Nissan releases update of Ariya electric crossover testing ahead of production

Nissan has released an update with new footage of the Ariya electric crossover test program ahead of the start of production later this year.
Expand Expanding CloseNissan has released an update with new footage of the Ariya electric crossover test program ahead of the start of production later this year.
Expand Expanding CloseNissan is now using old Leaf battery packs in some of the robots that are helping to build the Leaf electric cars in the first place.
This is kind of cool!
Expand Expanding CloseAs the world enters 2021 with a cautious optimism, its global markets are still feeling many of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic that have yet to be eradicated. Many people have pivoted toward remote work. This has increased smartphone and laptop demand, leading to shortages of essential components like semiconductors. One industry that is beginning to experience the impact of these shortages is automakers. If semiconductor manufacturers can’t catch up, it could spell more delays for several major automotive companies.
Expand Expanding CloseNissan has unveiled a new electric “winter camper” van concept based on its e-NV200 electric van.
Expand Expanding CloseNissan is reportedly in talks with a little-known US electric pickup startup called Hercules to build an electric version of its Titan pickup truck.
It would be joining Tesla, Ford, Rivian, and others into electrifying the important segment in the US.
Expand Expanding CloseA decade after the introduction of its Leaf compact EV, Nissan tonight officially unveiled the Ariya electric SUV. The Ariya promises to shake up the EV market with an attractive all-electric crossover providing up to 300 miles on a charge — with a base model starting at $40,000. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go on sale until well into 2021.
Nissan yesterday unveiled its four-year growth plan. The Japanese automaker will “right-size” its production capacity and streamline unprofitable parts of its business. At the same time, Nissan said it would invest in areas of strength, such as sports cars and electric vehicles. That said, Nissan will introduce the Ariya EV to the US in 2021, while most of its EVs will be sold in China.
At the end of the month, Nissan will present its new “operational performance plan.” Early media reports show that Nissan will expand cooperation with Mitsubishi for plug-in hybrids in Asia and Renault for EVs in Europe. Plans for the Ariya, a new all-electric crossover, remain murky.
Nissan flew us out to Las Vegas during CES 2020 and put us up, allowing us to get a first-hand drive of the new e-4ORCE AWD technology going into their upcoming Ariya platform vehicles. We got to drive the new technology around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway – a place where exotic supercars are rented out the to wealthy with a backdrop of the Strip and F-35s flying overhead out of Nellis Air Force Base. It was quite the scene.
It’s that time of year again, and after a few days pounding the pavement of CES, our team came up with four new products deserving of some praise. Expand
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Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s global product strategist, wants to strengthen the ailing Nissan brand by “bringing more electrification.” For Espinosa, this means more hybrids alongside EVs. Those hybrids can give drivers a sense of an “EV drive feel,” even though a gas engine is used as the source of power. Meanwhile, according to his interview published today in Automotive News, he believes that EV charging has been a “hassle.” Nissan responded by finding better locations for charging ports and making charging connectors more user-friendly.
Under new leadership, Nissan wants to reclaim its leadership in electric vehicles. But it’s going to downplay affordable electric cars like the Leaf hatchback. Instead, newly minted CEO Makoto Uchida wants Nissan EVs to have robust features, long range, and higher prices that would bring higher profits. The new strategy will start with a new pure-electric crossover SUV, based on the Ariya concept, that would sell in Europe for the equivalent of between $55,000 and $78,000.
Nissan has shown a closer-to-production version of their upcoming electric crossover based on the IMx concept earlier today at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new vehicle is called the “Ariya”, and while Nissan is still calling it a “concept,” it seems to be one only in name, as the car is expected to reach production soon.
While we are waiting for Nissan to unveil its new electric SUV, the Japanese automaker surprised us today with a new urban electric car: The Nissan IMk. Expand
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Nissan and EVgo are announcing today that they are expanding their collaboration and will deploy 200 more fast-charging stations for electric cars in the US. Expand
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Latin America has been underserved by automakers when it comes to electric vehicles, but Nissan is looking to change that by launching the Leaf in the biggest Latin American markets. Expand
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While we are impatiently waiting for Tesla, Rivian, and others to bring their electric pickup trucks to market here in North America, China is already getting some.
Nissan is launching a new electric pickup truck through a Dongfeng joint venture in China: the Dongfeng Rich 6 EV. Expand
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Nissan partnered with Mackie’s of Scotland, an ice cream producer, to create a new version of its e-NV200 all-electric van designed to be a zero-emission ice cream truck. Expand
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As partner Renault mulls a merger with Fiat Chrysler, Nissan, in flux since the arrest and departure of former CEO Carlos Ghosn, may have a stronger position than some anticipated due to its own electric car technology.
A reeling Nissan is looking to expand its footprint in China’s electric vehicle market by investing in one of the country’s electric startups.
Nissan has just announced pricing for their upcoming 62kWh Leaf Plus model, which will be available in the US starting later this month.
The starting price comes in just around the expected level, at $36,550. The Leaf SV Plus will be $38,510, and the top trim, the Leaf SL Plus, is priced at $42,550.
Last week we were invited to San Diego to drive the new Nissan Leaf Plus, the updated version of the Leaf with a new 62kWh battery pack, which will start sales in March. We spent the day driving it all through the county on a variety of roads, and came away impressed if not surprised by this iteration on an already-solid package.
Fresh off its CES LEAF 62kWh unveil, Nissan today at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit took the wraps off its IMS concept car based heavily on its similarly named IMx concept. Have Nissan reached Concept-ception? Expand
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Under its racing brand Nismo, Nissan unveiled in Tokyo this week a new LEAF-based electric race car with dual motors: the LEAF NISMO RC. Expand
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