Nissan telah memperkenalkan Ariya NISMO, sebuah SUV elektrik yang direka untuk meningkatkan pengalaman pemanduan model Ariya yang pertama kali diperkenalkan kepada dunia pada Julai 2020. Berasaskan platform e-4ORCE, Ariya NISMO memasukkan motor elektrik kedua di axle belakang, menyediakan penggerak empat roda dan kuasa tambahan.
Dua varian Ariya NISMO telah diperkenalkan, dengan model B6 menghasilkan 362hp dan 559Nm tork dari bateri 66.0-kWh. Model B9 yang lebih kuat mempunyai kuasa sebanyak 429hp dan 600Nm tork, menggunakan bateri yang lebih besar iaitu 91.0-kWh.
Kedua-dua varian dilengkapi dengan rim 20 inci untuk menghantar kuasa ke jalan raya, dan pasukan NISMO telah memberi tumpuan kepada penalaan penghantaran kuasa untuk meningkatkan pecutan dan kegembiraan pemanduan secara keseluruhan. Ariya NISMO memperkenalkan mod pemanduan NISMO baru untuk response yang lebih tajam. Selain itu, model bersifat sukan ini menawarkan bunyi pilihan yang terinspirasi daripada perlumbaan Formula E untuk menambah pengalaman pemanduan.
Jurutera Nissan telah melaksanakan penalaan tambahan untuk chassis prestasi Ariya ditingkatkan di jalan raya, menjadikannya SUV elektrik yang lebih dinamik dan menarik. Walaupun angka pecutan tertentu belum diumumkan, Ariya NISMO bertujuan untuk menyampaikan pengalaman pemanduan yang menyeronokkan dan bersemangat bagi para peminat kenderaan elektrik.
Nissan has introduced the Ariya NISMO, an electric SUV designed to enhance the driving excitement of the Ariya model that was first shown to the world back in July 2020. Based on the e-4ORCE platform, the Ariya NISMO incorporates a second electric motor on the rear axle, providing all-wheel drive and additional power.
Two variants of the Ariya NISMO have been revealed, with the base B6 model generating 362hp and 559Nm of torque from a 66.0-kWh battery pack. The more powerful B9 model boasts 429hp and 600Nm of torque, drawing power from a larger 91.0-kWh battery.
Both variants feature 20-inch wheels for power delivery to the pavement, and the NISMO team has focused on tuning the power delivery to enhance acceleration and overall driving excitement. The Ariya NISMO introduces a new NISMO driving mode, emphasising responsiveness. Additionally, the sporty model offers optional sounds inspired by Formula E racing to add to the driving experience.
Nissan’s engineers have implemented additional tuning for chassis components to improve the Ariya’s performance on back roads, making it a more dynamic and engaging electric SUV. While specific acceleration figures are yet to be disclosed, the Ariya NISMO aims to deliver a fun and spirited driving experience for electric vehicle enthusiasts.
Adventurous couple Chris and Julie Ramsey have accomplished a groundbreaking feat, driving an electric vehicle (EV) from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole in Antarctica, crossing the equator in the process.
Their chosen vehicle, a specially equipped Nissan Ariya, endured a gruelling journey covering over 20,000km through challenging terrains.
One of the most established nameplates in the automobile industry, the Nissan Skyline dates back to 1957. Since then, we have had great iterations after great iterations. Who could forget Brian O’Conner’s iconic R34 from 2Fast2Furious?
The Skyline, Supra and NS-X made the holy trinity of JDMs followed by other legends like the RX-7 and Silvia’s. However, JDM enthusiasts, get ready to shed a tear because according to reports, the Nissan Skyline could become an electric crossover SUV.
Nissan Ariya
The Skyline sedan’s progress is reportedly “frozen.” Instead, it has been said that Nissan is creating the next version of the Skyline using the CMF-EV platform or the electric Ariya crossover as its foundation. This just sounds like one of those ideas you get after having one too many drinks.
But apparently, it will have multiple-motor all-wheel drive and produce more than 450hp, though it’s unclear if there will be twin- or quad-motor options.
According to reports, the Skyline EV will be launched in the US but will be restyled as an Infiniti to fit its upscale position. That would make it the same as earlier Skylines marketed in the United States since 2001, such as the G35, G37, and Q50.
2023 Infiniti Q50
The Japanese carmaker Nissan wouldn’t be the first to repurpose a legendary moniker for a crossover. Soon, the Toyota Crown will feature new body designs, one of which is an SUV. The causes are clear-cut as SUVs are in high demand and fit well with the positioning of vehicles like the high-end Crown and Skyline. But why not just come up with something new and leave our childhood alone?
Crash tests have long been an important part of vehicle development. Apart from regulatory requirements which have become more stringent over the years, the carmakers themselves have also been improving the protection occupants are provided with as new technologies have become available.
Now, with the increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs), the manufacturers have also to take into consideration the presence of a high-voltage battery pack and many electrical systems. These too must be protected from damage in an accident.
Nissan’s 4×4 SUVs like the Patrol and Navara pick-up trucks can travel over all sorts of terrain on the planet. Soon, there will also be a Nissan vehicle moving around on even more hostile terrain which won’t even be on Earth. It will be on the moon and the vehicle will technology which Nissan has developed for use on Earth.
The Lunar Rover Prototype jointly developed by Nissan and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is a project which has been ongoing since January 2020. Nissan’s research work applies the motor control technology it has developed through its production of mass-market electric vehicles such as the LEAF as well as the e-4ORCE all-wheel control technology featured in the all-new Ariya electric crossover.
A lunar rover must be able to traverse the moon’s powdery, rocky and undulating terrain and be energy efficient. Furthermore, energy sources for operating vehicles in space are limited. With e-4ORCE, the vehicle’s performance can be boosted over tricky terrain.
Ultimate driving performance
Nissan has focused on the development of stable driving performance that enables customers to drive their cars with greater confidence. Its e-4ORCE technology precisely controls all 4 wheels independently, providing the driver with confidence in various conditions.
In its joint research with JAXA, Nissan is evolving e-4ORCE technology to improve its performance in sandy terrain and other harsh conditions. When vehicles are driven in sand, their wheels frequently spin and dig in, limiting forward progress. A high level of driving skill is required to avoid getting stuck. To meet this need, Nissan has developed driving-force controls that minimize the amount of wheelspin in accordance with surface conditions.
Sharing knowhow
Through the joint research, Nissan aims to contribute to the technological evolution of automotive technology and space exploration technology by sharing knowhow gained from test-vehicle development and combining it with JAXA’s knowledge of rover research.
“The uses of automobiles and driving situations are wide-ranging. We aim for the ultimate driving performance through our research and development, and believe the knowhow gained from this joint research with JAXA will lead to innovations in our vehicles that will bring benefits to customers,” said Toshiyuki Nakajima, General Manager of the Advanced Vehicle Engineering Department in charge of e-4ORCE control development at Nissan.
With the digitization of car interiors and the continuing addition of more and more electronic systems, the way a driver interacts with the systems and operates or adjusts them has been changing. For decades, mechanical systems used mechanically-actuated knobs and levers or pushbutton and rocker switches and generations of drivers have used them.
No more knobs and levers
With the new generation of cars, those knobs and switches have been disappearing, typically replaced by icons on touchscreens. No longer does a driver have to turn a knob to make the temperature higher or lower – it can be done by touching a display screen, just like on a smartphone. Or physical interaction might not even be necessary as many cars now have intelligent voice command systems.
The dashboard in today’s Nissan Ariya has digital and graphic displays with touchscreens, a big difference from the one in the Nissan Grand Livina of 2011 which had knobs, levers and rotary dials (below).
When developing the latest Nissan Ariya all-electric crossover, its designers and engineers didn’t just consider the ergonomics involved in reaching toward the dashboard. They were determined to create a new look and feel for controls that drivers generally take for granted. This required a rethink of cabin space, touch and positioning.
Controls beneath the surfaces
Taking advantage of an all-electric powertrain layout, the Ariya’s interior was crafted to be open, and spacious, a cabin with a sense of calm and serenity. Part of that design is a dashboard free of traditional buttons. The wood-grained trim bisecting the dashboard comes to life upon starting the Ariya, illuminating a set of environmental controls that reside just beneath the dashboard’s surface.
Haptic feedback, like a smartphone
Utilizing a new generation of haptic feedback controls, these subtly integrated buttons open a world of possibilities in the relationship between function and design. In the same way that we interact with a smartphone display to navigate and engage with apps, haptic feedback buttons in the Ariya react to touch, communicating through fingertip vibrations. When adjusting the Ariya’s climate controls and drive modes, for example, the driver will interact with a familiar set of icons. Yet, because the points of interaction are felt and heard, they can remain focused on the road.
The design team’s decision to integrate haptic feedback into the Ariya follows the car’s underlying design concept of ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism’, which takes a distinctive Japanese approach to design, conveying a simple yet powerfully modern impression.
“We created a clean space by blending the haptic controls with the grain of the interior’s woodgrain finish. We did this in a way that didn’t affect the performance of the controls, allowing us to achieve both functionality and an attractive appearance,” said a Senior Designer at Nissan, Hideki Tago.
“By applying a woodgrain pattern to the plastic panels with a hydro-printing process, we gave them a very realistic wood-like feeling. At the same time, this allowed transparent icons to come to life when illuminated,” he explained.
Integrating technology into design
With the Ariya design team’s final goal laid out, it was the engineering team’s responsibility to make this sci-fi concept a reality. The process began with an exhaustive breakdown of the technology itself. Haptic feedback buttons are grouped into two specific areas in the Ariya — on the main dashboard and on the adjustable centre armrest. The goal was to not only integrate the technology into the cabin design as a means of wowing passengers, but also to give the technology a natural and responsive feel for a wide variety of drivers.
Following extensive testing, the team settled on electrostatic buttons that are not only bigger than traditional haptic controls, but also more broadly spaced. This allows for a realistic and intuitive feeling for users, and also generates a kind of air pressure ‘kick’. This amplifies the tactile feedback with the click sensation of a traditional mechanical button, despite no traditional physical button being involved.
Then came the fine-tuning of the vibrations and sounds. That’s right — sounds. “Vibration and sound are inseparable,” explained Tomotaka Igarashi, the engineer in charge of the Ariya’s interior HMI (Human-Machine Interface) development. “It may seem obvious, but this challenged our team to develop a unique sound that would match the expectations of the driver while also designing it to be as pleasant as possible.”
Such attention to detail in an all-electric crossover is a necessity as the minimal sound emitted by the electric powertrain means that the sounds developed by the team will be clearly heard while driving. The development of the haptic controls required that every possible scenario be tested repeatedly to ensure easy use for a wide range of drivers, especially since the Ariya will sell in different regions of the world. That meant extensive testing by people with different size fingers and fingernail lengths, and with different button-pressure strengths and engagement angles. Gloved hands were also tested to ensure button activation.
Nissan may be buffeted by financial problems at this time but new products still need to get into the market and even though the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed things down, the carmaker is continuing on the road forward.
That road is one which requires electric vehicles (EVs) and Nissan is ready with the all-new Ariya, a crossover SUV which, like the successful LEAF, is powered only by electricity. Introduced online to a global audience today from the new Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama, Japan, the Ariya will be priced at around 5 million yen (about RM200,000). It is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in mid-2021, with exports starting by the end of next year to Europe, North America and China.
“The Nissan Ariya is a truly beautiful and remarkable car,” said Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer, Ashwani Gupta. “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.”
New electrified brand identity
The Ariya is heavily based on the similarly-named concept vehicle displayed at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show although the first design ideas started with the IMx at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. The first production model to represent Nissan’s new electrified brand identity, it utilizes an all-new Alliance-developed EV platform.
The styling adopts the company’s new design philosophy which is based on what Nissan calls ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism’ – a distinctive Japanese approach conveyed in a simple-yet-powerfully modern way. Embracing the Japanese term ‘iki’, which characterizes the Ariya’s chic, cutting-edge nature, the front of the vehicle appears seamless, elegant and fresh.
It’s highlighted by a shield – a new term for the traditional grille for the EV era. The shield, incorporating a 3-D, traditional Japanese kumiko pattern just under the smooth surface, protects sensing equipment used for ProPILOT functions and Intelligent Key detection without the aesthetics interrupting operation.
Redesigned brand logo
Nissan’s brand logo, which has been redesigned, is prominently placed at the centre of this aerodynamic shield, beaming with crisp definition from the 20 LEDs that compose it. The lower section of the shield is bordered by subtle lighting that illuminates, along with the logo, when the Ariya is ready for operation. Thin LED headlamps, constructed with four 20-mm mini-projectors, are combined with sequential turn signals to reinvent Nissan’s signature V-motion design.
When viewed from the side, the Ariya has a single, uninterrupted horizon line that stretches across the side profile, linking the front fascia and the rear, conveys linear movement, creating architectural beauty in tension and drama from every angle.
The rear of the Ariya characterized by a steeply raked C-pillar that blends into the rear deck. The one-piece light blade, representing the rear combination lamps, has been engineered to give a black-out effect when parked, and a consistent red illumination, day or night, when in use. Rear fender flares and a high-mounted rear wing signal the Ariya’s powerful EV capabilities.
2WD and AWD, with two battery pack sizes
Building on Nissan’s strength as an EV pioneer, the Ariya is said to ‘take the powerful performance and capabilities of zero-emission vehicles to a new level’. Four core models are offered with choices of 2-wheel-drive (2WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). Using peak 130 kW charging, the Ariya can recover up to 375 kms with a 30-minute quick charge using Japan’s CHAdeMO charging system.
The Ariya 2WD can be ordered with 63 kWh of usable battery capacity which is suitable for urban commuters, or a larger battery pack with 87 kWh which can provide additional range. The Ariya with the smaller battery pack has an output of 168 kW while the bigger one has 178 kW, with torque from standstill at 300 Nm for both versions. Factory testing has achieved up to 610 kms on a fully charged battery pack.
Like the 2WD variant, the Ariya AWD also has two choices of battery pack capacities – 63 kWh and 87 kWh. Output is 250 kW/560 Nm for the 63-kWh version and 290 kW/600 M, for the bigger battery pack. The latter has a top speed claim of 200 km/h.
With e-4ORCE AWD control technology and twin electric motors, Nissan claims it can deliver balanced, predictable power to all four wheels, equal to or better than many premium sportscars.
Vehicle pitch and dive are minimized by adding regenerative rear-motor braking to the usual front-motor regenerative braking employed by typical EV and hybrid systems today. In addition to optimizing front and rear torque allocation, the system applies independent brake control at each of the four wheels to maximize the cornering force generated by each one. This delivers cornering that faithfully follows driver intentions with minimal steering adjustments.
“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 for a stable, smooth ride,” said Ryozo Hiraku, expert leader of Nissan’s powertrain and EV engineering division.
Most technologically advanced Nissan car
The Ariya is also the most technologically advanced Nissan car to date, especially with its ProPILOT 2.0 advanced driver assistance system and ProPILOT Remote Park and e-Pedal features.
The e-Pedal, first introduced in the LEAF, allows the driver to launch, accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. It works by initiating the electric motor to start the deceleration process of the vehicle when easing off the accelerator pedal. On low-traction surfaces, the brakes are applied simultaneously with the motor, allowing all four wheels to safely slow down the vehicle. On models equipped with e-4ORCE, regenerative torque is distributed not only to the front wheels, but also the rear.
Also standard across the Ariya line-up is Nissan’s Safety Shield system. This includes Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking and Rear Automatic Emergency Braking technology.
‘Like a cafe lounge on a starship’
The interior is described as being more akin to a sleek cafe lounge on a starship, evoking performance and intrigue, than to a traditional automotive cabin. The advantages provided by the new EV platform enabled the interior designers to create the most spacious cabin in its class.
This is also helped by the compact nature of the powertrain components which made it possible for the engineers to install the climate control system under the bonnet (where a traditional gasoline engine would be). This meant that the whole length of the cabin could be utilized without obstructions, such as a transmission tunnel or cabin systems tucked under the instrument panel.
Also, a flat, open floor – made possible by the location of the battery at the base of the chassis – and the Ariya’s slim profile Zero Gravity seats result in vast amounts of legroom and easy interaction between front and rear passengers.
The Ariya’s minimalist dashboard has no buttons and switches, something which is unique. The primary climate control functions are integrated into the wooden centre dash in the form of capacitive haptic switches that offer the same feeling as mechanical switches by vibrating when touched.
The display interface features both a 12.3-inch instrument monitor and 12.3-inch centre display along a single horizon. By displaying multiple facets of information on one horizontal plane, information can be quickly digested without the driver being distracted from the road. The two displays are oriented in a wave-like shape to ensure important vehicle information, such as battery information, range and navigation, can be easily reached and scrolled through with a simple swipe.
Related story: Why Nissan designers avoided the tablet in yhe Ariya Concept
The Ariya is the first Nissan model which can received firmware updates over the air using Remote Software Upgrade. The technology automatically updates various software inside the vehicle, making it unnecessary for the owner to take the car to a service centre. With periodic real-time updates, the Ariya will always be able to operate at its full potential.
DIMENSIONS OF THE ARIYA
Overall length – 4595 mm
Overall width – 1850 mm
Overall height – 1655 mm
Wheelbase – 2775 mm
Kerb weight – 1,900 kgs to 2,200 kgs
The Ariya will only go on sale in 2021 and only in Japan and certain regions, and Malaysia is not included. However, you can own a fully electric EV now as the Nissan LEAF is available in Malaysia. Visit www.nissan.com.my to find out where you can get the EV experience.
