Japanese automaker Nissan is putting its upcoming and long-awaited fourth electric vehicle, the Nissan Ariya, through its final paces at the company’s snowy Hokkaido Proving Ground ahead of a planned mid-2021 release in Japan.
One of the pioneers of the electric vehicle industry, thanks to its landmark Nissan Leaf, which was first released in 2010, Nissan has since also released the e-NV200 van and the all-electric Sylphy, which it built for the Chinese market, as well as the new version of the Leaf and the longer range Leaf +.
The Nissan Ariya, though, will be the company’s second proper consumer EV.
Announced at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show and then unveiled in the middle of 2020 during a livestreamed event from the Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama, the electric crossover SUV will be available in a rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Boasting acceleration from 0-100km/hr in 5.1 seconds and with battery options delivering all-electric range starting at 430-kilometres and stretching all the way out to as much as 610-kilometres.
Since the Ariya was unveiled in mid-2020, Nissan has reportedly made some tweaks to the car, and now expects the Ariya’s range to be in excess of what it previously announced, though the company did not provide actual specifics.
The Ariya was announced as scheduled to begin production in July 2020 before going on sale in Japan in mid-2021 for around 5 million yen (around $AU60,00, converted today), before going on sale in Europe, North America, and China by the end of 2021.
Unsurprisingly, no word yet on whether or when the Ariya will be hitting Australian shores, though Nissan’s Australian arm is keen to bring the car to Australia as soon as possible.
Over the weekend, Nissan released a video demonstrating the Ariya being put through its paces at the company’s Hokkaido Proving Ground.
According to the company’s brief press release, this most recent testing sought to judge acceleration, ride handling, and quietness through several real-world road conditions including winding roads, steep inclines, and various road surfaces.
Shown driving on clear roads amidst snowy ground cover, the sleek SUV is shown travelling at high speeds through some stunning surroundings.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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