Nissan Ariya Concept: an electric SUV that previews the future Qashqai

The Nissan Ariya Concept gives us clues about what the future Qashqai could look like… or the brand’s first 100% electric SUV.

Nissan reveals new details of the Ariya Concept. A prototype that could easily pass as one more of the many that manufacturers present at car shows.

But in the case of Nissan, the Ariya Concept takes on a special prominence, considering that this is an SUV that could give us many clues about what the successor to the current Nissan Qashqai will be like. A very important model for the brand and one with a lot of weight in the market, given its share of sales.

“With the Nissan Ariya we are prepared to push the boundaries of design and technology, to capture the essence of what an electric vehicle really should be.” Giovanny Arroba, Design Director

According to Nissan, which already has experience in electric mobility with the Leaf, the Ariya Concept marks a new era for the brand’s electric vehicles. They promise greater fluidity and adaptability thanks to the Intelligent Mobility strategy adopted by Nissan for its future models, based on three pillars: driving, power and integration.

An SUV with 100% electric propulsion

Plenty of talk when you have little to tell… or don’t want to reveal all your cards. And that is what Nissan is doing with the Ariya Concept. A proposal for a 100% electric SUV of which, mechanically, the only thing we know is that it uses the system Nissan calls 40FORCE, with two electric motors, one per axle.

But look at the images, and at what we can extract from them.

The arrangement of the batteries on a new platform with a completely flat floor allows a low centre of gravity and, especially, a very spacious cabin. The images of the prototype show a design that embraces minimalism, relying on screens and touch controls. It may seem very futuristic, but in its current state of development it could easily be scaled to production with minimal changes.

It should be noted that Nissan wants to give increasing prominence to its Nissan ProPILOT 2.0 driver assistance system. In the Ariya, it offers the possibility of travelling on motorways without having to constantly hold the steering wheel, thanks to cruise control with lane change and automatic braking.

Nissan Ariya Concept image gallery