4X4 AND TOWING, Focus Feature

New 4WD Suspension Solution A Stand Out For Nissan’s Ute Range

Monroe engineers and Premcar develop suspension for brand new Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior.

One of the world’s leading Original Equipment and aftermarket manufacturers of automotive ride performance products, DRiV™ owned Monroe Shock Absorbers and Monroe Springs have been integrally involved in an Australian engineered Nissan Navara 4WD model variant, the Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior which was launched in October, 2019.

Premcar is the Melbourne based vehicle engineering company enlisted by Nissan to develop and manufacture the Navara N-TREK Warrior to OEM standards. This specially enhanced Navara model is being assembled at the company’s new 6,300 square-metre production facility located in Epping (VIC).

Monroe Australia’s ride performance product engineers worked together with Premcar to locally design, develop and rigorously test this significantly enhanced suspension system.

Combined with several Warrior model exclusive additions, Nissan now has a formidable competitor in the lucrative Dual-Cab 4WD market, which accounts for 60 per cent of all Utes sold in this country.

The Monroe Australia engineering team developed a new suspension set-up for this top of the range Nissan Navara with dual-rate springs and upgraded premium Rancho dampers that have been designed to improve handling, ride comfort, stability, steering response and ground clearance.

The Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior is equipped with unique 17-inch wheels, (which are smaller than the N-TREK’s standard 18-inch wheels) to accommodate larger 32.2-inch 275/70 Cooper All Terrain Tyres. These increase the ride height by 25mm and combined with a 15mm lift from the new springs and dampers, ground clearance has been increased by a total of 40mm (to 268mm).

Track has been boosted to 1600mm across both the front and rear, giving the new Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior an instantly visible taller, wider and tougher stance.

The Navara’s standard dampers were replaced by Monroe Australia specially developed Rancho 4WD shock absorbers that feature a larger outer tube diameter containing greater oil volume for better cooling and rough-road capability.

These locally developed 4WD shock absorbers include a thicker piston rod for increased strength, as can be found in all Monroe TDT Gas Magnum 4×4 and Rancho 4WD replacement shock absorbers, but with the added feature of a Premcar specified internal valve code to match

the springs and tyres, including more compression damping for quicker response.

Jointly the Monroe Springs engineers worked closely with Premcar to design, develop and manufacture the front and rear coil springs to achieve the desired, fine-tuned ride performance for Nissan.

Building on the experience of over 90 years of designing and manufacturing springs in Australia to OE standards with expertise in both on and off road segments, namely with Rancho, Monroe Springs was integral to meeting the project’s demanding timing and OEM quality standards.

The end result was a softer primary spring rate to improve ride comfort and off-road articulation, coupled with a higher but more progressive secondary rate. This was done to maintain composure and performance for cornering, heavy duty off-roading and for towing.

The upgraded suspension set-up also improves the Navara’s off-road ability without reducing comfort, safety or its 3,500kg towing capacity.

The detailed suspension modifications also improve the vehicle’s approach, departure and rampover angles. Development testing of this locally engineered Nissan Navara model took place on varied road surfaces at the Australian Automotive Research Centre (AARC) and on sandy tracks, gravel roads and rough Mallee terrain between Ouyen in Victoria and Pinnaroo on the South Australian border across several months.

According to DRiV South East Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, Brydon Tweddell, this is an outstanding example of the skill and expertise of the Monroe Australia shock absorber and Monroe Springs engineering and manufacturing teams.

“Our engineers worked closely with Premcar to develop a 4WD suspension solution that is unrivalled in the Dual-Cab 4WD market in this country. We are very proud to bring our Australian based engineering and manufacturing expertise to the exciting new Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior and look forward to the opportunity to contribute to other local development opportunities that come in the future,” Mr Tweddell stated.

“The market has shifted considerably in the last two years with Ute sales leading the way, but Ute buyers are looking for a higher grade with more features that make their vehicle stand out,” said Nissan Australia Managing Director Stephen Lester at the launch of this exciting new addition to Nissan’s Ute range.

“The Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior is locally designed and engineered for Australian conditions and we expect this to be a strong addition to the Navara line-up,” Mr Lester added.

The first units have been delivered to customers in December, 2019.

For more information visit www.Monroe.com.au
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