The Ariya arrived later than Nissan wanted, but it’s good enough to warrant a look from EV buyers. However, it didn’t have an engaging driving experience or much in the way of performance. Nissan’s changing that for 2024 – at least in Japan – with the new Ariya Nismo.
The Ariya Nismo gets chassis tuning and all-wheel drive, and its output reaches 429 horsepower in the most powerful configuration. Like it did with the Nismo Z and GT-R variants, Nissan gave the Ariya unique styling and an exclusive paint color to help it stand out.
Nissan introduced the EV for the Japanese market and said it would be available in the spring. That said, the automaker has not detailed plans to bring the vehicle to the U.S., though it’s more than a little likely we’ll see it before too long. Nissan needs something exciting to boost Ariya sales, and this could be the ticket.
The Ariya hasn’t been the hottest seller since making it to market, only moving 13,464 units last year. It’s also ineligible for federal EV tax credits, making it a hard sell against cheaper competitors like the Tesla Model Y and others. Supply has also been an issue for the SUV, as Nissan has struggled to get production up and running smoothly at the factory in Japan where it’s built.
[Image: Nissan]
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