Nissan has officially introduced its electric crossover, the Ariya Concept, at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show.
Featuring a spacious, premium cabin with high-tech features and a body that conveys the pure, clean nature of electric cars, the concept car is Nissan’s own interpretation of a personal transportation that offers seamless driving experiences free of accidents or harmful emissions.
On the design front, the Ariya carries some example of wide front fenders,
super-thin LED headlights, as well as the front shield which is emblazoned with a bespoke, illuminated Nissan emblem.
The vehicle’s side profile is highlighted by five-blade, 21-inch aluminum wheels with custom tires and a low, sleek roofline. The rear is also a departure from traditional SUVs, with a steeply raked C-pillar that blends into a rear deck.
While the Ariya Concept’s exterior mainly expresses the ideas of “sleek” and “sexy,” the interior reflects a notion of seamlessness. There is a minimalist dashboard, along with the start button, a single knob to operate the 12.3-inch display monitor, and the climate controls as the only physical controls.
The seats feature a super-thin frame, providing even more free interior space and enhanced visibility. They are positioned to ensure that everyone has a great view of the surroundings. The seat back and seat bottoms feature perforated leather upholstery to make long drives more comfortable.
Fine black synthetic leather covers the instrument panel and inner door panels. while a different grade of synthetic leather with a textured grain lines the A-pillar and ceiling. Satin copper-coloured aluminum accents, incorporated into the instrument panel, seats and steering wheel, exude a sense of unity with the exterior color.
The Ariya Concept features the latest version of the Nissan ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance system that combines navigated highway driving with hands-off single-lane driving capabilities.
The system can assist the driver with passing, lane diversions and lane exiting on multi-lane highways, by engaging the vehicle’s navigation system.
The system also enables hands-off driving while cruising in a given lane. When approaching a road diversion or preparing to pass another vehicle, it judges the appropriate timing of passing based on information from the navigation system and 360-degree sensing.
As for the powertrain, the Ariya Concept comes with a dual front/rear motor drive configuration, which according to Nissan, delivers balanced, predictable power to all four wheels, equal or better than many premium sports cars.
The Ariya Concept promises excellent cornering performance and traction on slippery surfaces thanks to the twin-motor, all-wheel control system. Nissan engineers created this system based on knowledge gained from years of vehicle control development – including the GT-R’s ATTESA E-TS torque split system and the Patrol’s intelligent 4X4 system.
