The Nissan Patrol Nismo is back and it's all coming in hot before the official party even begins. New spy images have surfaced showing the sporty SUV, probably captured near a dockyard, featuring striking design updates and clear Nismo styling cues. And the biggest headline mention? It's likely going to have a twin turbo V6 packing 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, taking an SUV-legend and turning it towards sporty on-road performance. For readers in the U.S., this might hint that we could soon see an Armada Nismo finally getting a performance SUV experience.
Nismo Styling That Means Business
The leaked images reveal a blacked-out Patrol Nismo dressed in its signature red highlights around the front splitter, side skirts, and rear bumper. There is a blacked-out matte black honeycomb grille instead of the chrome-heavy look of standard Patrol, while the black roof provides a sleek contrast. There is also a race-style rear spoiler and an F1 influenced third brake light tucked way down low. Overall, it looks wider, lower and more planted, which is what you expect from a Nismo-badged vehicle.
While we have yet to see the cabin, we can safely assume that there will be Nismo lettering, red stitching, carbon fibre accents, and maybe even sport seats similar to the past model.
Under the Hood: 425 Horsepower of Boosted Fun
Although Nissan hasn’t officially confirmed the specs yet, multiple reports and leaks suggest the Patrol Nismo will utilize the brand’s newer 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. While expected to deliver 420 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, connected to a 9-speed automatic gearbox, that is a big leap from the older naturally aspirated V8, and should result in a much better performing Patrol on the road with the Nismo variant.
This places it as one of the most powerful full-size SUVs in Nissan’s line-up, with enough muscle to stand toe-to-toe with vehicles such as the Dodge Durango SRT or Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (at least from a straight-line power perspective).
More Agile Handling, More Road-centric Setup
Performance isn't solely about the power of the engine. The Patrol Nismo is also expected to be fitted with a sporty suspension rig, with adjusted dampers and overall stiffness to reduce body roll, and improve on-road confidence. It's aimed more at road driving than path driving, which should also bring better cornering and steering feel than your typical SUV in this segment.
That said, we still want it to maintain, embody some of the Patrol's famously tough spirit- only this time, with a harder and sportier edge.
Global Launch First, U.S. Hopes Next
The leaked Nissan Patrol Nismo was spotted in the Middle East, which makes sense since Nissan usually debuts this model in the UAE and neighboring Gulf countries. Industry insiders expect the official launch to happen between late Q3 and Q4 of 2025. The price there might start above AED 400,000, which is translated to about $109,000 Euro.
For those in America, the big question is; will they come as the Armada Nismo? Based on Nissan's recent teasers about an updated Armada launching in late 2023 or early 2024, the odds look good. If so, this will be the first time U.S. customers can get a Nismo-tuned version of this SUV.
2026 Nissan Patrol Nismo Specs (Expected)
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Conclusion
For now, the 2026 Nissan Patrol Nismo is primarily launching in the Middle East, but it’s already grabbing attention globally. With aggressive styling and real performance upgrades under the hood - this is a full size SUV that does not just haul - it hurries. And for those in America? If the Armada Nismo becomes a reality, this could be the most exciting family hauler Nissan has ever built.
Source(Image / Thumbnail): carscoops
