The Nissan V8 Era Ends: Armada to Embrace Turbocharged V6

Yet another instance of an automaker waving goodbye to eight-cylinder powertrains. Nissan has long been hinting at bidding adieu to its 5.6-liter V8, and now, a company executive has officially announced the transition of the foreign-market Patrol SUV to a twin-turbo V6. Given that the model is marketed as the Armada in North America, it seems inevitable that Nissan’s V8s will cease to exist.

This development was disclosed by Australia’s Drive publication on Thursday, citing Nissan’s Global Head of Product Strategy and Planning, Ivan Espinosa. During his presentation at the Japan Mobility Show, Espinosa assured the audience that the forthcoming V6 would outshine its predecessor in all aspects when the next-generation model debuts in 2024.

“Once customers experience the twin-turbo V6, they enter a whole new realm,” remarked Espinosa. “The capability, performance, acceleration, and power delivery—the customers will undoubtedly be delighted. It is poised to excel over the V8 across all these metrics.”

For comparison, the Armada’s 5.6-liter engine produces 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque.

Nissan

In the automotive industry, turbocharged engines with reduced displacements have been supplanting V8s in various manufacturers’ portfolios; the Toyota Sequoia is a prime example. This transition was seemingly inevitable for the Armada and hearing it from a high-ranking Nissan official is significant. The possibility of electrification is also being considered, but Espinosa dismissed the notion of a fully electric version due to the SUV’s frame structure and towing requirements.

“We are not in a rush to adopt electrification for the sake of it. It’s a question of timing and aligning technological readiness with customer demands,” he elaborated.

An attempt to reach out to Nissan USA for confirmation on the V6 upgrade for the next-gen Armada is pending. Any responses received will be promptly appended to this post.

You might question, “What about the Titan with its V8?” Unfortunately, as per the announcement in August, production of the full-size pickup will cease post-2024. The Armada stands as the last bastion for Nissan’s V8 legacy, but it appears that even this stalwart will eventually yield to change.

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