The Navara is probably one of the last models from the Nissan lineup you would expect to see tuned. Still, professional drifter Steve Baggsy Biagioni and the SB Motorsports team spent two years working on the ladder-frame pickup resulting in the pictured Navara-R that is powered by a tuned GT-R engine.
The unique Navara-R looks the part thanks to a custom-built wide bodykit by Sterling Automotive and the fact it has been slammed to the ground. The kit includes front and rear fender add-ons, bumper extensions, a pronounced front splitter and two rear spoilers – one mounted on the roof and one on the tailgate. The custom racecar-style wrap by Fleet Livery Solutions Ltd in combination with the eye-catching 20-inch BBS wheels shod in sticky tires makes sure that no one will mistake this Navara for a stock model.
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While looks are impressive, the most important modifications are hidden under the skin. The diesel motor from the stock Navara is gone, making room for a tuned VR38DETT engine from the Nissan GT-R. The displacement of the twin-turbo V6 motor, which is now referred as the VR41, has been increased to 4.1 liters, with the output reaching the magical number of 1,000 hp (736 kW / 1,014 PS). Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a reworked dual-clutch transmission built by specialists at Dodson Motorsport.
Nissan’s one-tonne pickup is known for its off-road credentials but the Navara-R received a chassis overhaul in order to perform best on the track. More specifically, it comes fitted with subframes from the GT-R, with custom-built suspension turrets and KW V4 Racing Coilover suspension with an HLS 4 Hydraulic Lift-System. Naturally, stopping power has also been upgraded with RC6 and RC4 Alcon Specialist brakes.
Inside the cabin, the team added a new GT-R-sourced steering wheel, a pair of Sparco bucket seats, a red stop-start button, a small digital instrument cluster, and a custom Kenwood infotainment system with a large touchscreen covering the central console.
Looking at this heavily modified pickup with monstrous power, you are probably thinking it will remain a one-off. However, as reported by Top Gear, SB Motorsports is taking orders from enthusiasts who are willing to pay at least £250,000 ($313,712) for the crazy conversion. What is even more surprising is that the vehicle remains street legal, although we wouldn’t suggest using it as your daily ute.
Note that the latest generation of the Navara has been discontinued from Europe, with a recently facelifted version of the pickup carrying on in Australia and some Asian markets. This is not the first time the GT-R engine finds its way into a Nissan model with a different bodystyle, but the Navara-R seems to be even more extreme than the factory-built, limited production Juke-R.
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Picture Credits: Dan Martin Media & Thevisuallife_
