Nissan Ariya Single Seater Concept shows electric performance potential

Nissan decided to inaugurate the CMF-EV platform dedicated together with Renault on a compact electric crossover unveiled in mid-July 2020. The Ariya has now been radically transformed into a purpose-built race car with a single seat to highlight the huge performance potential of the powertrain and how it could be used in a more exciting application.

The Ariya Single Seater Concept takes design cues from the crossover and applies them to a sharp race car with zero emissions with exposed rear wheels and no roof. The illuminated “V” shape at the front fascia is a nod to Nissan’s road-going vehicles and there is carbon fiber just about everywhere you look to shave off weight as much as possible.

The Japanese automaker goes as far as to say the Ariya electric race car “was shaped by the air itself” to emphasize the design was created with maximum aerodynamic efficiency in mind, therefore making the concept as sleek as possible. The exposed suspension arms at the front accentuate the raw nature of the racer, while the HANS-like safety device protecting the driver is a nod to Formula 1 cars.

Sadly, Nissan isn’t providing any technical specifications for its wildly designed zero-emissions race car. That said, we do know the range-topping Ariya electric SUV has a pair of electric motors, a battery pack with a usable capacity of 87 kWh (90 kWh nominal), and an all-wheel-drive system. It delivers a combined output of 390 horsepower (290 kilowatts) and 600 Newton-meters (443 pound-feet) of torque.

The electric crossover needs only 5.1 seconds to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill and it will keep on going until it hits 124 mph (200 km/h). It goes without saying the Ariya Single Seater Concept would be significantly faster since its weight would be much lower than the hefty 2,200 kilograms (4,850 pounds) of the dual-motor Ariya.

If we were to wager, Nissan’s engineer would likely be able to shave off at least a quarter of the crossover’s weight for the electric race car, resulting in some serious performance on a circuit. However, the concept was conceived only to showcase the platform’s potential, with no intentions of actually building the speed machine.

Source: Nissan