NISSAN ARIYA

NISSAN'S BOLD NEW EV REALLY IS LIKE TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

- TRISTAN TANCREDI

THE Ariya electric SUV is a pivotal vehicle for Nissan. Not only because it will enter a segment where demand is currently outstripping supply but also because it spearheads the next phase in the future of the brand. The company calls it the 'Ambition 30' strategy, which will see Nissan accelerate its development program to introduce 23 electrified vehicles - including 15 BEVs - by 2030.

Ariya is the big brother of the EV-pioneering Nissan Leaf. It's built on the CMF-EV platform, which also underpins the Renault E-Tech. However the Nissan is a much bigger car, measuring in at 4595mm long (+396mm), 1850mm wide (+67mm) and 1655mm tall (+150mm.)

The three-model range opens with an front-wheel-drive variant powered by a 63kWh battery and single 160kW/300Nm motor claiming a WLTP range of 404km. The range-topper is the e-4orce variant, with two electric motors (combining for 225kW and 600Nm to all four wheels) a range of 498km from its 87kWh battery, an impressive 5.7 second dash to 100km/h and a top speed of 200km/h.

The vehicle we're driving, however, is a pre-production European-spec front-driver fitted with a 178kW/300Nm motor and 87kW battery, giving it a WLTP range of 536km.

Led by Senior Vice President of Global Design, Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan claims it has imbued its Ariya SUV with a "timeless Japanese futurism" design language, in an effort to reconnect the brand with its rich Japanese heritage.