As Nissan readies the all-electric Ariya SUV for the production line, it is putting it through a series of rigorous tests at its Hokkaido Proving Ground. To ensure the Ariya is absolutely perfect when it reaches the hands of customers, Nissan’s Chief Vehicle Assessment Specialists have been driving the Ariya in cold and snowy conditions while replicating all kinds of different roads and surfaces.
To say the Ariya is an important car for
Nissan would be an understatement. While the Leaf remains its most recognizable
electric vehicle, the Ariya is ushering in a new era for the Japanese automaker
and also comes loaded with much more technology.
Nissan will offer the Ariya with four
powertrain options. The entry-level model will have a single electric motor
driving the rear wheels and producing 215 hp and 300 Nm of torque,
as well as a 65 kWh battery. Another rear-wheel drive variant will be on offer,
albeit with a larger 90 kWh battery and rated at 239 hp and 221 lb-ft. Two
all-wheel drive variants will also be available, the first of which uses the
base 65 kWh battery and delivers 335 hp and 560 Nm. Topping out the
range is an all-wheel drive model with a 90 kWh battery, 389 hp, and 600 Nm, which can hit 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 km/h.
