Nissan debuts Ariya EV crossover, comes in two battery sizes

MANILA: The 2021 Nissan Ariya EV (electric vehicle) crossover made its world premiere and effectively ushers in the automaker’s new chapter in electrification and the first model to debut its brand new logo.

Previewed as a concept at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, the production model isn’t that far off. It is the first to use the all-new EV platform developed by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance and embody Intelligent Mobility at its fullest, Intelligent Power, Intelligent Drive, and Intelligent Integration.

Its exterior uses a new design philosophy called Timeless Japanese Futurism, which features a seamless façade highlighted by a new 3D interpretation of the V-motion grille and the redesigned logo lit up by 20 LEDs.

Four 20-millimeter mini-projectors make up the slim LED headlamps that are integrated with sequential turn signals.

The four 19-inch aluminum wheels are pushed out to the corners to reduce overhangs, while the bottom of the front windshield is pushed forward to increase angle and aerodynamic efficiency.

At the rear is a heavily raked C-pillar and a one-piece horizontal light blade that hold the combination lamps.

“The Ariya’s exterior proportions show what’s possible with Nissan’s 100% electric- vehicle platform. The surprisingly short overhangs, aggressive roofline and large wheels provide an elegant appearance that flawlessly balances sport and luxury,” explained Senior Design Director Giovanny Arroba.

Without a massive engine, designers pushed the boundaries of the cabin to expand interior space. There’s a flat, open floor, Zero Gravity seats, a minimalist dashboard without any conventional switches and buttons. All controls are on two 12.3-inch monitors with capacitive haptic input positioned side by side stretching from the driver’s side all the way to the center. The center console is adjustable can be preset as part of a driver’s profile.

“The interior of the Ariya is a pleasant ‘living space’ for the driver and occupants to enjoy while experiencing the theater of traveling to familiar and new destinations. The materials throughout the interior were carefully selected to avoid the overly traditional feel of some luxury vehicles, while giving an impression of premium futurism in technology and utility,” said Arroba.

 

Nissan’s intelligent personal assistance technology can be activated by saying “Hey Nissan” and features a hybrid voice recognition system with advanced natural language understanding technology to handle in-vehicle assistance without the driver taking their eyes off the road. The Ariya also includes Amazon Alexa.

Updating the software and firmware is possible over the air and will be a first for any Nissan model.

Powering the Ariya are two battery capacity options, a 63 kWh and an 87 kWh. Both will be available in two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive layouts.

On a two-wheel-drive layout, the 63 kWh battery will put out 214 HP and 300 Nm of torque, while the 87 kWh battery delivers 239 HP and 300 Nm of torque.

The e-FORCE layout (Nissans four-wheel-drive version on an EV) with the 63 kWh battery generates 335 HP and 560 Nm of torque, while the bigger 87 kWh battery has 389 HP and 600 Nm of torque. The latter can send the Ariya from 0-100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds.

Three driving modes will be available, Standard, Sport, and Eco. e-4ORCE models will include a Snow mode. All models will sport the brand’s e-Pedal, which allows driver to launch, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal, and the latest driver assistance system, ProPILOT 2.0.

The 2021 Nissan Ariya will hit dealerships in Japan by mid-2021 and will be priced at around 5 million yen (Php 2.310 million).

Photos from Nissan

Also read: Nissan previews Ariya concept and e-4ORCE powertrain at 2020 CES