Just in case you thought that all future electric Nissans were going to be dullard SUVs and crossovers, the Japanese firm has released details of a barking-mad single-seat electric track car, called the Ariya Single Seater Concept.
Upcoming Ariya electric SUV
You'll have noticed that Ariya is also the name of Nissan's upcoming all-electric SUV, a rival for the likes of the Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.4. Presumably, the sharing of the name with this wild concept is to generate some potential excitement around the Ariya name. Indeed, the name isn't the only thing shared - the racer also uses the same motors and batteries as the SUV, and Nissan is teasing us that the "powertrain could be used in a bespoke single-seater racing car chassis."
Motorsports-inspired
The Ariya single-seater has been shown off at the Nissan Futures event in Yokohama, presented on stage by Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan senior vice president for global design, and Juan Manuel Hoyos, Nissan global marketing divisional general manager for brand and engagement.
"We are delighted to present the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept from our Nissan Futures event," said Hoyos. "At Nissan, we dare to do what others don't. 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. Acting as a testbed for future technological evolution, this project can help bring excitement from the road to the race track, and also demonstrate Nissan's expertise in transferring knowledge and technology from the race track to the road."
Ariya design cues
Albaisa said: "As we began to shape our Nissan Ambition 2030 long-term vision, we continued to build on our 'Timeless Japanese Futurism' design language. We are now drawing inspiration from the Japanese words shun, meaning to run fast and effortlessly, and sho, meaning to soar with power and grace. The Ariya Single Seater Concept is the perfect expression of this new language. Leveraging the Ariya's EV powertrain in a motorsports-inspired package allowed our international team to capture this new sense of speed, technology and artistry."
According to Hoyos, the single-seater carries some of the design cues from the Ariya SUV, including an illuminated 'v' shape at the front, while along the sides, says Hoyos; "Inspiration has been taken from the Ariya's fluid and efficient surfaces, exaggerated to a maximum in carbon fibre."
Obviously, some of the design of the single-seater was also influenced by Nissan's involvement in the Formula-E electric racing series, in which Nissan says it competes to: "Bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience, and to be at the cutting edge of EV research and design."
"Nissan competes in Formula E not only to race on track, but also to support the development of compelling electric vehicles for customers," said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan global motorsports director. "Our EV programs inform our Formula E program and vice versa, allowing for road-to-track technology transfer as well as track-to-road. 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."