For those of you who may be unaware, the Midwest has been under siege this winter, as a series of heavy storms have dropped tons of the white stuff on the regular throughout the region. But while some are freaking out over it, Nissan isn't deterred, as its got just the right lineup of customized powder machines to make the most of the frozen landscape. Back in 2016, the Japanese brand headed to Chi Town with a trio of tread-equipped SUVs dubbed the Winter Warriors, and now, its returning to the 2018 Chicago Auto Show with more of the good stuff, including this one-off Armada that shows what can be done to beat the winter blues.
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While the Chicago Auto Show isn't at the same level as, say, SEMA when it comes to customized rides, it makes sense for Nissan to bring vehicles like the Armada Snow Patrol to this event. After all, Chicago is the best-attended auto show in the nation, and considering the weather the locals have had to endure over the last few months, the suggested extra capability in the white stuff offered by the Armada Snow Patrol will surely not be lost on the audience.
Indeed, Nissan loves its winter weather vehicles, and it's not gonna leave its fans out in the cold. Joining the Armada in Chicago is a Roadster-turned-snowmobile called the the 370Zki and a snow-plow themed Titan XD Single Cab.
However, the Armada looks to be the most accessible of the bunch, offering a slew of mods that pretty much anyone with a little extra spending cash could add to their own SUV, if they wanted. It all starts with a new suspension kit, which lifts the Armada a full three inches, perfect for dealing with those big overnight dumps. Making the most of the extra tallness is a new wheel and tire package, which is composed of knobby Pro Comp MT2 extreme off-roading tires measured at 35 inches in height, plus 20-inch by 9-inch Cognito Series 61 rollers.
Lots of fresh snow also means that the occasional obstacle (tree stump, sign post, the abandoned hulk of a less-capable vehicle) can be hidden, right up to the moment you drive over it. As such, Nissan threw on a new off-roading front bumper as well, not to mention a winch with a 12,000-pound capacity to yank out any adventurous soul who bit off more than they could chew. New running boards and rock sliders complete the exterior body panel upgrade, while a custom body wrap declares the Snow Patrol's purpose.
On the roof, you'll find two ultra-bright light bars to help illuminate the path forward, while a roof rack adds extra practicality. Finally, leather upholstery for the front seats, plus a special “Snow Patrol” embroidery in the seat back, add the cherry on top.
It's a nice bit of kit, but unfortunately, you won't find the Snow Patrol on the Armada's option list any time soon, as this is a one-off kind of affair. Nevertheless, attendees will get a chance to be inspired by the Snow Patrol when they visit Nissan's Winter Wonderland booth at the Chicago Auto Show. Head over, and you'll find “white carpeting, snow flurries every 15 minutes or so, adventure-ready Nissan vehicles, and maybe even a pop-up hot chocolate stand on the weekends.” Sounds good.
As a reminder, the Armada is the brand's flagship SUV, which just saw the second-generation introduced for the 2017 model year. Space for up to eight passengers can be found in the cabin, while 390 horsepower is pumped out from a 5.6-liter V-8 in the nose. Four-wheel drive helps add extra traction when needed.
References
Nissan Armada
Read our full review on the 2018 Nissan Armada Snow Patrol.
Read our full review on the 2017 Nissan Armada.
Read more Chicago Auto Show news.
Read more Nissan news.