The journey that
started on 12 May will take the intrepid pair from John o’ Groat’s in
Scotland all the way down to Cape Town, South Africa as they cross
unstable terrain, dangerous territories and beautiful landscapes.
Supporting them
and the crew on the journey are two Nissan Patrols that have been
adapted for the adventurous trip. Carrying equipment and essential
supplies, the vehicles will be imperative to the success of the
expedition.
Everything, from
the suspension and fuel tanks, to roof racks and batteries, has been
modified to ensure the Nissan Patrol vehicles can take on every
eventuality the team may encounter.
Nissan has spent
over two months modifying the Long Way Down Patrol vehicles. They have
gone above and beyond the impressive specifications of the Nissan
Patrol, transforming almost every aspect of the cars to meet the
requirements of the unique trip. For the team, the toughest challenge
was in finding and actually getting hold of all the necessary parts
from suppliers across the world.
It’s not just
the vehicles that have been enhanced. Prior to leaving the Patrol
drivers, Producer/Directors David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, were
trained in extreme off-road driving by Nissan specialists to brush up
their skills in handling the vehicles in any situation.
John Parslow,
Nissan 4x4 brand manager said: “Nissan has been at the forefront of
four-wheel drive technology for more than 50 years and our 4x4s have
been truly put to the test over that time. Long Way Down is another
chance to push one of our naturally capable vehicles to the limit.
“We knew that
Ewan, Charley and the crew needed a vehicle they could depend upon in
the most severe circumstances and so the Patrol was the perfect choice
for an incredible journey like this.”
The adventure is
a follow-up to the original Long Way Round trip in 2004 which saw Ewan
and Charley ride over 19,000 miles, travelling eastwards through Europe
and Asia, completing their journey in New York. This time the pair plan
to travel over 15,000 miles supported by the Nissan Patrols which will
be home to the mobile editing suite used to document the pair’s
adventure for a brand new BBC TV series.
Nissan Patrol Long Way Down Specs:
Suspension
- Special shock
absorbers developed for the Dakar Rally, heavy duty coil springs,
special steering damper and caster correction bushes.
Protection
- ABR side and wing protection bars, ABR rear bumper and spare wheel carrier.
Fuel tank replaced with a long range 150 litre tank
Winch & Bumper
- ABR winch bumper bull bar fitted with 12V winch, battery isolator switch, plasma 12 strand synthetic winch rope.
Roof
- Front runner alloy slimline roof rack with non slip board fitted, shovel, Hilift jack, mount ladder.
Raised breathers
- Snorkel raised air intake
Battery system
- Intimidator starter and deep cycle battery x 2, battery management system with dash monitor.
Miscellaneous
- Spot lamps,
auxiliary power sockets, custom decking for rear load area under
carpet, lashing rails, water tank, fridge & top tents.
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