THE all-new Nissan Ariya electric coupe crossover looks set to transport families into the future of motoring.
During a global virtual launch, the Japanese car giant’s bosses highlighted the Ariya’s sleek, seamless exterior design, luxurious lounge-like interior, new technologies and impressive performance.
The tech includes autonomous driving features and an intelligent voice-activated on-board personal assistant. There will be five powertrains, with both front and intelligent all-wheel drive available.
The best range – up to 310 miles – is offered by the 2WD 87kWh 242PS variant, which hits 62mph in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 99mph.
If power is more important, you’ll want the AWD e-4ORCE 87kWh Performance, with an output of 394PS, sprint time of just 5.1 seconds and a maximum 124mph. Yet it still has a respectable 248-mile range.
Exterior highlights include a striking front shield, which features a detailed 3D pattern beneath the smooth surface, intricate LED lighting, sporty five-spoke 19in alloys and one-piece rear light blade.
The lack of traditional interior systems or transmission tunnel makes the cabin very spacious and the design is clutter-free, with haptic controls, an adjustable centre console and slide-out office table.
The display features both a 12.3in instrument monitor and 12.3in centre screen along a single horizon, and drivers can swipe information from one screen to another. There’s also a large full-colour head-up display.
A smartphone app enhances connectivity from outside, while the car also features remote “over the air” software upgrades. The on-board personal assistant understands natural voice commands to search for places, choose music or adjust the temperature.
Driver aids include lane-centring, intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-go function for traffic, park assist, 360-degree camera and front and rear emergency braking.
More details about the Ariya’s availability and pricing in Europe will emerge in the coming months.
Nissan chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said: “The Ariya is a truly beautiful and remarkable car that enables you to go further, easier and in comfort. It is designed to express what Nissan strives for – making our customers’ lives better.”
