All-electric Nissan Ariya makes on-street debut in Monaco

The Nissan Ariya SUV has been showcased driving around the famous streets of Monaco, with the company showcasing its new electric luxury vehicle ahead of launch.

Set to be available in the second half of 2021, here’s what we know so far.

Top five things you need to know about the Nissan Ariya

• The Ariya takes advantage of Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system
• The Nissan badge lights up to welcome you to the car
• Two 12.3in screens come as standard and can be fully customised to suit what the driver wants to see
• The range topping Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh Performance sprints from 0-62mph in an impressive 5.1 seconds
• You have the choice between six two-tone colour combinations

Nissan Ariya exterior

“The Ariya’s exterior proportions show what’s possible with Nissan’s 100% electric-vehicle platform,” said senior design director Giovanny Arroba. “The surprisingly short overhangs, aggressive roofline and large wheels provide an elegant appearance that flawlessly balances sport and luxury.”

Nissan has called the design of the Ariya, ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism’, with the brand stating that it is simple-yet powerfully modern. The Ariya receives a sleek roofline and sporty, five-spoke 19in aluminium wheels (20in wheels also available, depending on the grade). Nissan has further pushed the futuristic look, by replacing the traditional Nissan badge with an LED powered one which lights when the Ariya is ready for operation. Fancy.

The colour of the Ariya in the pictures shown, has been named Akatsuki, a two-tone Copper colour package representing “the moment just before dawn, as the sun marks the beginning of a new day,”

Nissan Ariya colours

Nissan has gone to town with the colour options on the Ariya, explaining that its palette has been chosen with the future in mind. The choices have been inspired by the Ariya’s advanced tech.

With the car marking a design change for Nissan, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce a new range of options. Four monotone and six two-tone options will be available, all of which have been “crafted to elevate Ayria’s premium look and feel”.

You can see some examples in the picture above, while the striking colour you see in the other pics here is Akatsuki Copper. Nissan says it represents “the moment just before dawn, as the sun marks the beginning of a new day”.

Nissan Ariya interior and tech

Inside, you can see a clear minimalistic approach taken by Nissan with very few buttons on the centre console or dashboard with these same buttons only appearing when the car is turned on and vibrate when touched. Two 12.3in screens come as standard and can be fully customised with the driver able to customise the information shown on either screen.

Digging deeper, due to the Ariya being fully-electric, the interior space has been maximised with a flat, open floor plan, Zero Gravity seats and the ability to transform the cabin into a mobile office workspace, this has been achieved by storing a foldout tray under the centre of the instrument panel.

Nissan hasn’t held back with the use of sound-absorbing materials in the Ariya which creates a quiet cabin for those inside, maybe the Ariya could be the perfect combination between a car and having your own personal office space.

Nissan Ariya drivetrains

The Nissan Ariya is available in five models, including two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, catering for a wide range of customers.

The Ariya 63kWh – this two-wheel-drive model is ideal for urban and suburban commuters with an impressive range of up to 223 miles.

The Ariya 87kWh – again, this two-wheel-drive model has an upgraded powertrain which boosts the range up to 310 miles, perfect for those that that want to go on longer journeys.

The Ariya e-4ORCE 63kWh – this all-wheel-drive model offers an attractive balance in performance and value with a range of up to 211 miles and a 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds.

The Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh – this all-wheel-drive model will offer a longer range of up to 285 miles with pure power thanks to the e-4ORCE technology, reaching 0-62mph in a slightly faster 5.7 seconds.

The Ariya e-4ORCE 87kWh Performance – the range-topping all-wheel-drive model benefits from a higher power output. It sprints from 0-62mph in an impressive 5.1 seconds, has 600 Nm of torque and up to 248 miles of range.

Nissan has taken a similar approach to Tesla by removing the need to visit a dealer to receive an update in tech, this can be done wirelessly.

The car can also control it’s own speed, lane positioning on the motorway and distance to cars in front thanks to Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system.

Nissan Ariya release date

More details about Ariya’s availability and pricing in Europe will be shared in the coming months. If you can’t wait to get your hands on a Nissan SUV, why not check out our Nissan Juke lease deals or Nissan Qashqai lease deals.