Ford has recommitted to passenger cars in Europe this month, with the US automaker announcing a partnership with Renault to produce two cars based on the French brand’s electric vehicle platform.
While Renault’s architecture is also used by Nissan, a recent unconfirmed report claimed Ford and Nissan were in secret talks about sharing product platforms for the North American market.
However, it’s not the first time Ford has partnered with Nissan to help bolster its lineup.
In late 1989, Ford Australia and Nissan Australia announced a $100 million manufacturing partnership, with the two brands sharing several locally made models throughout the 1990s – including a Nissan Pintara rebadged as a Ford, and a Ford Falcon ute sold as a Nissan.
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The relationship also extended to vehicles made in Japan, and arguably the most popular model from the collaboration was the Ford Maverick, which was nothing more than a badge-engineered Nissan Patrol.
Interestingly, in some overseas markets around the same time, the Ford Maverick name was used on a rebadged Nissan Terrano II.
But with Nissan set to launch the next generation of the Patrol in 2026, artist Theottle created a digital illustration of a new Maverick – a potential result of the burgeoning partnership – based on Ford’s latest SUV design language in the US.
Of course, Ford already sells the F-150-based Expedition in this segment in the US. And even if a new Ford SUV were to be based on the Patrol, it’s unlikely it would take the Maverick name, given Ford recycled the badge for a small US-market pickup back in 2021.
But while there’s no evidence of Nissan and Ford partnering on a Patrol SUV at this stage, there’s little doubt Ford’s local arm would be keen to have a product to take on the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
Like the 300 Series, Nissan has dropped the petrol V8 engine for the new Y63 Patrol, with the SUV instead being powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine making 317kW and 700Nm. Coincidentally, the Ford Expedition also uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6.
It’s a far cry from the original off-road Maverick, with buyers able to choose from a choice of two 4.2-litre six-cylinder engines – one being petrol, the other diesel.
Despite weighing close to two tonnes, the petrol engine made 125kW, while the diesel put out just 85kW – with neither gaining the benefit of turbocharging.
Would you be interested in seeing a new-generation Ford Maverick off-roader return to the Australian market? Let us know in the comments section below.