Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior teased

We saw a camouflaged prototype of the upcoming Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior testing on the road last month, and now the new Navara flagship has broken cover without disguise courtesy of these shots from Premcar, the Australian company that’s developing it.

Expected to be officially revealed within weeks, the new Warrior ute is based on the flagship PRO-4X version of the recently upgraded MY21 Nissan Navara.

Like the homegrown Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior it replaces, the new Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior is the handiwork of Melbourne-based automotive, marine, defence and aviation engineering company Premcar, and will once again come with a host of off-road extras.

Chief among them will be a jacked-up suspension package on all-terrain wheels and tyres to increase ground clearance and improve off-road ride, handling and capability.

As you can see here, however, the Warrior will also bring a chunkier new look for what Premcar promises will be the “world’s toughest Navara”, courtesy of an all-new integrated bull bar to replace the front bumper, plus a new rear sports bar.

As before, the new Navara Warrior will come with a range of Australian-developed enhancements both inside and out, as part of a local product program commissioned by Nissan Australia.

Like the previous Navara Warrior, which was priced from $62,990, there will be no powertrain upgrade and direct rivals will include the Toyota HiLux Rugged X and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak and FX4 Max.

Last month Premcar commenced a recruitment drive to find 35 skilled automotive engineering and manufacturing specialists to facilitate the final development and production of the new Navara Warrior, which could even be exported and will be followed next year by a third model co-developed with Nissan – the first Nissan Patrol Warrior.

At the time, Premcar said successful applicants will be dedicated to its latest original equipment manufacturing (OEM) program with Nissan at its 6300-square-metre production facility in the Melbourne suburb of Epping.

Premcar engineering director Bernie Quinn said many of the company’s newest recruits had rejoined the automotive industry after the closure of Australian vehicle manufacturing by Holden (in 2017) and Ford (in 2016).

“Premcar is continuing to support the development of world-class automotive skills in Australia, and more specifically, Victoria,” said Quinn.

“Victoria is home to generations of world-class engineering skills and to have this level of experience and knowledge within our team puts Premcar further ahead as a specialist automotive supplier.”

Established by Prodrive UK in 1996 and formerly known as Tickford Vehicle Engineering, Premcar – as it’s been known since 2012 – has previously worked with Ford, Toyota, Mazda, Geely, Yamaha and Jaguar Land Rover.

In a second press release, Premcar quoted its body systems principal engineer Mark Doody as saying the new Warrior program was among his proudest achievements, despite an automotive engineering career that included working with Jaguar, Porsche, GM and Holden, where he was instrumental in projects such as the Monaro, GTO and VE Commodore.

“My passion is for developing product, and the thing I felt I’d lost over the years was that direct involvement with the product,” said 58-year-old Doody.

“You can lose that hands-on side of product development in this business. So my dream was that I could be directly involved again in the development of product.

“And this is definitely hands-on – this is all-encompassing, from inception to design completion and manufacturing.

“When Holden and Ford were downsizing, Premcar saw it as an opportunity to bring in some new blood, with new ideas.”

Doody said Premcar had only one goal for the new Warrior – to produce the toughest Navara in Australia and the world – and its team of design, engineering and manufacturing experts have spent the past 12 months achieving that.

“This industry, and this business, is filled with talented people who are passionate about being automotive engineers, not just about being engineers,” he said.

“The enthusiasm is infectious and the results are outstanding. We set out to create a vehicle that is the toughest and most capable in Australia and the world, without losing any of its comfort or practicality.

“We’re excited to show everyone what we’ve come up with – a vehicle that builds on all the improvements delivered by the new Navara, and one that feels tailor-made for Australia.”