Ariya Heralds New ERA at NISSAN

 

Ariya Heralds New ERA at NISSAN

Welcome to Nissan’s future, courtesy of the Ariya all-electric SUV, expected to arrive in a showroom near you in 2021.

It might look like a concept car, but this is exactly how the five-seater will look when it hits the streets. When it does, it will need to compete with a new breed of electric rivals like the upcoming Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai 45. It’s likely to cost from just under £40,000 and marks “a new era for electric vehicles” according to Nissan management.

At launch, there’ll be a choice of 63kWh and 87kWh battery packs, along with two or four-wheel drive, dubbed “e-4orce”.

The front-wheel-drive version will produce either 215 or 239bhp, respectively, getting from 0-62mph in under eight seconds, with a driving range of up to 223 miles for the smaller battery and 310 miles for the 87kWh edition.

Choose the four-wheel drive and there are a 63kWh, 87kWh, and 87kWh Performance model, with 275, 302, and 389bhp apiece. The 63kWh can get from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, dropping to 5.1 seconds for the range-topper, while ranges are 211, 285, and 248 miles each. Front-wheel-drive models are limited to a 99mph top speed, increasing to 124mph for e-4orce versions. Ariya’s with the smaller battery pack will be able to charge at 7.4kW using a home wall box, while 87kWh versions will also be compatible

with 22kW three-phase home charging. At a public rapid charger, speeds of up to 130kW will be possible using CCS.

“Measuring 4,595mm long, the “It might look like a concept car, but this is exactly how the five-seater will look...”

Ariya is roughly X-Trail-sized, but it has a far more rakish look. Remaining very true to the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show concept, its nose is characterized by a ‘shield’ which is said to be a “reimagined grille for the EV era”. As well as giving the Ariya a striking look, this houses the SUV’s vast array of sensors for its safety kit and semiautonomous driving capability. The shield is also illuminated, along with a fresh new logo for Nissan that has been simplified items that will make an appearance on the top trim levels.

Nissan has followed the minimalist trend inside, replacing physical buttons with a pair of 12.3-inch touchscreens. The central display will predominantly show media and navigation systems, while a display behind the steering wheel will provide information to the driver – a similar setup

to the Mercedes GLA-Class and facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan. Meanwhile, touch panels with haptic feedback replace the switchgear usually to be found on the dashboard. Further information is provided by a large color head-up display. Voice control will also help keep the driver’s eyes on the road, summoned with phrases like ‘Hey Nissan’. There’s a more upmarket look than Nissan’s current line-up, with a stitched material covering the dashboard and what appears to be attractive surface treatments throughout the cabin. A 4G connection will also enable over-the-air wireless updates for the car’s

infotainment system, called Remote Software Upgrade. This will even be able to make changes to the chassis and electric powertrain, without the need to visit a Nissan dealership Based on a new CMF-EV platform designed for all-electric vehicles, a flat floor will allow the Ariya to offer a 466-liter boot with two-wheel drive,

dropping to 408 liters in four-wheel-drive form. Unlike the majority of EV models, Nissan also says it will be possible to tow a 1,500kg trailer, although it’s not yet known how this will affect the driving range. 

by ecocarmagazine.com