With a 100 per cent electric powertrain, Ariya has an estimated range of up to 610 kilometres based on Japan WLTC cycle (subject to homologation). That puts it well in advance of most others in this class.
CEO Makoto Uchida and Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta unveiled the Ariya to a global audience during a live streamed event at the new Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama.
“The Nissan Ariya is a truly beautiful and remarkable car,” Gupta said. “It enables you to go further, easier and in comfort.”
Building on the Japanese giant’s strength as an EV pioneer, the Ariya takes the powerful performance and capabilities of zero-emission vehicles to a new level.
Buyers can choose from multiple configurations. These include two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, as well as two different battery sizes – nominally 65kWh and 90kWh.
The 610km range is for the Ariya two-wheel drive, a single electric motor and the larger battery. With AWD, using dual electric motors and the smaller battery it’s still a very useful 450km.
Standard across the Ariya lineup is Nissan’s Safety Shield system. This includes Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking technology.
In a very advance vehicle like the Nissan has given Ariya an all-new human-machine interface lets owners use natural speech to adjust car settings. Ariya also includes Amazon’s Alexa to help customers simplify and organise their lives.
As is common in EVs, it has a ‘skateboard’ flat floor sitting above the batteries, making for a spacious cabin.
“The Ariya enhances driving excitement, ensures high levels of comfort and confidence and heightens the joy of connecting,” Gupta concluded. “It’s more than just a great EV crossover, it’s a great vehicle. It’s a true force of wonder, and it’s coming soon.”
Ariya has a thoroughly modern look, and the dummy ‘radiator’ grille means it doesn’t jar on some peoples’ senses.
Nissan Ariya is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in mid-2021, in Europe, North America and China by the end of 2021.
Nissan Australia says, “The Ariya is an exciting vehicle, that we know would appeal to Australian customers.
There are no further details regarding its arrival in Australia at this time.”
