A roofless Armada, a twin-turbo Frontier and a retro-themed Pathfinder form Nissan’s off-road display for SEMA 2026. The company is using three familiar nameplates to explore very different builds: safari-style passenger accommodation, a substantially reworked performance pickup and a family SUV fitted with recovery equipment and underbody protection.
Nissan says the vehicles will be displayed at booth 21521 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from 3 to 6 November. All three are concepts, and none is offered for sale. That distinction matters before treating the hardware as a preview of an orderable trim level: Nissan is gathering ideas and feedback, without confirming production versions of these particular vehicles.
Photo: Nissan.
Jungle Patrol changes the Armada’s purpose
The Armada Jungle Patrol has the most extensive visible body conversion. Its open roof is accompanied by a tubular roll cage, while custom benches face inward in the rear compartment. Harnesses are listed in the build sheet. Nissan identifies safari vehicles as the inspiration, rather than presenting the arrangement as a replacement for the production SUV’s normal seating layout.
Under the bonnet, the official specification lists the standard 3.5-litre VR35 V6, with approximately 317 kW and 700 Nm after converting Nissan’s North American ratings into metric units. A prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust is included. There is no separate claim of additional engine output for Jungle Patrol in that specification.
The track is widened and the chassis uses custom CJD long-travel suspension. Adjustable coilovers have remote reservoirs and bypass control. Yokohama Geolandar G003 M/T tyres have a nominal diameter of approximately 94 cm, mounted on prototype NISMO AXIS beadlock wheels. Tyre diameter should not be confused with measured ground clearance, which is a different dimension.
Custom tubular steel bumpers, enlarged wheel-arch extensions and NISMO Off Road rock sliders complete the protection package. Auxiliary lighting sits above the open passenger area. The combination is specific to this build; the photographs do not establish road approval for an equivalent conversion elsewhere.
RONIN pairs a familiar V6 with unfamiliar hardware
Frontier RONIN takes the pickup’s 3.8-litre VQ38DD V6 and adds a custom twin-turbo arrangement using GT-R NISMO R35 components. Nissan’s build sheet also identifies ECUTEK engine management with a Visconti Tuning adapter harness, a front-mounted air-to-air intercooler and a dual intake system intended for off-road use.
Nissan has not published a final power figure for the concept. The connection to GT-R hardware is therefore a parts detail, not evidence that RONIN shares a GT-R’s engine output or acceleration. A quoted result would require separate confirmation for the modified Frontier installation.
The suspension changes are more thoroughly quantified. Modified Titan components and a rear-axle swap are combined with custom CJD Racing parts. The sheet specifies approximately 30.5 cm of additional width, a 10.2 cm lift and 35.6 cm of suspension travel after conversion from the original dimensions. Those measurements describe different aspects of the build and should not be used interchangeably.
Teal Nissan Frontier RONIN, rear three-quarter view. Photo: Nissan.
Custom upper and lower control arms, competition uprights and extended driveshafts appear in the parts list. The Bilstein Black Hawk package includes adjustable dampers developed for this application. Nominally 89 cm Yokohama Geolandar X-AT tyres sit on prototype NISMO ASCEND beadlock wheels. Front brakes use six-piston calipers and 335 × 32 mm discs, according to Nissan.
Inside, KINETIC sport seats are joined by a three-gauge display for boost pressure, oil pressure and exhaust-gas temperature. Baltic Teal graphics use topographic motifs, with related details on the custom seat belts. The cabin therefore reflects the mechanical work as well as the exterior theme.
XE-V6 revisits Pathfinder history without reviving its old engine
The Pathfinder concept takes its XE-V6 name from the first-generation WD21. Nissan associates the build with the model’s 40th anniversary, while explaining that the badge recalls the original 3.0-litre V6. That historical reference does not describe the engine installed in the new concept.
Its actual build sheet specifies the contemporary Pathfinder Rock Creek package, quoting standard output equivalent to approximately 220 kW. A prototype NISMO cat-back exhaust is listed, but no new power increase is announced. The red body with black, charcoal and silver graphics draws on 1980s Patrol styling, according to the manufacturer.
A custom suspension lift of approximately 10.2 cm and a subframe spacer support the off-road conversion. Prototype NISMO AX-5 wheels wear Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 tyres in 285/75R18 specification. Custom high-clearance bumpers, rock sliders and skid plates protect exposed areas rather than merely adding decorative trim.
Red Nissan Pathfinder XE-V6, front view on sandy ground. Photo: Nissan.
A swing-out rear carrier holds a full-size spare. The equipment list also includes a roof rack, MOLLE mounting panels, auxiliary lights and a WARN winch with synthetic rope. These are components fitted to the show vehicle, not confirmation of a complete dealer accessory package with a published price.
An experiment in accessories, with explicit limits
Nissan says SEMA lets its designers and engineers explore ideas and hear from enthusiasts. Some parts or themes could influence future products, but the announcement provides no confirmed retail timetable for RONIN, XE-V6 or Jungle Patrol. It also supplies no European availability or pricing for the complete builds.
The manufacturer explicitly warns that modifications can affect performance, safety, emissions, durability and road approval, and that resulting damage or performance problems may fall outside Nissan warranties. For an owner considering similar work, a concept’s parts list is consequently a starting point for investigation, not evidence that the same conversion will retain warranty coverage or be legal on local roads.
