FEATURE – Nissan ‘Dune Patrol’ concept

Nissan upped their game at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, presenting four concept vehicles that push the limits of what’s possible with present – and past – production models. Nissan USA describe the concepts as explorations of how owners can personalise their vehicles.

“Nissan vehicles excite right out of the showroom, and they often inspire owners to maximise their life and hobbies at every turn,” said Kim Less, Vice President, Aftersales, at Nissan. “Bringing project vehicles to SEMA helps ignite the creative spark among fans and be close to the pulse of what enthusiasts, builders and customers want out of their Nissan.”

Introducing Dune Patrol

While all four concepts attracted plenty of attention, it would be fair to say that the ‘Dune Patrol’ was the headliner. Based on the latest Y62 Patrol SUV – known as the Armada in the US – this concept was pitched as the “ultimate, ultra-comfortable support vehicle for the most extreme off-road events.”

Why Nissan chose to go with the Patrol name for this concept, rather than he Armada that’s more familiar to US audiences, is a mystery. It’s certainly not by chance, as ‘Patrol’ badging and identification is evident throughout.

To make the Dune Patrol, Nissan started with an Armada in factory enhanced PRO-4X spec, drew upon what this model comes with in some Middle Eastern markets, then loaded it up with NISMO prototype and production parts. Like other manufacturers, particularly Jeep, Nissan uses SEMA to gauge retailer and public reaction to parts and accessories. If the response is strong, it usually means these prototype parts will go into production. If not, then they won’t.

Taller, Wider, Bouncier

While the overall Y62 Patrol look is retained for the concept, the front guards and rear quarters are radically widened. Created by US company, FiberWerx, these fibreglass pieces extend the body width by four inches (10.1cm) each side, and also raise the wheelarch opening by two inches (5cm). Fiberwerx already offer their Prerunner guards for the Chevy Silverado, Ford Raptor and Ford F-150 pickups, but this is their first application to a Nissan. On the Dune Patrol, the Prerunner flares allow for a larger wheel and tyre package to be fitted, plus more suspension travel.

Replacing the factory air suspension, a coilover set-up fabricated by CJD Racing is based around custom 10-inch 2.5 Bilstein M 9200 coilovers with 10-inch 70mm M 9200 bypasses at each corner. Up front, these shocks are matched to upper and lower control arms, front spindles, 4340 drive axles, tie-rods and other parts that were all custom made by CJD Racing for this project.  At the rear, the shock package carries a similar set of bespoke parts that also includes extended shock towers.

The result is 16 inches (40.6cm) of suspension travel all round, with brake lines extended to allow for the extra travel.

Prototype Front and Rear

As a showcase for prospective NISMO parts for the Patrol/Armada, the Dune Patrol features prototype 18x9-inch ‘Axis’ wheels. These are one inch larger than the production NISMO wheels currently available and offer a +15 offset. Genuine beadlocks, these prototype wheels are wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar MT G003 tyres in 37x12.50  R18 size.

To ensure optimum approach angles in the desert, the Dune Patrol runs a body-hugging NISMO Off Road prototype ‘high clearance’ front bumper. With provision for a quartet of 6-inch NISMO LED lamps with amber fog covers, this bumper also includes a skid plate that extends to cover the sump and has tow hooks built in. The lack of a winch mount was a deliberate choice.

At the back, another ‘high clearance’ prototype NISMO Off Road bumper is built to the same minimal, body-hugging pattern as the front, with a pair of amber fog lamps built in. This bumper also mounts a swing-out spare wheel carrier and multi-use accessory mount that, in this instance, holds a set of recovery boards.

Prototype On Top and Underneath, too

Another prototype NISMO Off Road part on the Dune Patrol is the roof rack. This low-profile rack stretches the length of the roof and includes a 40-inch light bar along the leading edge, a pair of 6-inch LED flood lights on each side, and a 30-inch LED ‘chase light’ at the rear.

Prototype storage cases and mounts are fitted to the rack, along with a MOLLE panel that extends over the rear side glass. This panel, created by CJD Racing, has been designed to blend in with the rack, while providing additional storage capacity for things like fuel, water and small items that don’t need to carried inside.

Frame-mounted rock sliders are another NISMO Off Road prototype part, as are the A-pillar mounts for a pair of production NISMO Off Road 3-inch driving lights. Like the bumper lights on the concept, these are fitted with amber covers. A universal mount for a long-range antenna is a prototype NISMO Off Road part, too.

That’s a Wrap. . .  and a V6

The matte sand yellow finish and ‘Dune Patrol’ graphics on the lower flanks are part of a full body wrap that was created specifically for the concept. Orange elements above the grille are painted (not additional lighting), with this colour repeated on the front guard vents and D-pillar.

Under the bonnet, there’s very little difference from stock, with the Armada’s standard 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 only gaining a prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust. How much this would improve the factory output of 316kW and 699Nm from the petrol V6 is unclear. The transmission appears to be the stock nine-speed for the Armada in North America, as does the four-wheel drive system.

In Australia, Nissan ditched the turbo diesel - a 118kW/380Nm 3.0-litre, six-cylinder unit - after 2016, so the Patrol is now only available with a naturally aspirated 5.6-litre petrol V8 (producing 298kW and 560Nm), seven-speed automatic and permanent four-wheel drive.

In the cabin, it’s mostly stock, too, with high-wall floor mats, seatback organisers and sill protectors from the Nissan accessories range fitted. The MOLLE panel treatment from outside is added to the door pockets as a custom touch, while an air compressor has been integrated into the luggage area. Taken from the Patrol for Middle Eastern markets, a compressor like this is an essential feature there, allowing owners to pressure-down and pressure-up their vehicle when moving from sand to tarmac driving.

Ahead of its presentation at SEMA, Nissan USA took the Dune Patrol to the sand dunes in Glamis, California, to test out its performance features, where it seemed to perform admirably and may open the door for a toned-down production equivalent in the future.

2025 Nissan ‘Dune Patrol’ concept – KEY FEATURES

• CJD Racing custom coilover suspension with 16 inches of travel
• Prototype NISMO Off Road 18x9-inch wheels
• Yokohama Geolandar 37-inch tyres
• FiberWerx wheelarch flares front and rear – four inches wider, two inches taller
• Prototype NISMO Off Road front bumper with integral lights
• Prototype NISMO Off Road rear bumper with spare tyre/accessory mounts
• Prototype NISMO Off Road low-profile roof rack
• Prototype NISMO Off Road storage mounts and cases
• Prototype NISMO Off Road rock sliders
• Prototype NISMO Off Road antenna mount
• Prototype NISMO Off Road A-pillar light mounts
• Prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust
• Integrated air compressor
• Nissan Genuine Accessory floor mats, sill protectors and seatback organisers