premium and not enough practical. This beast is not made for parking garages and drive-thru. It's proof that adventure is still alive and well - even in the age of digital keys and safety assistants.
So, if you're an Armada owner who spends most of their time in front of elementary school or at a child's training camp - don't despair. There may soon be a kit available that will take you from "dad with kids" to "Grand Canyon expedition leader."
Just be careful not to miss the exit. GPS in the desert can be… sand in your eyes.
