Nissan’s Next NISMO Model Is Ready To Hit The Streets Of Dubai

The Nissan Nismo performance brand could mean many different things to each individual, depending on their experience and local market. In Japan, you might associate Nismo with the hottest versions of tiny city performance cars. In America, we know Nismo to be fun versions of the Nissan Z and GT-R coupes. But in the Middle East, they probably associate Nismo with SUVs, and that’s why the next big Nismo model is the updated Nissan Armada and Patrol SUV, which just leaked.

A Hotter Armada On The Way

So far, Nissan has been quiet about any hint at a hotter Nissan Armada, branded as the Patrol in other markets, which is its biggest SUV on sale. But new leaks prove it’s out there, and it’s apparently already running prototypes, or possibly even pre-production models, out in the deserts near Dubai. That’s according to two Instagram posts this week. Users 74rb and Nissan111Patrol somehow got their hands on images of two Nissan Armada Nismo trim SUVs sitting in a closed room, with the location tagged as being in the United Arab Emirates.

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The images show clear Nismo labels on the bumpers, which have a red-painted edge that shows off the enhanced bodywork on the front fascia, side skirts, and rear bumper. A black grille now waterfalls down the entire face of the SUV, with a V6T engine designation under another Nismo label on the fender. Straps and apparent wheel covers block what is likely a new wheel design, as well.

Black And Red And White All Over

The rear also features black accents behind the nameplate and a new, lower center taillight in the bumper design. It’s interesting that there’s no visible exhaust, which must be tucked away under the bodywork at the back. You’d expect something flashier and hopefully louder for a proper Nismo, but oh well.

Mechanical updates should include a suspension tune and upgraded braking. The engine badging suggests we might not get any actual tuned version, but we can cross our fingers. The standard SUV already gets the twin-turbo 3.5-liter unit that’s currently good for 425 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, and there’s no indication of the old Armada’s V8 returning.

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It’s not clear yet if the new Patrol Nismo will make it to other markets, maybe as the Armada, or just stick to the Middle East as the previous generation of the model did. We’ll see when an expected reveal happens this summer.