When it comes to concept cars, there are two main kinds. There's the 'half of this technology doesn't exist yet' kind, like the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR we covered earlier this week. And then there's the 'new model we're putting into production soon, but with a couple of cool touches that won't.' The Nissan Ariya is the second kind, and after first appearing at 2019's Tokyo auto show, it has crossed the Pacific to meet the crowds at CES. And it's going to be an important car for the beleaguered Japanese OEM as it's almost certainly destined to go on sale next year as an all-electric alternative to the best-selling Nissan Rogue SUV.
Truth be told, the Ariya did exist as the first kind of concept—sort of. In 2017 Nissan unveiled the IMX at that year's Tokyo show, which we learned would be powered by the company's next-generation battery-electric powertrain. Comparing the two in the gallery above, you can see how the Ariya is much closer to road legality. It has conventional doors, with conventional door handles. There are side view mirrors. The bodywork doesn't have large vertical slashes or vents that could swallow an errant pedestrian's arm. And the interior is a little fashion-forward but basically sensible.
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It's still officially a concept, and Nissan is keeping most of the technical specs to itself for now, but we do know that it sports the company's new twin-motor powertrain. The company also brought a modified Nissan Leaf to CES to show off the technology, which it's calling e-4ORCE. It even let some journalists drive it, which might make this the first time I've felt a pang of FOMO regarding my decision not to fly to Las Vegas this year.
I'm also relatively sure that the production Ariya will use proper active cooling for its battery pack, but feel free to print this out and mail it to me next year if that proves not to be the case.
On the inside there's a single 12.3-inch display that combines the main instrument panel and the infotainment system. Perhaps cognizant of the distraction risk, the Ariya also features ProPilot 2.0, which is a more advanced electronic safety net that uses a proper driver monitoring system like the excellent Super Cruise from General Motors. Foobar2000 no asio drivers found. Listing image by Nissan
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How much? “The average price for an R32 restoration like this one is 45 million yen,” a sales representative told The Drive. That sum converts to $420,500 and change, which is a heck of a lot of money if you kindly remember that a brand-new R35 starts from $113,540 before options.
The reason you’re charged supercar money for a Skyline GT-R in as-new condition is the sheer attention to detail that goes into every restoration. A restoration kicks off with the complete disassembly of the vehicle, down to the smallest nuts and bolts. Next up, the body panels and floor are repaired perfection, coated, and painted to perfection at the Omori plant in Tsurumi.
Overhauling the straight-six engine, stick-shift transmission, and driveline parts is another highlight. New rubber, suspension components, fuel and brake lines, as well as electrical and electronic components also need to be mentioned. Interior refreshing and track testing are the final stages of every build.
On that note, I have a great idea for Nissan. The final example of the R32 Skyline GT-R is 27 years old in 2021, which means that you can import Godzilla stateside. The problem is, all of them are right-hand drive.
Converting the R32 to left-hand drive would be extremely lucrative for the Japanese automaker, especially if the conversion adds $50k to the bill.