We reported a few days ago about several new concept cars that Nissan unveiled at its Nissan Futures event in Yokohama, Japan, but those Ambition 2030 concepts were just part of what the automaker displayed.
Also unveiled were the Ayria Single Seater, an electric-powered formula- or Indy-style racing car (more on that below), as well as a lunar rover prototype Nissan developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Nissan has been working since the start of 2020 with JAXA to create a vehicle to traverse the Moon’s surface while conserving limited energy sources.
Nissan said its lunar program has benefited from the company’s work on mass-market EVs such as the Leaf and on its e-4orce all-wheel-drive technology being introduced in the new Ariya crossover EV that goes on sale in Japan in the summer of 2022.
Nissan said its rover will enable travel over surfaces not previously explored.
Technology from the Ariya also is used on the single-seater.
“At Nissan, we dare to do what others don’t,” design director Alfonso Albaisa is quoted. “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.”
The concept not only is based on Ariya design themes, but on Nissan’s participation in Formula E, the electric-powered racing series.
“Nissan competes in Formula E not only to race on track, but also to support the development of compelling electric vehicles for customers,” Tommaso Volpe, Nissan global motorsports director, is quoted.
“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.”
