Nissan has revealed the world the all-new Nissan Ariya crossover, marking a new chapter for Nissan electric vehicles. CEO Makoto Uchida and Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta unveiled the Ariya to a global audience during a livestreamed event at the soon-to-open Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama.

The Ariya – Nissan’s first all-electric coupé crossover– offers an estimated range of up to 310 miles (based on WLTP combined cycle, subject to homologation), Ariya is the perfect partner for daily commutes and road trips alike.

The Nissan Ariya is heavily based on the similarly-named concept vehicle displayed at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show and first hinted at with the Imx at the 2017 show. It’s the first production model to represent Nissan’s new electrified brand identity.

“The Nissan Ariya is a truly beautiful and remarkable car,” Gupta said. “It enables you to go further, easier and in comfort. The Ariya is designed to impress, and to express what Nissan strives for – making our customers’ lives better.”

The Ariya is built on an all-new Alliance-developed EV platform.

e-4ORCE drive system
The twin electric motor, all-wheel-drive Ariya models will feature Nissan’s most advanced all-wheel control technology, e-4ORCE. The “e” in e-4ORCE stands for Nissan’s 100 per cent electric motor drive system. “4ORCE” refers to the vehicle’s “physical power and energy”, with “4” representing all-wheel control.

By specifically managing power output and braking performance for smoothness and stability, e-4ORCE enhances driver confidence by tracing the intended driving line, while never needing to change driving style or input. When cornering on snow-covered roads, for example, the vehicle can trace the driver’s intended line thanks to ultra-high-precision motor and brake control.

Engineers fine-tuned the e-4ORCE’s precision control technology and twin electric motors in the interests of ride comfort. Vehicle pitch and dive are minimised by adding regenerative rear-motor braking to the usual front-motor regenerative braking employed by typical EV and hybrid systems today.

“By taking advantage of e-4ORCE’s precise motor control response, we’re able to control vehicle motion as soon as the brakes are applied, giving all occupants – especially passengers – a stable, smooth ride,” said Ryozo Hiraku, expert leader of Nissan’s powertrain and EV engineering division.

In addition to optimising front and rear torque allocation, the system applies independent brake control at each of the four wheels to maximise the cornering force generated by each one. This delivers cornering that faithfully follows driver intentions with minimal steering adjustments.

“The Ariya’s Intelligent Power is one of the pillars that define Nissan’s DNA,” said Makoto Fukuda, development chief product specialist of the Ariya. “There is often talk about EVs and their 0-to-62mph time, but actually it’s easy for EVs to achieve good acceleration times. The Ariya is also fast in a straight line, but it provides maximum, usable performance in a wide range of driving conditions such as on a snowy mountain road or on wet city streets.”

All-electric drivetrain
Five core models are offered for the European market, including two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions.

The Ariya 63kWh two-wheel-drive model is aimed at urban and suburban commuters. The Ariya 87kWh two-wheel drive models expands on the 63kWh with an upgraded powertrain and additional range for those looking to venture on longer journeys.

The Ariya e-4ORCE 63kWh all-wheel-drive model offers twin electric motors and e-4ORCE control technology designed to deliver balanced, predictable power to all four wheels. The Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh all-wheel-drive will offer a longer range coupled with pure power thanks to the e-4ORCE technology. Topping the range, the Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh Performance model benefits from a higher power output.

The Ariya will be rated to tow up to 1500kg.

All-new EV platform
The battery pack sits under the centre of the vehicle to ensure a low centre of gravity and near-equal weight distribution, front and rear. The battery pack’s flat design and integrated cross-member in the battery case, allow the Ariya to have a flat floor and impressive structural rigidity. Suspension components are optimised to take advantage of this.

With three drive modes, including Standard, Sport and ECO (e-4ORCE models include an additional Snow mode), drivers have the ability to customise their experience to match their mood and surroundings. The Ariya’s has a near 50:50 front/rear weight distribution made possible by the battery positioned under the floor in the middle of the vehicle.

The Ariya offers quick-charge performance using the Combined Charging System in Europe (CCS). This is thanks in part to its battery thermal control feature, which constantly optimises the operating temperature of the liquid-cooled battery.

The Nissan Ariya 63kWh versions carry a 7.4 kW charger for domestic use, while the 87kWh include a 22kW 3 phase charger for home charging. The Ariya can also support quick charging up to 130kW for peace of mind during long journeys.

Intelligent Driving
The Ariya incorporates the latest Nissan technologies, including an enhanced ProPILOT. Equipped as standard on the second generation Nissan LEAF, ProPILOT is a hands-on assistance system that helps drivers stay centred in their lane, navigate stop-and-go highway traffic and maintain a set vehicle speed and distance to the vehicle ahead.

ProPILOT with Navi-link offers an enhanced experience from the ProPILOT system first introduced with the Leaf. By connecting with the navigation system and utilising road map data, the hands-on driver assistance system can help adjust vehicle speed based on the posted limit. Additionally, the system can help adjust vehicle speed based on upcoming road conditions, such as smoothly slowing the vehicle before a sharp corner ahead, giving all occupants a pleasant drive.

When the destination is reached, ProPILOT Park (available in limited markets) takes the stress out of parking by helping recognise an open parking space and guiding the vehicle into it. Parking is completed in three steps making front, reverse and parallel parking a stress-free experience.

Intelligent Integration

The Ariya is also the first Nissan model with firmware over the air updates, called Remote Software Upgrade. The technology automatically updates various software inside the vehicle – specifically, software that controls the multimedia system, electric and electronic architecture, chassis, climate system and EV settings – without having to take the vehicle to a service centre. A dual-bank memory system even allows for updates while on the go. Updates are downloaded and stored in a separate memory bank. When the system has confirmed the download, it switches to the updated memory bank. Updates are applied quickly and easily, making updates and new feature integration a seamless experience.

Five Versions of Nissan Ariya will be available in Europe