America Won’t Get New Nissan Armada’s Simplest Safety Features

In three weeks, Nissan will unveil the new Patrol. The automaker has released the second episode in its Feel Patrol series, giving us a closer look at the upcoming model. It has been part of Nissan’s lineup since 1951 and is the brand’s oldest nameplate. During that time, there have been just six iterations, so the seventh generation is a hugely important car for the automaker. It will also give American customers a look at what we can expect from the all-new Armada.

• 2024 Nissan Armada

  Base MSRP

  $55,450

  Engine

  5.6L V8 Gas

  Horsepower

  400 hp

  Torque

  413 lb-ft

• 

  2025 Infiniti QX80

  Base MSRP

  $82,450

  Engine

  3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 Gas

  Horsepower

  450 hp

  Torque

  516 lb-ft

The latest teaser showcases the new taillights. Gone are the horizontal clusters found on the current Patrol and Armada. In their place are vertical lights that are reminiscent of older Patrols, namely the fifth-generation Y61 series that debuted in 1997. They’re awash with subtle details; the outer edges of the cluster are now ribbed, which contrasts with the smooth plastic finish. There’s also a large reverse light which appears to be divided up into six parts.

Fancy New Taillights Have Retro Touches

The cluster is separated by what appears to be a graphite-colored piece of trim, which flows to the outer edges, where you’ll find a reflector. The turn signal is sited at the top of the cluster. While attractive, it’s less upmarket than the light treatment found on the rear fascia of the new Infiniti QX80. Then again, the Patrol has always been more rugged than its premium counterpart.

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Given that the cluster bears a resemblance to older Patrols, it would be interesting to see if Nissan is going down the retro styling route. Borrowing details from classic Patrols and mashing them together would be great. Nissan has done this before – the Z sports car is a mix of styling cues from the past, with elements from the Z30 and Z32 generations.

Clever Safety Tech For The Rear Lights

Nissan’s teaser website for the new Patrol gives more information about the new taillights. The automaker says the C-shaped clusters will “flow seamlessly” with the rest of the design, which suggests a modern and flush-fitting look. They will also function as a safety feature, with Nissan noting that it will have new sensitive brake technology that pulses when the driver brakes harder, notifying following vehicles of an emergency braking maneuver. “An important feature, one our competitors will see the most,” joked the automaker. The thing is, adaptive brake lights have existed in Europe for years, so will this innovation be legal here? Time will tell, but the US doesn’t normally embrace advanced lighting technology; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards demand that all lights but the turn signal indicators must be “steady-burning.”

Related

5 Reasons To Get Excited About The New Nissan Armada

Infiniti recently launched the all-new QX80, showing us what to expect from the next-generation Nissan Armada.

Before this teaser, Nissan showcased the new V-motion grille, which appears bolder and more dynamic than before. The overall profile was also shown off; the new Patrol will have more presence than the outgoing model and its Armada-badged sibling, thanks to squared-off lines. Like the QX80, we expect the Patrol/Armada to drop the ancient V8 for a more powerful and efficient turbo V6 engine. Before the reveal, we can expect two more teasers to arrive, which means we’ll see more of the Patrol/Armada before its reveal.