Nissan marks 40 years of NISMO with its most powerful Patrol yet

Nissan’s performance division, NISMO, is turning 40. While the history lesson is nice, what matters to us in the UAE is the hardware. The brand has doubled down on the region with the all-new Patrol NISMO and Z NISMO.

It’s January 2026, and Nissan is celebrating a milestone that started in 1984 in a Tokyo workshop. But for UAE drivers, the real story is how that track technology translates to Sheikh Zayed Road and the desert.

We know the drill here. We want specs, we want cooling, and we want power. Here is what the new lineup brings to the table.

All-new Patrol NISMO: The V6 Era

The Patrol is practically a member of the family in Dubai. The headline for the all-new Patrol NISMO is the engine. Gone is the reliance on older powertrains; in comes a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6.

Nissan says this engine is built on their GT-R engineering expertise. The result is the most powerful Patrol to date.

• Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
• Power: Nearly 500hp
• Torque: 700Nm (in Sport Mode)
• Suspension: Dedicated NISMO tuning

This isn't just a body kit. The suspension has been tuned specifically for our roads. Nissan claims improved aerodynamics and handling, which you'll need when pushing 700Nm of torque. It’s a bold move to switch engine configurations in a market that loves displacement, but the power figures speak for themselves.

Nissan Z NISMO: Track Focused

If the Patrol is for the family, the Z NISMO is for the weekend. Launched in the region less than a year ago, this is the fastest Z car Nissan has produced.

It keeps the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 but dials everything up. The cockpit is stripped back for focus, and the aerodynamics are lifted straight from their motorsport division.

• Power: 420hp
• Torque: 520Nm
• Aero: Motorsport-inspired design

It sits in a competitive segment here, going up against the likes of the Toyota Supra. With 420hp, it has the grunt to back up the badge.

Performance Comparison

Here is how the two NISMO heavyweights stack up on paper:

Why the Middle East Matters

Nissan isn't shy about how important this region is. The original Patrol NISMO was launched here first in 2015, well before other markets. It was a smart move—we buy high-performance SUVs here like nowhere else.

Thierry Sabbagh, Nissan's President for the Middle East, noted that customers here have a "deep appreciation for high performance." He confirmed that these vehicles are "engineered specifically for Middle Eastern roads and driving expectations."

That local engineering is key. A car that works on the Nürburgring doesn't always work in 45°C heat on Hessa Street. Knowing the Patrol NISMO is tuned for GCC conditions offers some peace of mind regarding reliability.

40 Years of History

NISMO (Nissan Motorsports International) started in September 1984. It merged Nissan’s advertising and testing divisions to go racing. Since then, they've racked up wins at Le Mans, Daytona, and in Super GT.

The philosophy, established by first president Yasuharu Namba, is simple: track tech must feed back into road cars. We saw it with the R32 GT-R in the 90s, and we're seeing it now with the twin-turbo setup in the new Patrol.

While we haven't had a chance to test the new Patrol NISMO's fuel economy or daily comfort yet, the specs suggest a serious upgrade in performance. We will update this space once we get behind the wheel.

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