Nissan its giving its fans the chance to contribute to its newest one-off build, the Armada “Mountain Patrol” project vehicle.
As its name implies, it’s based on the full-size Armada SUV, which comes with a 5.6-liter V8 that generates 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque, a seven-speed automatic, an 8,500-pound maximum towing capacity, and seating for up to eight people. Nissan envisions the Armada “Mountain Patrol” as being “a dream overlanding SUV,” so the donor Armada will, of course, come equipped with four-wheel drive.
The rest of the Armada Mountain Patrol is up to Nissan and its social media followers. The pictures the automaker has released so far show a rig with mods all over. There’s a hardcore bumper with an integrated winch, brush guard, and extra lighting up front. The hood features a large (hopefully functional) scoop. A snorkel sprouts out of the passenger-side fender. On the roof, there’s a row of off-road lights and a deployable tent. It looks as if a generous lift made room for aftermarket wheels and tires.
In the back, the Armada “Mountain Patrol” appears to be equipped with a heavy duty bumper, jerry cans, what is probably an off-road jack, and a traction pad for slippery situations. Until May 10, Nissan is allowing its fans on Instagram and Facebook to vote on which tire model, vinyl wrap design, and roof-mounted tent the finished vehicle will use.
The Armada “Mountain Patrol” follows in the footsteps tire treads of past Nissan custom adventure vehicles. At last year’s Overland Expo WEST, Nissan showcased its Titan XD PRO-4X “Project Basecamp.” Nissan upgraded that Cummins diesel-powered beast with more than 60 aftermarket parts and accessories, including a three-inch lift kit, air suspension, 35×12.50×17 tires wrapped around 17-inch beadlock wheels, and a roof-mounted tent. Custom bumpers, rock rails, additional lighting, a winch, a fridge/freezer, water and fuel containers, and shovels rounded out its overlanding and survival gear.
Earlier this year, Nissan brought another special SUV build to the Chicago Auto Show. That vehicle, dubbed the Armada Snow Patrol, also featured a three-inch lift, off-road tires, extra lights, sliders, and special bumpers, but it made good and novel use of its substantial towing capacity. Nissan hooked the Armada Snow Patrol up to a trailer topped with the Nissan 370Zki concept: A 370Z Roadster with a three-inch lift whose wheels and tires had been replaced with front skis and four-foot-long rear snow tracks.
Most recently, Nissan outfitted a Titan XD King Cab with a 125-quart cooler, six burners, and a matching trailer with a smoker and grill to take part in the The Great TITAN Meat Up cooking competition.
Right now, the pictures of Armada Mountain Patrol and the online polling options for its tires, graphics, and tent give us a good idea of how the final version of the vehicle will look and what types of goodies it’ll rock, but we won’t know for sure until Nissan reveals it in all of its adventure-ready glory at the 2018 Overland Expo WEST, May 18-20. After that, you’re likely to see it at various other outdoor events.