Nissan Ariya NISMO on the cards
New Ariya-inspired racing car concept could pave the way to a family of NISMO-fettled EVsThe potential performance applications of the upcoming 2022 Nissan Ariya have been showcased in a new concept car which could pave the way for a NISMO version of the all-new battery-electric SUV.
Such a model would set up a brilliant fight between the forthcoming Hyundai IONIQ 5 N and the Kia EV6 GT, among other hot electric crossover contenders.
Emerging just days after an all-electric sports car concept dubbed the Nissan Max-Out was revealed, the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept appears to preview Nissan’s Gen3 Formula E race car that will compete in the 2022/23 season under new design and engineering rules set down by the FIA.
But Nissan has also emphasised that the concept demonstrates a new “EV performance language” that will guide the development of its future sports models.
“With this concept we want to showcase the high-performance potential of the Ariya’s powertrain in a motorsports-inspired package that not only hints at the design and styling of the road car that inspired it, but that also demonstrates a new and efficient EV performance language,” said Nissan global brand engagement general manager Juan Manuel Hoyos.
“Acting as a testbed for future technological evolution, this project can help bring excitement from the road to the racetrack, and also demonstrate Nissan’s expertise in transferring knowledge and technology from the racetrack to the road.”
In its most potent form, the Nissan Ariya’s dual-motor powertrain develops 290kW of power and 600Nm of torque, making it more than a match for the dual-motor Hyundai IONIQ 5 (225kW/605Nm).
The dual-motor Gen3 Formula E race cars, meanwhile, will incorporate a 250kW motor on the front axle and a more powerful 350kW unit at the rear, offering a top speed of more than 320km/h and the ability to recover at least 40 per cent of its energy via regenerative braking.
According to Nissan global motorsports director Tommaso Volpe, the brand’s EV and Formula E programs complement and influence one another, adding more weight to the possibility of some dedicated high-performance EVs materialising.
“The Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept explores the combination of the all-electric powertrain, dual motors and revolutionary all-wheel drive system of the Ariya with a pure single-seat racing chassis – a powerful demonstration of just how thrilling electric vehicles could be,” he said.
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