Nissan kicked off a new era in design and performance today with the launch of the all-electric Nissan Ariya and Nissan IMk concepts at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.

"These are transformational times for the auto industry, and a new era is opening up for Nissan" said Kunio Nakaguro, Nissan's executive vice president of global research and development. "We have been among the fastest to develop EVs and highly intelligent driving assistance technologies, and, as shown by our two new concept vehicles, we intend to continue our role as a global pioneer."

The Nissan Ariya Concept brings a realistic look at Nissan's future vehicles. The Ariya Concept showcases Nissan's new design direction, called Timeless Japanese Futurism. The new design incorporating the company's 100% EV platform with traditional Japanese minimalist themes.

The Ariya Concept, a crossover EV with twin electric motors, offers powerful acceleration and a driver assistance technology.

The Ariya Concept expands on design elements first hinted at by the Nissan IMx concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show. They include the bold electrified V-motion signature "shield" and striking rear light blade, short overhangs, and an interior that feels more like a lounge than a conventional vehicle.

The Nissan Ariya Concept includes wide front fenders, super-thin LED headlights, as well as the front shield (typically a grille on a gasoline-powered vehicle) which is emblazoned with an illuminated Nissan emblem. The shield incorporates a subtle geometric pattern that reveals itself when the electrified V-motion signature is illuminated.

Highlighting the vehicle's profile are five-blade, 21-inch aluminum wheels with custom tires. A low roofline allows the vehicle to slice through the air. The styling of the Ariya Concept's rear is also a departure from traditional SUVs, with a steeply raked C-pillar that blendsinto a muscular rear deck. A one-piece light blade with blacked-out lenses runs across the width of the body. Rear fender flares and a high-mounted rear wing offer not-so-subtle suggestions of the vehicle's power.

The car's minimalist dashboard is uncluttered by the buttons and switches found in conventional vehicles. When the Ariya Concept is energized, integrated haptic touch controls along the instrument panel come to life with a glow. When the car is not in use, they disappear into the surface. The only physical controls are the start button, a single knob to operate the 12.3-inch display monitor, and the climate controls, which are ingrained into the instrument panel's genuine-wood lower section. The instrument panel transitions into the doors and interior elements, to be out of sight when not in use.

The Ariya Concept's seats feature a super-thin frame. The front and rear seats are positioned to ensure that everyone has a great view of the surroundings. To make long drives more comfortable, the seat back and seat bottoms feature perforated leather upholstery, with material concentration where the occupant's lower back and hip touch.

Black synthetic leather covers the instrument panel and inner door panels. A different grade of synthetic leather with a textured grain lines the A-pillar and ceiling.

The Ariya Concept features the latest version of Nissan's driver assistance system, ProPILOT 2.0. The system combines navigated highway driving with hands-off single-lane driving capabilities. By engaging the vehicle's navigation system to help maneuver the car on a predefined route on designated roads, the system can assist the driver with passing, lane diversions and lane exiting on multi-lane highways.

ProPILOT 2.0 also enables hands-off driving while cruising in a given lane. When approaching a road diversion or preparing to pass another vehicle, the system judges the appropriate timing of branching off or passing based on information from the navigation system and 360-degree sensing.

The driver receives audio and visual guidance and is prompted to put both hands on the steering wheel and confirm the start of these operations via a switch. When driving with ProPILOT 2.0 engaged, the interior lighting changes colors to signal that hands-off driving is enabled.

Built with a 100% electric drive system, the Nissan Ariya Concept delivers instant torque to the wheels from a dual front/rear motor drive configuration. This layout delivers balanced, predictable power to all four wheels.

The Ariya Concept promises excellent cornering performance and traction on slippery surfaces such as snow and loose dirt, without drivers needing to change their driving style, steering input or even pedal position. It accomplishes this thanks to the high-power, twin-motor, all-wheel control system. Employing knowledge gained from years of vehicle control development – including the Nissan GT-R's ATTESA E-TS torque split system and the Nissan Patrol's intelligent 4X4 system – engineers created this new system to manage the EV's power delivery and brakes automatically.

Among the human-machine interface features is Door to Door Navigation, which allows anyone to set a destination on their smartphone, transfer it to the Ariya Concept and have the vehicle's navigation system continue offering directions. If the final destination is reached by foot, the system will transfer the remaining route back to the driver's smartphone.

When approaching the Ariya Concept, the driver is greeted with a welcome light as the vehicle unlocks automatically, eliminating the need to fumble with a key fob. Even before getting inside, settings such as the driver's seat position and climate controls are adjusted to the driver's personal preferences, which the driver can save to a smartphone as a unique profile. The car can sync with the driver's schedule to anticipate departure times and prepare the vehicle to be climate-controlled and ready to hit the road – maximizing driving range by using grid power to heat or cool the car.

Once the driver is inside, the Virtual Personal Assistant can help look up information and locate parking, so that the driver can keep their eyes on the road.

While traveling, the Nissan Ariya Concept's Smart Route Planner automatically identifies and plots charging stops along the way, ensuring that the driver arrives at the desired destination, whether near or far.

When it's time to charge, the Ariya Concept uses CHAdeMO quick charging to energize the battery. The charging port unlocks upon the driver's approach and uses distinct colors to show the vehicle's charge status at a glance.

If the plan includes picking up friends along the way, an integrated video chat feature can help confirm details before setting off. It can also link with their smartphones and the Ariya Concept's center information display to show their exact location.

Upon arrival at their destination, drivers can use a smartphone or dedicated device to park the car automatically from a nearby location, thanks to ProPILOT Remote Park. This can be of help to passengers who need additional space or assistance to exit the car.

Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) technology provides constant, hassle-free updates for the navigation system, graphic user interface and driving characteristics to ensure the car is running effectively and has the latest versions and features

When parked at the office or home, the Ariya Concept supports Nissan Energy technology. The technology makes it possible to connect with energy systems to charge the EV battery, power homes and businesses, and even selling energy back to the power grid.

Nissan Ariya Concept Dimensions

• Length: 4600 mm
• Width (excluding door mirrors): 1920 mm
• Height: 1630 mm
  

The Nissan IMk concept offers advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology and a powerful EV drivetrain in a compact, agile body. The IMk concept's appearance represents Nissan's future design language, developed for the coming automotive era.

The 100% electric car is equipped with the latest ProPILOT advanced driver assistance technologies and connectivity features.

The Nissan IMk concept’s cabin features a bench-style seat, with a dimpled texture. The dashboard and sections of the doors are upholstered with light tonal materials. Akagane-colored accents along the instrument panel, doors and steering wheel add brightness to the interior.

Interlocking with the lower door section are wood slats that are a nod to the Japanese wood joinery technique of kigumi. This feature is highlighted by special hidden lighting.

Other than the start button and shifter, the IMk’s thin dashboard is void of physical controls. Powering up the IMk reveals cabin comfort controls and settings with soft glowing icons within the Akagane trim.

Important driving information, such as vehicle speed and navigation directions, appear in “midair” by way of a bezel-less prism display. Customized information is communicated to the driver via holographic displays.

The Nissan IMk also comes with the latest technologies to assist drivers in a wide range of environments, from expressways to city streets and parking lots.