Nissan Patrol Marks 75 Years with Exclusive Anniversary Edition for Middle East Market

November 10, 2026 in Companies by Editor

#69 New Patrol 75th edition launches exclusively in the Middle East-source

Nissan’s Patrol marks 75 years, tracing its journey from a Japanese workhorse to a global SUV with more than two million sales and seven generations.

 

The Nissan Patrol, one of the automotive industry’s longest-running nameplates, is marking 75 years, having evolved from a rugged utility vehicle into a premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a global following.

The company is producing a limited 75th Anniversary edition exclusively for the Middle East. Initially planned for 1,951 units, in reference to the year the model was introduced, the special edition is based on the flagship Platinum V6TT and features Copper Gold exterior accents, a Bordeaux interior and dedicated anniversary detailing.

The anniversary comes as Nissan looks to extend the model’s appeal with new editions for different markets. In the United States, the 2027 Nissan Armada will introduce an Armada Patrol PRO-4X trim, bringing the Patrol name back to American roads for the first time since 1969.

First introduced in Japan in 1951 as Nissan’s first four-wheel-drive vehicle, the Patrol has gone through seven generations, with more than two million units sold worldwide. It is currently available in 42 markets, including the Middle East, Australia, the United States and the Philippines.

The Patrol’s history is closely tied to its ability to handle demanding terrain. In its debut year, the original 4W60 climbed Japan’s Mount Fuji, while the second-generation 60 Series, introduced in 1960, helped take the nameplate into international markets. Its first major export shipment went to Colombia, followed by Australia and the United States in 1961.

In Australia, the Patrol established an early reputation for endurance when it became the first motorised vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert, negotiating more than 1,100 sand dunes between the Northern Territory and Queensland in 12 days.

Its expansion also reached Africa. The third-generation Patrol 160, introduced in 1980, was offered in pickup and long-wheelbase wagon configurations in South Africa. In 1983, the model also became the first Nissan vehicle manufactured in Europe, rolling off the production line at the company’s Barcelona plant.

Over the decades, the Patrol moved beyond its original utility role. The third generation introduced five-door and seven-seat configurations, broadening its appeal to families, while subsequent models brought improvements in suspension, steering, comfort and onboard technology.

Its motorsport record helped reinforce its reputation. From 1983, the Patrol won the unmodified division of the Australian Off-Road Championship for 15 consecutive years. In 1987, a diesel-powered Patrol 160, popularly known as the Fanta Limon, finished in the overall top 10 of the Paris-Dakar Rally, becoming the first diesel-powered vehicle to achieve that distinction.

The fourth-generation Y60, launched in 1987, introduced coil-spring suspension and power steering, reflecting the growing emphasis on ride comfort alongside off-road performance. The fifth-generation Y61 followed in 1997 with a more refined body design, satellite navigation, a reverse camera and updated interiors.

The Y61 also demonstrated its long-distance credentials in 2007 when two Patrols completed the 15,000-mile Long Way Down expedition from John O’Groats in Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa, reportedly sustaining just one puncture along the journey.

The sixth-generation Y62, launched in 2010, marked another significant shift towards a more sophisticated SUV, with greater emphasis on comfort and technology. It subsequently set three Guinness World Records, including towing a 170.9-tonne aircraft for 50 metres in 2013, recording the fastest ascent of a 100-metre sand dune by a production vehicle in 2015 and assembling 180 Patrols for the world’s largest synchronised car dance in 2018.

In 2015, Nissan introduced the first Patrol NISMO, making it the first Nissan model in the Middle East to receive the company’s performance treatment. A year later, the Patrol’s American-market counterpart returned to the United States as the 2017 Nissan Armada, based on the Y62 platform and powered by a 390-horsepower, 5.6-litre V8 engine.

The current seventh generation was unveiled in Abu Dhabi in 2024, underlining the importance of the Middle East to the model’s continued development. It combines all-terrain capability with a more spacious interior, updated technology and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing 425 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque.

Production of the latest Patrol and its US-market counterpart, the Armada, began at Nissan’s Shatai Kyushu plant in Japan in 2025.

For Nissan, the anniversary is an opportunity to recognise a model that has retained its identity through substantial changes in automotive technology and customer expectations.

“Patrol is an important part of Nissan’s history and a vehicle that truly represents the heartbeat of our brand,” said Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s president and chief executive.

He said the model had embodied the company’s spirit of adventure and engineering capability for 75 years, while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of customers in different markets.

From its origins as a Japanese four-wheel-drive workhorse to its present position in the global SUV market, the Patrol’s journey reflects the changing expectations of off-road vehicle buyers. Its appeal has broadened from utility and expedition work to family motoring and luxury, but its reputation remains anchored in the durability and all-terrain capability on which it was built.