Nissan Ariya Concept Unveiled at Tokyo Motor Show
Photo: Nissan
Nissan is no stranger to pushing the envelope with advanced concept cars, and their showing at the Tokyo Motor Show continued that trend. Signaling an unprecedented reinvention of the Nissan brand and a bold new direction for the automotive industry at large, the automaker revealed the Ariya Concept.
The Ariya shares design cues with the recently announced Nissan IMk Concept, including a sleek, angular body, a feature-rich interior, and 100 percent electric drivetrain. With these two vehicles, Nissan is giving us a glimpse at its future as a fully electrified manufacturer.
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Nissan developed the Ariya Concept to be the perfect encapsulation of what Nissan Intelligent Mobility is all about: intelligent driving, intelligent power, and intelligent integration. “A new vehicle architecture means fresh opportunities to redefine how vehicles interact with society, how an EV paired with advanced driving capabilities can offer a new perspective,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s Senior Vice President of Global Design.
To this end, the vehicle is packed with incredibly advanced technology in all areas. The traditional dashboard is gone; in its place is a fully haptic touch-based display. The twin electric motors can deliver instant torque to all four wheels, producing efficient power that can match or beat several high-end sports cars. Furthermore, standard driver-assist features accompany all-new tech that blurs the lines between traditional and self-driving cars.
The Ariya uses the newest edition of Nissan’s award-winning driver-assist program ProPILOT 2.0 to offer virtually seamless integration between car and driver in the form of single-lane, hands-free driving and passing assistance. This means on designated highway routes, the Ariya can essentially handle the road without your input.
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Even though the title of “Concept” and all of the futuristic technology included in the Ariya may make Nissan’s goals seem distant, they may be closer than you think. A recent press release states that some of the Ariya’s features could find their way into production vehicles sooner than you think. While Nissan didn’t lay out a concrete timeline, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, the Representative Executive Officer of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., had a few words to share.
“The Ariya Concept represents a strong collaboration between design and engineering. It is the next stage of Nissan’s future design language as we embark on a new era for the company — the next stage in our evolution,” Yamauchi said.
While we’re not sure when Nissan’s new generation of all-electric vehicles will hit the road for real, it’s safe to say that if cars of the future look as cool as the Ariya Concept does, we’re happy to go along for the ride.
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