Nissan’s new electric vehicle is about to go on an epic adventure. The automaker today revealed a modified Ariya that will make the 17,000-mile North Pole-South Pole journey starting later this year. It’s been beefed up for travel, but the company kept mods to a minimum while showing off its battery-electric powertrain.
The biggest improvements are the most visible – the suspension and tires. Nissan gave the electric crossover a firmer suspension and thick 39-inch BF Goodrich tires, widening the fenders to accommodate the modified gear. Above, the automaker installed a roof-mounted utility unit that houses a deployable drone. Inside, the automaker integrated an espresso machine to make mornings in the wilderness a little more manageable.
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The automaker hasn’t made any changes to the battery or electric motor. The traveling Ariya features a dual-motor setup with the Nissan e-4ORCE all-wheel control system. The EV produces 389 horsepower (290 kilowatts) and 443 pound-feet (600 Newton-meters) of torque. The automaker collaborated with Arctic Trucks, a specialist in polar expedition vehicles, in designing the Ariya for harsh travel conditions.
Ariya will tackle some of the world’s most extreme environments, navigating everything from deep snow and ice fields to scorching desert dunes and steep mountain passes. The EV will find itself far from any outlet or charging station in the world’s polar regions, which is why Ariya will be towing a portable renewable energy unit. The prototype features a lightweight, packable wind turbine and solar panel to help recharge the EV’s 90 kilowatt-hour battery pack.
Nissan revealed the Ariya in 2020 but it didn’t go on sale in the US until last fall. The US is receiving the front-wheel-drive variant at first, as the all-wheel-drive version won’t arrive until this spring, starting on March 20. Husband and wife Chris and Julie Ramsey have spent four years preparing for it. trip, which is scheduled to begin in March. This will be a great time as the Ariya with e-4ORCE will be arriving at US dealerships as soon as the adventure begins.
