Nissan is doubling down on extreme electric vehicles. One is a jacked-up Nissan Ariya going on a mammoth marathon and the other is a two-door convertible concept called the Max-Out.
Since the Ariya is going to be seen on streets soon, let’s start there.
Custom Nissan Ariya for Pole to Pole Expedition
Husband and wife team Chris and Julie Ramsey, with their modified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE in Iceland.
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Husband and wife team Chris and Julie Ramsey, with their modified Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE in Iceland.Nissan’s all-new EV SUV, the Ariya, is set to do a whopping 27,000 kilometre voyage from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole this March. Driving’s Andrew McCredie had Chris on his Plugged In podcast during the early planning stages of this adventure, and you can listen to it here.
There have been a few modifications done to this Ariya in an attempt to survive the trip, so Nissan enlisted Arctic Trucks’ assistance. Interestingly, there are zero changes to the battery or powertrain. There is an adapted suspension and addition of 39-inch tires. Paired with Nissan’s e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system, it’ll allow for stronger traction is these wild conditions.
How wild are the conditions? Nissan says they’ll include ice fields, deep snow, steep mountain climbs and inhospitable desert dunes.
A quick pause here to remind you that this isn’t the first time Nissan has done wild winterizing. Remember their Altima-te Altima?
The husband and wife team of Chris and Julie Ramsey will be navigating this journey and Chris says “One of the things that underpins all the adventures we do is that we take a standard production EV and aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it. Our Nissan Ariya is no different as the vehicle’s drivetrain and battery has remained factory standard, demonstrating just how capable and versatile the production Ariya is. We’ve modified the suspension and widened the wheel arches so we can benefit from the stable platform and support of the 39-inch BF Goodrich tires. I’m incredibly excited to get behind the wheel of what was already a brilliant vehicle, but now feels equipped to take on the ends of the earth in style!”
There is a modern perk here as there’s a specially integrated espresso machine with a good supply of sustainable coffee. There’s also a drone camera that can launch directly from the utility unit on the roof. Most importantly, there’s a portable, renewable energy unit that will be used to charge the Ariya in the polar regions. Nissan says the “towable prototype includes a packable, lightweight wind turbine and solar panels that will take advantage of high winds and long daylight hours to provide charge for the EV’s battery when Chris and Julie stop to rest.”
Pole to Pole Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE in Iceland.
Julie chimes in by saying “The planning and preparation for Pole to Pole has been such a big part of our lives over the past four years so I am really looking forward to getting the expedition underway in March. We’re going to discover so many interesting initiatives from communities and individuals who are taking positive action against climate change and I’m looking forward to sharing these experiences and stories with everyone. We are doing something that has never been attempted before, a world-first, and ultimately that is what makes it so exciting.”
That’s good and all but the real test of the Ariya will be how well it handles rush hour traffic on the 400 series highway.
Nissan Max-Out convertible concept
Now, on to the concept side with the Max-Out concept.
Is this what the evolution of the now-dead Maxima would’ve been? Kinda’… well, no. But maybe…
In what looks like a video game vehicle, this two-seater rolls on cool wheels, a massive open-air vent instead of a grille, and an unmistakeable circular light bar in the rear with “Nissan” written out.
Inside, a gigantic digital display frames the dashboard, a yoke-esque steering wheel and no pedals hint toward autonomous driving and the wind-swept seat design looks futuristic.
Nissan Max-Out convertible concept
Unsurprisingly, no power figures were shared but if and when it hits a production line, chances are it’d run on Nissan’s solid-state battery, which is pegged to be in effect as of 2028.
This is part of the “Out” quadruplets concepts, which also includes a Chill-Out crossover, Surf-Out pickup truck, and Hang-Out multi-purpose vehicle/SUV.
The Max-Out was initially previewed at the tail end of 2021 alongside two other Nissan EV concepts. It represents the sportier offering in the range, all of which feature the ‘-Out’ suffix. As we’re in the wild concept days of EV’s, and seeing as the quirky IONIQ 5 made it to production with very little changes from the original 45 Concept, perhaps Nissan will bring this to the world someday.
Keyword: Nissan doubles down on extreme electric vehicles