Nissan Navara Rebelle Rally 2017 - Trailer

Nissan’s award-winning Navara is taking a trans-Atlantic trip to the spiritual home of the pickup truck later this month. There it will do battle in a gruelling off-road event that will push its ‘tough and smart’ credentials to the limit.

The rugged Navara – current holder of the prestigious International Pickup Award – is taking part in the Rebelle Rally. An annual week-long stage-race, it’s a 2,000 km test of driving and navigation skill through the stunning deserts of California and Nevada, USA.

Designed for production vehicles rather than rally-prepared racers, the event is open to women-only teams of two and attracts competitors from across the globe. It incorporates long-distance off-road driving and traditional navigation, using only topographic maps and a compass, to find hidden checkpoints. GPS devices including smartphones are strictly forbidden, and time limits force competitors to make swift decisions.

The Rebelle Rally runs from October 12-21, and each day’s route remains secret until a few hours before the start. Now in its second year, 40 teams representing 12 countries are taking part using vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.

Taking part in the Navara are two employees from Nissan France; Karen Rayrolles and Florence Pham work in the Communications and Marketing teams respectively, and are looking forward to a unique challenge.

Karen and Florence are using a Navara Double Cab model and competing for the Bone Stock Award. This category is open to teams using standard vehicles where the only modification is a set of off-road tyres.

The Double Cab will be perfectly at home on the sand dunes and dirt tracks of the desert. The epitome of tough and smart, this Navara blends go-anywhere ability with the latest driver assistance technologies. The result is a level of refinement, style, comfort and quality that’s on a par with Nissan’s acclaimed family of crossovers – the Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail.

The Navara Double Cab’s five-link rear suspension is unique in its segment, and delivers an exceptional driving experience without compromising off-road or payload capability. Power comes from a refined 2.3-litre 190 PS twin-turbo diesel engine, which delivers outstanding performance and torque of up to 450 Nm at 1,500-2,500 rpm. When linked to a six-speed manual transmission, official Combined Cycle fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures are 6.3 l/100km and 167 g/km – a best-in-class performance.

The vehicle’s list of equipment will definitely come in useful during the Rebelle Rally. Intelligent Around View Monitor assists with safe low-speed manoeuvres in tight spots, while Intelligent Emergency Braking will help should other competitors unexpectedly cross the Navara’s path.

Hill Start Assist and Hill Decent Control will create a safe and smooth drive through the dunes, though the NissanConnect seven-inch infotainment system – including satellite navigation – will have to remain switched off under the strict rules!

In common with all Nissan LCVs, including the e-NV200 zero-emission electric van, the Navara is an exceptionally versatile vehicle. A wide range of optional extras, accessories and bespoke conversions are available. All Nissan LCVs come with a class-leading five-year / 160,000 km manufacturer warranty.