Though not yet officially confirmed by Nissan South Africa, the hardcore Navara Warrior double-cab bakkie has entered the “pre-production” phase in Mzansi…
Long rumoured for South Africa, the hardcore Nissan Navara Warrior double-cab bakkie has finally entered “pre-production” locally, according to the company tasked with carrying out the conversions.
To refresh your memory, the Navara Warrior was revealed Down Under way back in mid-2021. The OEM-backed package (as well as a separate kit for the outgoing Patrol) was developed by Australian engineering firm Premcar, which furthermore carries out the conversions in that country.
With rumours of a local launch gathering pace in June 2024, Cars.co.za started digging, eventually discovering that a private company called “Premcar SA” was incorporated in Mzansi in September 2023 (the very same month the Australian head office applied to trademark “Premcar” in South Africa).
We’ve since confirmed that Premcar SA was set up in partnership with Pretoria-based AIH Group, just as we suspected. Now, the AIH Group – which incidentally also assembles Pik Up models for Mahindra in KwaZulu-Natal and counts former BMW Plant Rosslyn general manager Corrie Kotze as its director and CEO – has quietly added a block to the “contract assembly” page of its website, stating the Navara Warrior is “now in pre-production”.
“This hardcore flagship conversion of the double-cab bakkie is now in pre-production by AIH Group subsidiary Premcar SA. This follows [an] agreement between Nissan South Africa and Melbourne-based Premcar – the Australian automotive engineering firm that developed the Nissan-backed package – to offer the Warrior derivative in South Africa,” says the AIH Group on its website.
Elsewhere on the website, the AIH Group lists the Australian division of Premcar as a “partner”, describing the company as the “go-to partner for car manufacturers who want to add excitement to their new vehicle model ranges, whether through a discreet engineering project or a total new-model enhancement program[me], from sketch to showroom”.
While it’s not yet clear exactly where Premcar SA’s conversion centre is based, an earlier report from Australian publication carsales.com.au suggested Warrior conversions would be carried at a dedicated facility near the Japanese firm’s Rosslyn factory in Gauteng, where the Navara is built for South Africa and other markets on the continent.
So, when can we expect the Navara Warrior be added to the local Nissan range? Well, earlier this year, Nissan SA would tell us only that it is “exploring introducing new specifications and special versions” of the Navara, opting not to comment specifically on the Warrior. However, our sources suggest a local launch date towards the middle of 2025 is looking likely.
As a reminder, the D23-generation Navara built at Rosslyn uses the older 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine as opposed to the bi-turbo 2.3-litre unit employed by the Thailand-sourced version offered Down Under. The SA-spec version of the Warrior seems likely to be based on the range-topping Navara Pro-4X derivative, though this is not yet confirmed.
We expect the SA-spec Warrior to boast plenty of added off-road capability thanks to various wheel, tyre and suspension enhancements. In Australia, for instance, the top-spec version features 275/70/R17 Cooper Discoverer All Terrain AT3 tyres along with an increased ground clearance (to 260 mm), wider track (from 1 570 mm to 1 600 mm) and an improved approach angle (from 32 degrees to 36 degrees).
The revised suspension set-up features new spring rates for “more front-end support”, while front and rear damping has also been suitably adjusted. The Aussie-spec flagship furthermore gains items such as a winch-compatible bullbar, Navara-branded bashplate and additional underbody protection, along with a modified towbar and a 100 kg GVM upgrade.
Further distinguishing features include Warrior-specific fender flares, special decals and “Warrior” embroidery on the headrests. Look out for more local details as the Navara Warrior’s inevitable launch in South Africa nears…
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