Nissan Australia is considering a tougher, locally developed version of its upcoming Navara Pro plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute, with engineering partner Premcar a potential candidate to develop the vehicle.
"It's possible. Yeah, I would say," Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette told CarExpert.
"I mean, it's not something we can talk about today, but ... it's something that we are considering.
"We don't have a Premcar Navara Pro PHEV program at the moment, but we are having conversations about this platform in terms of what could we do for this market."
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The comments come as Nissan has pulled the plug on its planned Warrior version of the latest, Mitsubishi Triton-based D27 Navara, which had been expected to launch by the end of 2026.
That leaves the door open for the Chinese-built Navara Pro PHEV, due in Australian showrooms in 2027, to become the basis of the next Warrior ute.
"With the upcoming arrival of the Navara PRO PHEV, we have decided not to proceed with the D27 Navara Warrior program," a Nissan Australia spokesperson said in a statement.
Nissan Australia's partnership with Melbourne-based Premcar dates back to the development of the original Navara N-Trek Warrior, which launched in 2019.
That was followed by the Navara Pro-4X Warrior in 2021, the more affordable SL Warrior in 2022, and the Patrol Warrior large SUV in 2023.
The D23 Navara Warrior remained on sale until the arrival of the new D27 Navara earlier this year.
Warrior variants have traditionally received a range of locally developed enhancements designed to improve their off-road capabilities, including raised and retuned suspension, all-terrain tyres, additional underbody protection and more aggressive exterior styling.
A Warrior version of Nissan's new hybrid ute could build on an already promising off-road package.
Co-developed with Nissan's long-term Chinese partner, Dongfeng, the Navara Pro PHEV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The powertrain is expected to produce a combined 300kW of power and 800Nm of torque, and its transmission is designed to provide low-range crawling capability for off-road driving.
Further bolstering its off-road credentials are a mechanical four-wheel-drive system and mechanical differential-lock capability, although Nissan has yet to confirm how many differential locks will be fitted to Australian-delivered vehicles.
Four drive modes will be available – Eco, Standard, Sport and Slippery – alongside seven terrain modes: Standard, Deep Snow, Mud, Sand, Rock, Wading and Expert.
The Navara Pro PHEV has already been heavily localised, with the powertrain, suspension, tyres, driver assistance systems, terrain modes, differential-lock configurations, towing and load performance influenced by 20,000km of testing in Australian conditions.
The final rear suspension configuration and the number of differential locks for Australia will be confirmed closer to the local launch in 2027.
A potential Warrior variant could introduce further suspension, wheel and tyre upgrades to improve ground clearance, wheel articulation and off-road capability, following the formula established by previous Premcar-developed models.
MORE: 2027 Nissan Navara Pro PHEV ute confirmed for Australia with 300kW and 800NmMORE: Explore the Nissan showroom