Nissan Patrols take the long way down with Ewan & Charley

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are taking to the road once again as they tackle some of the roughest roads in hazardous surroundings and this time, Nissan is going along for the ride.

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.