Nismo Designer Explains How Armada Nismo’s Changes Really Work

In Nissan’s own press release about the Armada Nismo’s styling changes, it immediately calls out that the SUV weighs 6,100 pounds. The head of design for Nismo then immediately says that “all Nismo models are equipped with racing technology honed on the circuit.” So basically, that’s three tons of racing tech then, right?

Talk about ‘citation needed!’ So what track-honed tech and motorsports heritage does the newest trim of Nissan’s three-ton, three-row SUV have? As Nismo head of design Mitsunori Morita explains, a lot more than we had thought. The changes help increase downforce while improving cooling and endurance.

“Functional Beauty” Is More Than Just ‘More’

In other words, there’s more to the eight-foot-tall nose than just the need for a body-on-frame SUV to look like it’s about to crush cars inside a cleared-out arena. The new chin spoiler better controls how air flows under the Armada. Those gigantic vents on the front corners? Morita says they generate “fast, smooth air flow on the body sides, creating downforce by sucking air out of the wheelhouse.” The vents work in harmony with the side skirts, but the takeaway here isn’t improved lap times. In a big SUV, this improves high speed stability, which is good for towing and hauling.

Some of that air is also pushed toward the brakes. The more powerful Armada Nismo model has the same 13.78-inch diameter front and rear discs as the standard version, and the two-piston calipers are also the same. Red paint doesn’t make them perform better, but the extra air will aid cooling and help reduce fade. Anyone towing a heavy load down a steep grade can appreciate that. Or, if you do wind up on a race track, maybe you can get an extra lap or two before the pads get extra crispy.

Nismo’s massive grille means more air gets into the twin-turbocharged V6 for power, and the radiators for cooling. The 3.5-liter engine is from the same family as the GT-R’s mill, though in the Armada Nismo it makes 460 horsepower, considerably less than a GT-R but 35 horses more than other Armadas.

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There’s more aero trickery at the back. The Nismo spoiler, side splitters, and rear diffuser are meant to “increase the negative pressure area at the bottom of the vehicle and enhance downforce while reducing drag,” Morita said. Again, it’s not so much about keeping the SUV’s butt stuck to a corner, but better stability on those weekend family outings.

What About All The Red Bits?

Even the 22-inch wheels offer performance improvements. Yes, they’re clad in Bridgestone Alenza tires that are meant for luxury use, not sports use. But because the Rays Wheels are forged, they’re 23 percent lighter than a standard Armada wheel. Less unsprung weight is track-proven for better handling, but it’s also road-proven for a better ride. Plus you can swap that rubber out for something more interesting if you really want to see what three tons is like on a track.

What about the red engine cover, Nismo plaque, and the quilted leather interior? The stitching and perforation and other accents lower weight and improve seat performance! Okay, we totally made that up. Per Morita, red is simply more exciting and that’s important to Nismo buyers.

“The tachometer graphic has a 3D funnel-shaped red ring, creating the expectation of an exciting ride from the moment the driver starts the car,” he said.

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This isn’t the only three-row SUV with go-fast intentions. Cadillac’s Escalade-V and its 682-horsepower supercharged V8 has a lock on that market. And don’t forget, the 710-hp Hellcat V8 still lives with the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat if you want a slightly smaller insano-SUV. But the Nissan will probably cost a lot less than a new Durango Hellcat, and be about half the price of the Caddy.