Engineering:Nissan Armada

Nissan Armada
2021 Nissan Armada
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Production	2003–present
Model years	2004–present
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size SUV
Body style	5-door SUV
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive

The Nissan Armada (retrospectively referred to unofficially as the Nissan Pathfinder Armada) is a full-size SUV manufactured by Nissan for the North American market. From 2003 to 2015, the first-generation Armada was assembled in Canton, Mississippi based on the Nissan Titan. From mid-2016 onwards, the second-generation Armada has been built in Yukuhashi, Kyushu, Japan and shares the same platform as the Nissan Patrol, with American-specific modifications, and went on sale in late mid-2016 as a 2017 model. A luxury version of the Armada has been sold as the Infiniti QX80 (originally QX56).

First generation (TA60; 2004)

First generation (TA60)
2008 Nissan Armada
Overview
Also called	Nissan Pathfinder Armada (2004 only) Infiniti QX56
Production	August 2003 – 2015
Model years	2004–2015
Assembly	United States: Canton, Mississippi (Nissan USA)
Designer	Toshio Yamashita, Diane Allen, Giovanny Arroba (2001)
Body and chassis
Platform	Nissan F-Alpha platform
Related	Nissan Titan Nissan Frontier Nissan Xterra Nissan Pathfinder
Powertrain
Engine	Gasoline: 5.6 L VK56DE V8
Transmission	5-speed RE5R05A automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	123.2 in (3,129 mm)
Length	2003–2007: 206.9 in (5,255 mm) 2007–2015: 207.7 in (5,276 mm)
Width	2003–2007: 78.8 in (2,002 mm) 2007–2015: 79.3 in (2,014 mm)
Height	2003–2007: 78.7 in (1,999 mm) 2007– 2015 2WD: 77.2 in (1,961 mm) 2007–2015 4WD: 78.0 in (1,981 mm)

Rear view

The 2004 model Pathfinder Armada was unveiled on April 17, 2003, at the New York International Auto Show. Developed under Carlos Ghosn's NRP (Nissan Revival Plan), development was done in September 1999 to 2003 under lead designers Shiro Nakamura and Diane Allen and chief engineers Yuzo Sakita and Larry Dominique. In January 2001, a final exterior design by Giovanny Arroba had been approved by Sakita, Allen, Nakamura, and Nissan executive management, with the final design freeze being completed in July 2001. It is assigned the platform code TA60.

Prototypes based on the Y61 Patrol were hand-assembled as mules from 2001, with the first TA60-specific prototypes being completed and sent to testing in early 2002. Design patents were filed in 2003, with production starting on August 14, 2003, and going on sale on October 1, 2003.

The Armada had a 5.6 L VK56DE V8 engine that made 305 hp (227 kW) and 385 lb⋅ft (522 N⋅m) of torque. This was mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, and the Armada had a choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. There are some Armadas that are capable of using E85. It has a towing capacity of up to 9,000 lb (4,000 kg).

The rear door handles are installed on the "C" pillar as part of a Nissan design tradition that started with the 1986 Nissan Pathfinder. When the four-door Pathfinder was introduced, Nissan chose to conceal the door handles as a part of the "C" pillar trim to visually make it appear like a two-door truck with a camper shell, with conventional door handles on the front doors.

The switch to the Armada name occurred in September 2004 for the 2005 model year, where it received new badges without "Pathfinder." The 2005 model year also included a backup camera.

2008 refresh

A facelift was designed through 2005, being introduced in early 2007 for the 2008 model year.

The updated VK56DE V8 engine now produces 317 hp (236 kW) and 385 lb⋅ft (522 N⋅m) of torque with an improved towing capacity of up to 9,100 lb (4,127 kg) when equipped with towing package.

Standard features now include an 8.0 inch infotainment screen, an updated interior, a new front fascia and rear fascia, new headlamp and fog lamp designs, a new one-piece roof rack design, and third-row seats that fold electronically.

The latest Nissan Armada Platinum edition features a 9.3 GB hard drive for storing music, and a CF (Compact Flash) memory card reader.

The 2011 model year Armada removed the SE and Off-Road trim levels and moved to a tiered system: SV (base trim), SL (middle trim), and Platinum (top trim). Nissan discontinued the use of the Armada platform for the Infiniti QX56 produced in Japan .

The 2013 model year added Bluetooth and satellite radio as standard on all models and a Platinum Reserve trim package. Navigation added NavWeather capability, Zagat Survey, Bluetooth audio streaming, one USB port, and a 40 GB disk drive. The Nissan DVD Entertainment System mounted screens in the back of the front head restraints.

The 2014 model year updated the steering wheel.

The 2015 model year updated interior door panels.

The Nissan Armada (TA60) was sold in the United States (including all US territories), Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East in left-hand-drive only.

Second generation (Y62; 2017)

Second generation (Y62)
2017 Armada Platinum
Overview
Also called	Nissan Patrol Infiniti QX56/QX80
Production	June 2016 – present
Model years	2017–present
Assembly	Japan: Kanda, Fukuoka (Nissan Shatai Plant)
Designer	Taisuke Nakamura, Shinya Momokawa, Minoru Yoshida, Sugita Akihiro
Body and chassis
Platform	Y62
Powertrain
Engine	Gasoline: 5.6 L VK56VD V8
Transmission	7-speed RE7R01B automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,075 mm (121.1 in)
Length	5,305 mm (208.9 in)
Width	2,030 mm (79.9 in)
Height	1,925 mm (75.8 in)

Rear view

Nissan unveiled the second-generation Armada at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, and it went on sale in August 2016 as a 2017 model. This version is based on the Nissan Patrol (Y62), the platform also used for the Infiniti QX80, as moving the Armada and Patrol to the same global platform instead of the Armada sharing the platform of the American-built Titan saves considerable development cost. The Armada grew in length and width, but the wheelbase and height were moderately reduced.

The engine was upgraded to the VK56VD Endurance V8, increasing horsepower from 317 to 390 hp (236 to 291 kW; 321 to 395 PS) at 5200 rpm and torque from 385 to 394 lb⋅ft (522 to 534 N⋅m; 53.2 to 54.5 kg⋅m) at 4000 rpm. In addition to the Endurance V8, a seven-speed transmission was introduced to improve fuel economy and acceleration. The exterior moderately differs from the updated Patrol, which was introduced in early 2014. As with the previous generation, the Armada continued to offer 2WD and 4WD and available in SV, SL, and Platinum trims. It has been described as a large-sized, low-volume, but high-profit model for Nissan.

2021 refresh

An updated version of the Nissan Armada was revealed in December 2020. The front end was redesigned, with a larger grille and C-shaped LED headlights along with two new exterior colors. The taillights were redesigned as well and are also LED. Inside, the center console was redesigned, with a wider infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto along with a wireless smartphone charger standard. Nissan's "Safety Shield 360" became standard. Trim levels and powertrain remained the same with the SV getting leatherette seating with silky carbon trim, SL retains leather-appointed seating with wood-tone trim and new 20-inch wheels, and the top-of-the-line Platinum getting new quilted leather-appointed seating with birdseye maple wood tone trim, along with new 22-inch wheels and the base S will be available at a later date, although the 5.6 L V8 gained 10 horsepower (7 kW; 10 PS) and 19 pound-feet (26 N⋅m) of torque. A Midnight Edition, which treats the exterior to an under-the-radar, blacked-out color scheme, was also added. The updated Armada went on sale in North America in late January 2021.

For the 2022 model year, one-touch power-folding third row seats were added as standard equipment for the Armada Platinum.

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  2021 Armada SV (front)

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  2021 Armada SV (rear)

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  Interior

Sales

Calendar year	United States	Canada
2003	6,673
2004	37,275
2005	39,508
2006	32,864
2007	31,632
2008	15,685
2009	9,903
2010	19,344
2011	18,311
2012	18,072	537
2013	14,383	539
2014	12,593	462
2015	12,737	634
2016	14,035	689
2017	35,667	1,105
2018	32,650	1,435
2019	32,044	593
2020	19,640	358
2021	22,814	596
2022	11,923	427
2023	21,184	874

External links

• Official Nissan Armada website