Nissan has released the first pictures of the latest Proudly South African pickup developed here in South Africa for the Japanese factory’s Rally Raid team. Last year Nissan South Africa built the cars that took our own Giniel de Villiers to fifth place overall in his first Dakar, and gave Ari Vatanen and Kenjiro Shinozuka five stage wins between them. De Villiers went on to claim Nissan’s first win at the Rally of Morocco later in the year.
The new pickup is, like its predecessor, driven by the 200 kilowatt competition version of the production VQ 3.5 litre, 6 cylinder engine. A new spaceframe chassis utilises the same suspension as the 2003 car, and the bodywork now boasts slick new lines to improve aerodynamics and allow the competitors better visibility. Judging by the pic, the wing might come in very handy! The wheelbase has been shortened by 150mm, the bodywork has been widened and the interior accommodation increased to give the crew more space to work in. The 500 litre fuel tank is now placed beneath the cockpit, giving a better weight distribution and ensuring that the car’s handling remains unaffected as the fuel gets used up. The closed section at the back of the bodywork should improve the car’s behaviour in the wind and give a higher top speed that the previous model. Moreover, the weight of the new pickup corresponds to the limits set in the T2 class, whereas its predecessor was 60 kg over the minimum weight.
Mechanically things remain much the same. The six-speed sequential gearbox and the front and rear differentials are largely unchanged and the cooling system is as it was except for the redesigned hot air exit, which now contributes to the aerodynamic downforce. Finally, the diameter of the brake discs has been slightly increased.
In terms of an agreement reached before this year’s Dakar, the Nissan desert racers will be built, prepared and run by Nissan South Africa up to and including the 2005 race.