Nissan reveals single-seater Ariya Concept

Japanese automaker Nissan has unveiled the new Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept — a high-performance exploration, development and demonstration project to showcase the all-electric road car powertrain's capabilities when fitted in a single-seater race car chassis.

The latest concept was presented by Nissan senior vice president for global design Alfonso Albaisa and Nissan global marketing divisional general manager for brand and engagement Juan Manuel Hoyos during the Nissan Futures event.

“We are delighted to present the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept from our Nissan Futures event. 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,” Hoyos said.

“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,” he added.

For his part, Albaisa said that as the company started to realize the Nissan Ambition 2030 long-term vision, it continues to build its 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,” Albaisa said

The Nissan Ariya Single Seater still possesses design cues from the all-new Nissan Ariya all-electric SUV (which was launched July 15 last year). This includes the “V” motion at the front, which is present on the brand’s road car design.

“At the side view, inspiration has been taken from the Ariya’s fluid and efficient surfaces, exaggerated to a maximum in carbon fiber. Overall, the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept describes a form that, as with the Ariya, looks like it was shaped by the air itself,” the marque explained.

Further, the marque’s participation in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship also played an important role in the development of the Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept. “Nissan races in the all-electric world championship 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,” the company noted.

Nissan global motorsports director Tommaso Volpe shared that Nissan competes in Formula E not only to race on track, but also to support the development of compelling electric vehicles for customers.

 “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,” Volpe noted.

In the Philippines, Nissan's local arm is aggressively promoting the Nissan Leaf as a viable alternative to internal combustion engine-powered personal vehicles.

Photos from Nissan

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