The Japanese carmaker Nissan had a busy weekend at Abu Dhabi with the launch of its seventh-generation 2011 Nissan Patrol that has been designed specifically for its Arab customers.

The new Patrol is all set to challenge the Toyota Land Cruiser, the  best-selling full size SUV of that market with its all-new exterior design, luxurious interior and powerful powertrain. This translates to a more powerful 5.6-l V8 engine that develops 400 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque mated to a new 7-speed automatic transmission and a new electronic four-wheel-drive system with four driver-selectable modes.

It also packs Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control,  Hydraulic Body Motion Control System (HBMC) to reduce body roll in cornering and lane changing and Tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). Among the Patrol’s other new systems is the updated brake package that includes hydraulic brake booster  and four-piston opposed front calipers on 358 mm discs.

The exterior design, according to Nissan’s product design director, Taiji Toyota is less rugged in comparison to its predecessor where the softer new surfaces “add a sense of modernity to the design equation, while still maintaining a ruggedness and commanding road presence.” The luxurious interiors list out as multi-screen DVD entertainment system with two headrest-mounted seven-inch screens, leather upholstery, wood grain paneling, curtain vent and six airbags.

The new Patrol carries a price tag ranging somewhere around 50,000 euros with its sales expected to start from April. Check out the video of the official launch.