NVES sees Premcar eye other Warrior prospects

INCOMING emissions regulations may force a change of tack for the Nissan-Premcar Warrior program, with Premcar Australia director Bernie Quinn telling GoAuto this week it will look beyond the Navara and Patrol ranges when it comes to future product.

While remaining committed to offering Navara and Patrol Warrior variants for as long as is practicable, Mr Quinn doubled down on comments made in June last year when he said other Nissan models – including those with electric motive power – would not be ruled out as emissions rules tighten.

“Our brand non-negotiables can easily be applied to a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or an EV. You can imagine an EV SUV with torque vectoring and so forth, that’s a brilliant rally machine – an aspirational car developed in Australia for Australians,” he enthused.

“Why wouldn’t we apply the Warrior treatment to something that offered those non-negotiable brand DNA elements. It doesn’t have to have an internal combustion engine as its primary energy source. Warrior doesn’t mean that at all.”

While Mr Quinn stopped short of saying which vehicles may be next in line for Warrior-isation, recent trademark filings suggest nothing is off the table in the Nissan line-up, with models from the X-Trail to the Z branded with the Warrior stamp.

“It’s possible we could see other nameplates wear a Warrior badge, I think given Warrior sales have gone from an initial 1500-unit run to a business that has now delivered over 11,000 units – to then going international – shows that Nissan wants to cover every base,” he said.

“I think it is a wise move, but just because it is trademarked doesn’t mean it is a done deal.”

While other models may well be on the agenda, it is also likely the electrified future to which Mr Quinn is referring applies to the forthcoming Mitsubishi Triton-based Navara which, like its derivative, is expected to offer a plug-in hybrid alternative within the next 18-24 months.

Speaking with GoAuto back in 2022, Mitsubishi Motors Australia executives said it was likely the sixth-generation Triton would utilise a version of the petrol-electric PHEV system offering in the Outlander, allowing it to rival the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and incoming Ford Ranger PHEV.

At the time, it was suggested a PHEV alternative would be offered to coincide with the arrival of the next-generation Navara, suggesting Nissan – and possibly Premcar – is indeed working on something special.

But for now, Mr Quinn said his primary focus is on ensuring the Warrior program as applied to Navara and Patrol continues to go from strength to strength without impacting upon Premcar’s other clients.

“Nissan is only one of our customers … if we didn’t have other clients, we would not only be left exposed were that program to end, but we wouldn’t learn as much as when we expose ourselves to other clients,” he added.

“We have to tailor our engineering technology to those different clients and to different people that use those vehicles. So, are we working with other manufacturers and other clients? Absolutely, yes.”