The Japanese automaker tested the Ariya’s capabilities in extreme weather conditions at its technical center near Detroit.
To ensure the new electric vehicle can operate in different weather conditions, Nissan tested the product in a temperature range of -40 to 80 degrees Celsius.
With many areas of the country experiencing frigid temperatures, Nissan says the “Ariya is well-suited to handling freezing temperatures.” Right now in the U.S., cold places are around -20 degrees Celsius, while warm areas are around 15 degrees Celsius. Detroit, where Ford has its engineering center, is around -6 degrees Celsius.
“Our test chambers are capable of operating temperatures from -40 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius,” said Jeff Tessmer, senior manager of zero-emission vehicles at Nissan’s technical center.
Torturing the Ariya in the lab at temperatures “much more extreme” than what regular drivers encounter is a way for the Japanese automaker to test the worst-case scenarios so that the car still delivers the expected performance in a variety of weather conditions.
This electric SUV was the first vehicle (both pure electric and gasoline) to travel from the North Pole to the South Pole in 2023, according to Top Gear . The journey took 10 months and covered nearly 30,000 km.
Nissan will launch the Ariya – its first electric SUV – in the US in late 2022. In the first year, more than 13,400 Ariyas will be sold in this market and nearly 20,000 will be delivered in 2024.
A few weeks ago, Nissan introduced the 2025 Ariya, which starts at $39,770. It comes with two battery options, 66 or 91 kWh, which are good for 215 and 295 miles of range for front-wheel-drive (FWD) models.
Customers can opt for the dual-motor e-4ORCE AWD system with up to 389 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque. However, the extra power comes at a cost of range, with a maximum range of 270 miles.
